The bill CS/HB 1427 amends section 464.019 of the Florida Statutes, which regulates nursing education program approvals. It introduces new application requirements, including the necessity for program directors to disclose any disciplinary actions from other jurisdictions. The Board of Nursing is empowered to deny applications based on the applicant's history of adverse actions and can revoke program approvals if standards are not met. Key changes include the establishment of evaluation and standardized admission criteria, the implementation of an exit examination or preparation course for students, and the requirement for programs to maintain documentation of academic support plans for students needing assistance.

Furthermore, the bill enhances accountability by mandating that program directors submit written remediation plans if their programs are placed on probation and appear before the board within six months. Programs must remain on probation until they meet the required graduate passage rates, and institutions with programs on probation are prohibited from applying for new nursing programs. The bill also requires programs to inform students of their probationary status, provide remediation at no extra cost for students who do not pass exit exams, and reimburse tuition for students who fail the licensing exam if the program's passage rate is below 30%. The Florida Center for Nursing will evaluate the effectiveness of these regulations and report annually on program performance and graduate outcomes, with the act set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1427 Filed: 202.18, 212.20, 215.971, 218.67, 288.007, 288.019, 288.065, 319.32, 339.0801, 395.6061, 420.9073, 420.9075, 1013.62, 1013.64, 163.3187, 212.205, 257.191, 257.193, 265.283, 443.191, 571.26, 571.265
H 1427 c1: 395.6061, 409.906, 458.347, 459.022, 466.001, 466.004, 466.006, 466.009, 466.011, 466.016, 466.017, 466.018, 466.026, 921.0022
H 1427 e1: 395.6061, 409.906, 458.347, 459.022, 466.001, 466.004, 466.006, 466.009, 466.011, 466.016, 466.017, 466.018, 466.026