The bill CS/HB 919 amends section 464.019 of the Florida Statutes, which regulates nursing education programs. It introduces revised application requirements for program approval, including the necessity for program directors to disclose their names and any disciplinary actions taken against them in other jurisdictions. The Board of Nursing is empowered to deny applications based on adverse actions from other regulatory bodies and to revoke program approvals under specific conditions. Additionally, program directors are required to submit annual reports on compliance with educational standards, including graduate passage rates and accreditation status. The bill also mandates that nursing programs maintain certain graduate passage rates, with remediation procedures in place for those that do not meet these standards.

Moreover, the legislation enhances accountability by placing programs that fail to achieve the required passage rates on probation, necessitating a remediation plan from the program director. Programs must inform students of their probationary status and provide remediation at no extra cost for those who do not pass required examinations. The bill also stipulates that programs with a graduate passage rate below 30% must reimburse tuition for students who fail the licensing exam. It allows for onsite evaluations by the Department of Health to ensure compliance and requires the Florida Center for Nursing to assess various metrics related to nursing education. Notably, the bill removes previous provisions regarding extensions for accreditation deadlines, streamlining compliance processes. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.