Bill > S2516

Introduced Session

An act relating to higher education; amending s. 464.0195, F.S.; establishing the Florida Center for Nursing within the University of South Florida; requiring the center to administer the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund (LINE) Fund; requiring the center to promote certain funds and provide technical assistance during a specified timeframe; requiring the center to develop certain guidelines and make them publicly available on its website; providing requirements for the administration of LINE funds; amending s. 1009.26, F.S.; providing that a specified fee waiver applies to a student’s out-of-pocket expenses for tuition and fees after other aid is applied; deleting a requirement for a state university to report and disburse certain waived fees; deleting a requirement for disbursement; amending s. 1009.8962, F.S.; providing that the LINE Fund was established for shortages in health science professions in addition to nursing; defining terms; requiring that the LINE Fund be administered by the Florida Center for Nursing within the University of South Florida, rather than the Board of Governors and the Department of Education; providing that funding is subject to approval of an application by the center; authorizing the fund to match certain contributions if funds are available; revising how funds may be used; providing exceptions to certain prohibitions on the use of funds; revising requirements for a proposal for LINE funds submitted by an institution; providing that proposals for related health science programs may not be prioritized over nursing programs; revising requirements for the center to evaluate submitted proposals; authorizing the center to prioritize certain grant applications; requiring the center to notify each applicant of its determination; defining terms; requiring an institution with an approved proposal to certify the health care partner’s contribution in a specified manner; authorizing the center to award funds for up to 3 academic years; requiring institutions awarded grant funds to submit an annual report by a certain date to the center instead of the Board of Governors or the Department of Education; providing that the Department of Education is the lead entity for identifying and maintaining which health science programs are eligible for LINE funds; requiring the department to compile and publish a list of eligible programs by a specified date; requiring the department to review and update the list annually; requiring the Office of Reimagining Education and Career Help to provide specified data to the department; deleting a requirement for the Board of Governors to adopt regulations and the State Board of Education to adopt rules; providing an effective date.

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Other Sponsors (1)

In Messages (on 02/20/2026)

Official Document