The bill amends Florida Statutes to include nonpublic religious postsecondary educational institutions under the jurisdiction of the Commission for Independent Education, specifically removing the exemption that previously allowed religious colleges to operate without oversight. It creates a new section, 1005.12, which outlines the requirements for these institutions to operate without licensure. These requirements include providing a sworn affidavit to the commission with specific information about the institution, such as its name, the nature of its educational programs, and compliance with consumer practices. The commission is tasked with providing annual written notices of exemption from licensure to compliant institutions and has the authority to verify compliance through various methods, including cooperation with religious nongovernmental education associations.

Additionally, the bill establishes penalties for noncompliance, requiring institutions that fail to meet the outlined standards to either submit corrective documentation, apply for a license, or cease operations within a specified timeframe. The bill also includes provisions for the commission to adopt rules to implement these changes and amends several existing statutes to conform to the new regulations. The effective date for the bill is set for October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 125 Filed: 1005.06, 553.865, 1005.03, 1005.04, 1005.21