Text of FL H 999 (2023)

HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 1 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S A bill to be entitled 1 An act relating to public postsecondary educational 2 institutions; amending s. 1001.706, F.S.; requiring 3 the Board of Governors to periodically review 4 specified information relating to state universities 5 and provide certain direction to such universities; 6 revising the contents of the Board of Governor's 7 strategic plan; authorizing state universities to 8 initiate post-tenure reviews at any time for cause; 9 amending s. 1001.7065, F.S.; revising the academic and 10 research excellence standards for preeminent state 11 research universities; creating s. 1001.725, F.S.; 12 providing requirements for hiring state university 13 faculty; authorizing state university boards of 14 trustees to review the tenure status of faculty 15 members; requiring such boards to confirm the 16 selection and reappointment of specified personnel; 17 providing requirements for certain employment 18 contracts and responsibilities; requiring state 19 university presidents to annually present specified 20 information to such boards; amending s. 1004.06, F.S.; 21 providing that certain entities may not expend funds 22 for certain purposes relating to activities that 23 violate a specified law; providing exceptions; 24 amending s. 1004.6496, F.S.; conforming a provision to 25 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 2 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S changes made by the act; amending s. 1004.6499, F.S.; 26 renaming the "Florida Institute of Politics" as the 27 "Florida Institute for Governance and Civics"; 28 revising the goals of the institute; amending s. 29 1004.64991, F.S.; authorizing the Adam Smith Center 30 for the Study of Economic Freedom within Florida 31 International University to take specified actions; 32 amending s. 1007.25, F.S.; revising the duties and 33 responsibilities of specified faculty committees 34 relating to general education core courses; deleting a 35 provision authorizing certain course maximums to be 36 exceeded; revising requirements for general education 37 core courses; requiring public postsecondary 38 educational institutions to offer and accept certain 39 credits for certain general education core courses; 40 creating s. 1007.55, F.S.; providing legislative 41 findings; requiring the Articulation Coordinating 42 Committee to submit certain courses to the State Board 43 of Education and the Board of Governors; providing 44 requirements for general education courses; providing 45 requirements for public postsecondary educational 46 institutions and their presidents and boards of 47 trustees relating to general education courses; 48 providing an effective date. 49 50 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 3 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 51 52 Section 1. Paragraphs (a) through (d) of subsection (5) 53 and paragraph (b) of subsection (6) of section 1001.706, Florida 54 Statutes, are amended to read: 55 1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.— 56 (5) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY.— 57 (a) The Legislature intends that the Board of Governors 58 shall align the missions of each constituent university with the 59 academic success of its students; the education for citizenship 60 of the constitutional republic; the state's existing and 61 emerging workforce needs; the national reputation of its faculty 62 and its academic and research programs; the quantity of 63 externally generated research, patents, and licenses; and the 64 strategic and accountability plans required in paragraphs (b) 65 and (c). The board shall periodically review the mission of each 66 constituent university and provide updates or revisions to such 67 mission as needed; examine existing academic programs at each 68 constituent university for alignment with the university's 69 mission; and provide direction to each constituent university on 70 removing from its programs any major or minor in Critical Race 71 Theory, Gender Studies, or Intersectionality, or any derivative 72 major or minor of these belief systems, which is any major or 73 minor that engenders beliefs in the concepts defined in s. 74 1000.05(4)(a). The mission alignment and strategic plan shall 75 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 4 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S consider peer institutions at the constituent universities. The 76 mission alignment and strategic plan shall acknowledge that 77 universities that have a national and international impact have 78 the greatest capacity to promote the state's economic 79 development through: new discoveries, patents, licenses, and 80 technologies that generate state businesses of global 81 importance; research achievements through external grants and 82 contracts that are comparable to nationally recognized and 83 ranked universities; the creation of a resource rich academic 84 environment that attracts high-technology business and venture 85 capital to the state; and this generation's finest minds 86 focusing on solving the state's economic, social, environmental, 87 and legal problems in the areas of life sciences, water, 88 sustainability, energy, and health care. A nationally recognized 89 and ranked university that has a global perspective and impact 90 shall be afforded the opportunity to enable and protect the 91 university's competitiveness on the global stage in fair 92 competition with other institutions of other states in the 93 highest Carnegie Classification. 94 (b) The Board of Governors shall develop a strategic plan 95 specifying goals and objectives for the State University System 96 and each constituent university, including each university's 97 contribution to overall system goals and objectives. The 98 strategic plan must: 99 1. Include performance metrics and standards common for 100 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 5 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S all institutions and metrics and standards unique to 101 institutions depending on institutional core missions, 102 including, but not limited to, student admission requirements, 103 the education for citizenship of the constitutional republic, 104 retention, graduation, percentage of graduates who have attained 105 employment, percentage of graduates enrolled in continued 106 education, licensure passage, industry certification attainment 107 as specified in s. 445.004(4)(h), average wages of employed 108 graduates, average cost per graduate, excess hours, student loan 109 burden and default rates, faculty awards, total annual research 110 expenditures, patents, licenses and royalties, intellectual 111 property, startup companies, annual giving, endowments, and 112 well-known, highly respected national rankings for institutional 113 and program achievements. 114 2. Consider reports and recommendations of the Florida 115 Talent Development Council under s. 1004.015 and the 116 Articulation Coordinating Committee under s. 1007.01. 117 3. Include student enrollment and performance data 118 delineated by method of instruction, including, but not limited 119 to, traditional, online, and distance learning instruction. 120 4. Include criteria for designating baccalaureate degree 121 and master's degree programs at specified universities as high- 122 demand programs of emphasis. The programs of emphasis list 123 adopted by the Board of Governors before July 1, 2021, shall be 124 used for the 2021-2022 academic year. Beginning in the 2022-2023 125 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 6 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S academic year, the Board of Governors shall adopt the criteria 126 to determine value for and prioritization of degree credentials 127 and degree programs established by the Credentials Review 128 Committee under s. 445.004 for designating high-demand programs 129 of emphasis. The Board of Governors must review designated 130 programs of emphasis, at a minimum, every 3 years to ensure 131 alignment with the prioritization of degree credentials and 132 degree programs identified by the Credentials Review Committee. 133 5. Include criteria for designating the prioritization of 134 nondegree credentials as specified in s. 445.004(4)(h). 135 (c) The Board of Governors shall develop an accountability 136 plan for the State University System and each constituent 137 university. The accountability plan must address institutional 138 and system achievement of goals and objectives specified in the 139 strategic plan adopted pursuant to paragraph (b) and must be 140 submitted as part of its legislative budget request. Each 141 university shall submit, as a component of the university's 142 annual accountability plan:, 143 1. Information on the effectiveness of its plan for 144 improving 4-year graduation rates. and 145 2. Information on the level of financial assistance 146 provided to students pursuant to paragraph (h). 147 3. Documentation of its efforts to promote the education 148 for citizenship of the constitutional republic and the 149 cultivation of the intellectual autonomy of its undergraduate 150 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 7 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S students. 151 (d) Beginning in the 2014-2015 academic year and annually 152 thereafter, The Board of Governors shall annually require a 153 state university before prior to registration to provide each 154 enrolled student electronic access to the economic security 155 report of employment and earning outcomes prepared by the 156 Department of Economic Opportunity pursuant to s. 445.07. In 157 addition, the Board of Governors shall require a state 158 university to provide each student electronic access to the 159 following information each year before prior to registration 160 using the data described in s. 1008.39: 161 1. The top 25 percent of degrees reported by the 162 university in terms of highest full-time job placement and 163 highest average annualized earnings in the year after earning 164 the degree. 165 2. The bottom 10 percent of degrees reported by the 166 university in terms of lowest full-time job placement and lowest 167 average annualized earnings in the year after earning the 168 degree. 169 (6) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO PERSONNEL.— 170 (b) The Board of Governors may adopt a regulation 171 requiring each tenured state university faculty member to 172 undergo a comprehensive post-tenure review every 5 years. Each 173 constituent university may initiate a post-tenure review of a 174 faculty member at any time with cause. The board may include 175 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 8 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S other considerations in the regulation, but the regulation must 176 address: 177 1. Accomplishments and productivity; 178 2. Assigned duties in research, teaching, and service; 179 3. Performance metrics, evaluations, and ratings; and 180 4. Recognition and compensation considerations, as well as 181 improvement plans and consequences for underperformance. 182 Section 2. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 1001.7065, 183 Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraph (m) is added to 184 subsection (2) of that section, to read: 185 1001.7065 Preeminent state research universities program.— 186 (2) ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE STANDARDS.—The 187 following academic and research excellence standards are 188 established for the preeminent state research universities 189 program and shall be reported annually in the Board of Governors 190 Accountability Plan: 191 (m) Total annual research expenditures of $50 million or 192 more benefiting STEM-related occupations, businesses, or 193 industry partners located in the state and currently employing 194 or seeking to employ Florida residents. 195 (3) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY DESIGNATION.— 196 (a) The Board of Governors shall designate each state 197 university that annually meets at least 12 11 of the 13 12 198 academic and research excellence standards identified in 199 subsection (2) as a "preeminent state research university." 200 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 9 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (b) The Board of Governors shall designate each state 201 university that annually meets at least 7 6 of the 13 12 202 academic and research excellence standards identified in 203 subsection (2) as an "emerging preeminent state research 204 university." 205 (4) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE FOR 206 ONLINE LEARNING.—A state research university that, as of July 1, 207 2013, meets all 13 12 of the academic and research excellence 208 standards identified in subsection (2), as verified by the Board 209 of Governors, shall establish an institute for online learning. 210 The institute shall establish a robust offering of high-quality, 211 fully online baccalaureate degree programs at an affordable cost 212 in accordance with this subsection. 213 (a) Beginning in January 2014, The university shall offer 214 high-quality, fully online baccalaureate degree programs that: 215 1. Accept full-time, first-time-in-college students. 216 2. Have the same rigorous admissions criteria as 217 equivalent on-campus degree programs. 218 3. Offer curriculum of equivalent rigor to on-campus 219 degree programs. 220 4. Offer rolling enrollment or multiple opportunities for 221 enrollment throughout the year. 222 5. Do not require any on-campus courses. However, for 223 courses or programs that require clinical training or 224 laboratories that cannot be delivered online, the university 225 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 10 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S shall offer convenient locational options to the student, which 226 may include, but are not limited to, the option to complete such 227 requirements at a summer-in-residence on the university campus. 228 The university may provide a network of sites at convenient 229 locations and contract with commercial testing centers or 230 identify other secure testing services for the purpose of 231 proctoring assessments or testing. 232 6. Apply the university's existing policy for accepting 233 credits for both freshman applicants and transfer applicants. 234 (b) The university may offer a fully online Master's in 235 Business Administration degree program and other master's degree 236 programs. 237 (c) The university may develop and offer degree programs 238 and courses that are competency based as appropriate for the 239 quality and success of the program. 240 (d) The university shall periodically expand its offering 241 of online baccalaureate degree programs to meet student and 242 market demands. 243 (e) The university shall establish a tuition structure for 244 its online institute in accordance with this paragraph, 245 notwithstanding any other provision of law. 246 1. For students classified as residents for tuition 247 purposes, tuition for an online baccalaureate degree program 248 shall be set at no more than 75 percent of the tuition rate as 249 specified in the General Appropriations Act pursuant to s. 250 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 11 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 1009.24(4) and 75 percent of the tuition differential pursuant 251 to s. 1009.24(16). No distance learning fee, fee for campus 252 facilities, or fee for on-campus services may be assessed, 253 except that online students shall pay the university's 254 technology fee, financial aid fee, and Capital Improvement Trust 255 Fund fee. The revenues generated from the Capital Improvement 256 Trust Fund fee shall be dedicated to the university's institute 257 for online learning. 258 2. For students classified as nonresidents for tuition 259 purposes, tuition may be set at market rates in accordance with 260 the business plan. 261 3. Tuition for an online degree program shall include all 262 costs associated with instruction, materials, and enrollment, 263 excluding costs associated with the provision of textbooks and 264 instructional materials pursuant to s. 1004.085 and physical 265 laboratory supplies. 266 4. Subject to the limitations in subparagraph 1., tuition 267 may be differentiated by degree program as appropriate to the 268 instructional and other costs of the program in accordance with 269 the business plan. Pricing must incorporate innovative 270 approaches that incentivize persistence and completion, 271 including, but not limited to, a fee for assessment, a bundled 272 or all-inclusive rate, and sliding scale features. 273 5. The university must accept advance payment contracts 274 and student financial aid. 275 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 12 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 6. Fifty percent of the net revenues generated from the 276 online institute of the university shall be used to enhance and 277 enrich the online institute offerings, and 50 percent of the net 278 revenues generated from the online institute shall be used to 279 enhance and enrich the university's campus state-of-the-art 280 research programs and facilities. 281 7. The institute may charge additional local user fees 282 pursuant to s. 1009.24(14) upon the approval of the Board of 283 Governors. 284 8. The institute shall submit a proposal to the president 285 of the university authorizing additional user fees for the 286 provision of voluntary student participation in activities and 287 additional student services. 288 Section 3. Section 1001.725, Florida Statutes, is created 289 to read: 290 1001.725 State university boards of trustees; personnel.— 291 (1) Each state university board of trustees is responsible 292 for hiring faculty for the university. The president of the 293 university may provide hiring recommendations to the board. The 294 president and the board are not required to consider 295 recommendations or opinions of faculty of the university or 296 other individuals or groups. 297 (a) The board of trustees may delegate its hiring 298 authority to the president; however, the president may not 299 delegate such hiring authority and the board must approve or 300 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 13 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S deny any selection by the president. 301 (b) A state university is prohibited from using diversity, 302 equity, and inclusion statements, Critical Race Theory rhetoric, 303 or other forms of political identity filters as part of the 304 hiring process, including as part of applications for 305 employment, promotion and tenure, conditions of employment, or 306 reviewing qualifications for employment. This paragraph applies 307 to the hiring process for any position at the university, 308 including the position of president of the university. 309 (2) Each state university board of trustees may, at the 310 request of its chair, review any faculty member's tenure status. 311 (3) Each state university board of trustees must confirm 312 its president's selection and reappointment of each member of 313 the university's executive management team, and his or her 314 respective contract and annual salary, in accordance with the 315 university's personnel program established by the Board of 316 Governors. Contracts and responsibilities of the president and 317 executive management team members, including, but not limited 318 to, the provost, must explicitly delineate that the 319 responsibilities of such positions, other than the president, 320 are limited to administrative oversight and operational 321 supervision of curricular, instructional, and research affairs, 322 as applicable to the position. 323 (4) Each state university president shall annually present 324 to the state university board of trustees for review the results 325 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 14 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S of performance evaluations and associated salaries for all 326 evaluated personnel earning an annual salary of $100,000 or 327 more, regardless of the funding source for such salaries. 328 Section 4. Section 1004.06, Florida Statutes, is amended 329 to read: 330 1004.06 Prohibited expenditures.— 331 (1) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a No 332 Florida College System institution, state university, Florida 333 College System institution direct-support organization, or state 334 university direct-support organization may not, directly or 335 through a contract, grant, or agreement that provides services, 336 shall expend any funds, regardless of source, to: 337 (a) Purchase membership in, or goods and services from, 338 any organization that discriminates on the basis of race, 339 national origin, gender, or religion. 340 (b) Promote, support, or maintain any programs or campus 341 activities that violate s. 1000.05(4)(a) or that espouse 342 diversity, equity, and inclusion or Critical Race Theory 343 rhetoric. 344 (2) Programs required for compliance with federal 345 regulations, or access programs for military veterans, Pell 346 Grant recipients, first generation college students, 347 nontraditional students, "2+2" transfer students from the 348 Florida College System, students from low-income families, or 349 students with unique abilities are not prohibited by this 350 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 15 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S section. 351 Section 5. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section 352 1004.6496, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 353 1004.6496 Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic 354 Education.— 355 (2) The goals of the center are to: 356 (e) Coordinate with the Florida Institute for Governance 357 and Civics of Politics created pursuant to s. 1004.6499 and the 358 Adam Smith Center for the Study of Economic Freedom created 359 pursuant to s. 1004.64991 and assist in the curation and 360 implementation of Portraits in Patriotism created pursuant to s. 361 1003.44. 362 Section 6. Section 1004.6499, Florida Statutes, is amended 363 to read: 364 1004.6499 Florida Institute for Governance and Civics of 365 Politics.— 366 (1) The Florida Institute for Governance and Civics of 367 Politics is established at the Florida State University within 368 the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. The purpose of 369 the institute is to provide the southeastern region of the 370 United States with a world class, bipartisan, nationally 371 renowned institute of politics. 372 (2) The goals of the institute are to: 373 (a) Provide students with access to an interdisciplinary 374 hub that will develop academically rigorous scholarship and 375 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 16 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S coursework on the origins of the American system of government, 376 its foundational documents, its subsequent political traditions 377 and evolutions, and its impact on comparative political systems 378 Motivate students throughout the Florida State University to 379 become aware of the significance of government and civic 380 engagement at all levels and politics in general. 381 (b) Encourage civic literacy in the state through the 382 development of educational tools and resources for K-12 and 383 postsecondary students that foster an understanding of how 384 individual rights, constitutionalism, separation of powers, and 385 federalism function within the American system of government 386 Provide students with an opportunity to be politically active 387 and civically engaged. 388 (c) Model civic discourse that recognizes the importance 389 of viewpoint diversity, intellectual rigor, and an evidence- 390 based approach to history Nurture a greater awareness of and 391 passion for public service and politics. 392 (d) Plan and host forums to allow students and guests to 393 hear from exceptional individuals who have excelled in a wide 394 range of sectors of American life to highlight the possibilities 395 created by individual achievement and entrepreneurial vision and 396 interact with experts from government, politics, policy, and 397 journalism on a frequent basis. 398 (e) Become a national and state resource on polling 399 instruments and other assessments to measure civic literacy and 400 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 17 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S make recommendations for improving civic education information 401 and survey methodology. 402 (f) Provide fellowships and internship opportunities to 403 students in government, nonprofit organizations, and community 404 organizations. 405 (g) Create through scholarship, original research, 406 publications, symposia, testimonials, and other means a body of 407 resources that can be accessed by students, scholars, and 408 government officials to understand the innovations in public 409 policy in the state over a rolling 30-year time period Provide 410 training sessions for newly elected state and local public 411 officials. 412 (h) Organize and sponsor conferences, symposia, and 413 workshops throughout this state to educate and inform citizens, 414 elected officials, and appointed policymakers regarding 415 effective policymaking techniques and processes. 416 (i) Create and promote research and awareness regarding 417 politics, citizen involvement, and public service. 418 (j) Collaborate with related policy institutes and 419 research activities at the Florida State University and other 420 institutions of higher education to motivate, increase, and 421 sustain citizen involvement in public affairs. 422 Section 7. Subsection (3) is added to section 1004.64991, 423 Florida Statutes, to read: 424 1004.64991 The Adam Smith Center for the Study of Economic 425 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 18 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S Freedom.— 426 (3) In order to carry out the goals outlined in subsection 427 (2), the center is authorized to: 428 (a) Hire the necessary faculty and staff. 429 (b) Enroll students. 430 (c) Develop curriculum and offer new courses, including 431 honors courses, certificates, and major and minor programs. 432 (d) Award degrees. 433 (e) Hold events, including fundraisers. 434 (f) Fulfill other actions approved by the president of the 435 university. 436 (g) Generate resources based on student credit hour 437 enrollment in the same manner as a college within the 438 university. 439 Section 8. Subsection (3) of section 1007.25, Florida 440 Statutes, is amended to read: 441 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites; 442 other degree requirements.— 443 (3) The chair of the State Board of Education and the 444 chair of the Board of Governors, or their designees, shall 445 jointly appoint faculty committees to review and recommend to 446 the Articulation Coordinating Committee for approval by the 447 Commissioner of Education and the Chancellor of the State 448 University System identify statewide general education core 449 course options for inclusion in the statewide course numbering 450 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 19 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S system established in s. 1007.24. Faculty committees shall, by 451 July 1, 2024, and by July 1 every 3 years thereafter, review and 452 submit recommendations to the Articulation Coordinating 453 Committee, the commissioner, and the Chancellor of the State 454 University System for the removal, alignment, realignment, or 455 addition of general education core courses that satisfy the 456 requirements of this subsection. 457 (a) General education core course options shall consist of 458 a maximum of five courses within each of the subject areas of 459 communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and 460 natural sciences. The core courses may be revised, or the five- 461 course maximum within each subject area may be exceeded, if 462 approved by the State Board of Education and the Board of 463 Governors, as recommended by the subject area faculty committee 464 and approved by the Articulation Coordinating Committee as 465 necessary for a subject area. 466 (b) Each general education core course option must contain 467 high-level academic and critical thinking skills and common 468 competencies that students must demonstrate to successfully 469 complete the course. 470 (c) General education core courses may not suppress or 471 distort significant historical events or include a curriculum 472 that teaches identity politics, such as Critical Race Theory, or 473 defines American history as contrary to the creation of a new 474 nation based on universal principles stated in the Declaration 475 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 20 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S of Independence. 476 (d) General education core courses must meet the following 477 standards: 478 1. Communication courses must afford students the ability 479 to communicate effectively, including the ability to write 480 clearly and engage in public speaking, through engagement with 481 the Western literary tradition. 482 2. Humanities courses must afford students the ability to 483 think critically through the mastering of subjects concerned 484 with human culture, especially literature, history, art, music, 485 and philosophy. 486 3. Social science courses must afford students an 487 understanding of the basic social and behavioral science 488 concepts and principles used in the analysis of behavior and 489 social, political, and economic issues, including issues from 490 the past and present. 491 4. Natural science courses must afford students the 492 ability to critically examine and evaluate the principles of the 493 scientific method, model construction, and use the scientific 494 method to explain natural experiences and phenomena. 495 5. Mathematics courses must afford students a mastery of 496 foundational mathematical and computation models and methods by 497 applying such models and methods in problem solving. 498 (e) Beginning with students initially entering a Florida 499 College System institution or state university in 2015-2016 and 500 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 21 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S thereafter, each student must complete at least one identified 501 core course in each subject area as part of the general 502 education course requirements. Beginning in the 2022-2023 503 academic year and thereafter, students entering a technical 504 degree education program as defined in s. 1004.02(13) must 505 complete at least one identified core course in each subject 506 area as part of the general education course requirements before 507 a degree is awarded. 508 (f) All public postsecondary educational institutions 509 shall offer at least one general education core course in each 510 of the identified subject areas and accept these courses as 511 meeting general education core course requirements upon the 512 transfer of credit for such course regardless of whether the 513 receiving institution offers the identical general education 514 core course. The remaining general education course requirements 515 shall be identified by each institution as approved in 516 accordance with s. 1007.55 and listed in the and reported to the 517 department by their statewide course numbering system number. 518 (g) The general education core course options shall be 519 adopted in rule by the State Board of Education and in 520 regulation by the Board of Governors. 521 Section 9. Section 1007.55, Florida Statutes, is created 522 to read: 523 1007.55 General education course principles, standards, 524 and content.— 525 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 22 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (1) The Legislature finds it necessary that every 526 undergraduate student of a public postsecondary educational 527 institution in the state graduates as an informed citizen 528 through participation in rigorous general education courses that 529 promote the values necessary to preserve the constitutional 530 republic through traditional, historically accurate, and high- 531 quality coursework. Courses with a curriculum based on unproven, 532 theoretical, or exploratory content are best suited to fulfill 533 elective or specific program prerequisite credit requirements, 534 rather than general education credit requirements. 535 (2) In performing its duties under ss. 1007.24 and 536 1007.25, by December 1, 2024, and each December 1 thereafter, 537 the Articulation Coordinating Committee shall submit to the 538 State of Board of Education and the Board of Governors courses 539 that have been approved to be used by public postsecondary 540 educational institutions as meeting general education 541 requirements. 542 (3) General education courses must: 543 (a) Be in the general education core subject areas and 544 meet the course standards as provided in s. 1007.25. 545 (b) Be offered by at least half of all public 546 postsecondary educational institutions. 547 (c) Be identified as lower level in the statewide course 548 numbering system. 549 (d) Whenever applicable, promote the philosophical 550 HB 999 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0999-00 Page 23 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S underpinnings of Western civilization and include studies of 551 this nation's historical documents, including the United States 552 Constitution, the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments 553 thereto, and the Federalist Papers. 554 (4) If a course is approved as a general education course, 555 that course must be accepted as a general education course in 556 the same subject area by all public postsecondary educational 557 institutions regardless of whether it is offered by the 558 institution. 559 (5) Each public postsecondary educational institution's 560 board of trustees and president are responsible for annually 561 reviewing and approving, at a public meeting, general education 562 course requirements, as authorized and approved in accordance 563 with s. 1007.24, s. 1007.25, and this section, at their 564 institution. A public postsecondary educational institution that 565 fails to comply with the requirements of this section is not 566 eligible to receive performance-based funding. 567 (6) Each public postsecondary educational institution must 568 report courses meeting general education requirements to the 569 department by their statewide course number. 570 Section 10. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 571