The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Rules
BILL: SB 522
INTRODUCER: Senator Simon
SUBJECT: Tallahassee Community College
DATE: January 23, 2024 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Jahnke Bouck HE Favorable
2. Jahnke Twogood RC Favorable
I. Summary:
SB 522 changes the name of “Tallahassee Community College” to “Tallahassee State College.”
There may be costs associated with the name change, such as those related to signage,
publication, documentation, advertising, and other related items. See Section V.
The bill is effective July 1, 2024.
II. Present Situation:
Florida College System
The Florida Constitution provides for a single state college system comprised of all public
community and state colleges in the state.1 This system is known as the Florida College System
(FCS) and is comprised of 28 institutions.2 The purpose of the FCS is to maximize open access
for students, respond to community needs for postsecondary academic education, and career
degree education.3 Each FCS institution is governed by a local board of trustees.4 The Florida
College System is supervised by the State Board of Education (SBE).5
1
FLA. CONST. art. IX, s. 8(a).
2 Section 1000.21(5), F.S.
3 Section 1004.65(4) and (5), F.S.
4
FLA. CONST. art. IX, s. 8(b) and (c).
5 FLA. CONST. art. IX, s. 8(d).
BILL: SB 522 Page 2
Tallahassee Community College
Tallahassee Community College (TCC) opened in 1966 as “Tallahassee Junior College.”6 In
1970, the college’s name was changed to Tallahassee Community College to better reflect its
community orientation and involvement.7 TCC is accredited by the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS) to award associate’s and baccalaureate
degrees.8 TCC offers baccalaureate degrees in the following programs: nursing; business
administration; elementary education; and exceptional student education.
Florida College System Institution Name Change
With the approval of its board of trustees, an FCS institution may change the institution’s name
and use the designation “college” or “state college” if it has been authorized by the SBE to grant
baccalaureate degrees and has been accredited as a baccalaureate-degree-granting institution by
an accrediting agency or association recognized by the United States Department of Education
(USDOE).9
With the approval of its board of trustees, an FCS institution that either has not been authorized
to grant baccalaureate degrees or has not been accredited as a baccalaureate-degree-granting
institution by an accrediting agency or association recognized by the USDOE may request
approval from the SBE to change the institution’s name and use the designation “college.”10 The
SBE may approve the request if the FCS institution enters into an agreement with the SBE to do
the following:
Maintain as its primary mission responsibility for responding to community needs for
postsecondary academic education and career degree education.
Maintain an open-door admissions policy for associate-level degree programs and workforce
education programs.
Continue to provide outreach to underserved populations.
Continue to provide remedial education.
Comply with all provisions of the statewide articulation agreement that relate to 2-year and
4-year public degree-granting institutions as adopted by the SBE.
A district board of trustees that approves a change to the name of an institution must seek
statutory codification of such name change during the next regular legislative session.11
6
Tallahassee Community College, Memorandum, Renaming of Tallahassee Community College (Nov. 14, 2023), available
at https://www.tcc.fl.edu/media/divisions/board-of-trustees-documents/2023/november/District-Board-of-Trustees-Packet-
Document.pdf.
7
Id.
8
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, Tallahassee Community College,
https://sacscoc.org/institutions/?institution_name=Tallahassee+COmmunity+COllege&results_per_page=25&curpage=1&ins
titution=0011N00001h9EGAQA2 (last visited Jan. 3, 2024).
9
Section 1001.60(2)(b)1., F.S.
10
Section 1001.60(2)(b)2., F.S.
11 Section 1001.60(2)(c), F.S.
BILL: SB 522 Page 3
Tallahassee Community College Name Change
In June 2023, TCC convened a task force to begin the process of seeking a name change and
rebrand for the institution.12 The task force included internal representatives from each division
of the college, a staff council, members of the Faculty Senate, Alumni and Friends Association,
and Student Government Association.13 Through a competitive bidding process, the task force
also hired a consulting firm to assist the process by:14
Providing a report that evaluates TCC’s current brand through research, surveys, and focus
groups.
Developing and testing a new name and logo, if applicable, that keeps with TCC’s mission
and vision, reflects the already-defined brand position, and helps to improve its position and
strength in the market.
Developing primary logo variations and additional branding for departments and initiatives.
Providing a rebrand communications strategy and implementation plan for execution by the
task force.
As a result of the research conducted and report provided by the consulting firm, the task force
provided recommendations for evaluation to the president of TCC, who then provided his
recommendation to the TCC Board of Trustees.15 On November 14, 2023, the TCC Board of
Trustees approved the president’s recommendation to change TCC’s name to “Tallahassee State
College.”
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill changes the name of “Tallahassee Community College” to “Tallahassee State College.”
As Tallahassee Community College (TCC) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS) as a baccalaureate-degree-granting institution and
the TCC Board of Trustees has approved the name change, TCC has met the statutory criteria to
seek a name change from the Legislature.16
The bill is effective July 1, 2024.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
12
Tallahassee Community College, Memorandum, Renaming of Tallahassee Community College (Nov. 14, 2023), available
at https://www.tcc.fl.edu/media/divisions/board-of-trustees-documents/2023/november/District-Board-of-Trustees-Packet-
Document.pdf.
13
Id.
14
Id.
15
Tallahassee Community College, Memorandum, Renaming of Tallahassee Community College (Nov. 14, 2023), available
at https://www.tcc.fl.edu/media/divisions/board-of-trustees-documents/2023/november/District-Board-of-Trustees-Packet-
Document.pdf.
16 Id.
BILL: SB 522 Page 4
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
There may be costs associated with the name change, such as those related to signage,
publication, documentation, advertising, and other related items. These costs are
estimated at approximately $500,000, will be absorbed by the institution, and expended
over two fiscal years.17
The name change and rebrand may also have an indeterminate positive fiscal impact as it
may lead to an increase in enrollment, particularly in its baccalaureate programs.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
17 Tallahassee Community College, Memorandum, Renaming of Tallahassee Community College (Nov. 14, 2023), available
at https://www.tcc.fl.edu/media/divisions/board-of-trustees-documents/2023/november/District-Board-of-Trustees-Packet-
Document.pdf.
BILL: SB 522 Page 5
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 1000.21 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
Statutes affected: S 522 Filed: 1000.21
S 522 er: 1000.21