Higher Education
What changed between versions
Establishes the Florida Center for Nursing within the University of South Florida to develop statewide nursing workforce strategies and administer the LINE Fund.
Creates the LINE Fund to provide dollar-to-dollar matching grants for nursing education programs when health care partners contribute funds or in-kind resources.
Authorizes the Center to award LINE Fund grants for up to 3 academic years, with multiyear awards subject to continued funding availability and partner contributions.
Shifts authority for reviewing and evaluating LINE Fund proposals from the Board of Governors to the newly established Florida Center for Nursing.
Revises out-of-state fee regulations to require the Board of Governors to ensure nonresident enrollment thresholds are not exceeded, while allowing university boards to establish their own out-of-state fees.
Requires the Center to provide technical assistance to eligible institutions throughout the application and award process for LINE Fund grants.
Expands fee waiver eligibility under s. 1009.26 to require 100 percent waiver of out-of-pocket expenses for students in Programs of Strategic Emphasis after completing 60 credit hours within 2 years.
Defines 'health care partner' to include healthcare providers, medical equipment manufacturers, educational material providers, and certain nonprofit organizations connected to nursing education.
Establishes a notification system where the Center must classify proposals as Approved, Provisionally Approved, Approved Pending Funding, or Denied, with specific criteria for each classification.
Sets the effective date of the act as July 1, 2025, with specific reporting deadlines for the Center to submit annual reports to state leadership by January 10 and update data by February 10.