This bill establishes the Florida Center for Nursing within the University of South Florida, which will oversee the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund. The center is responsible for promoting LINE funding, providing technical assistance to eligible institutions, and publishing guidelines for the administration of the LINE Fund. It also shifts the responsibility for reviewing and evaluating proposals from the Board of Governors to the center itself and requires the center to submit annual reports detailing its activities and progress. Additionally, the bill introduces a new definition for "Center," which refers to the Florida Center for Nursing, and establishes criteria for healthcare partners that can contribute to the fund.

Moreover, the bill amends provisions related to tuition and fees for state universities, allowing university boards of trustees to set out-of-state fees for nonresident students while ensuring that total tuition and fees cover full instructional costs. It also mandates state universities to waive out-of-pocket expenses for certain students in designated programs, enhancing access to education in critical workforce areas. The bill removes previous limitations on fee amounts and block tuition policies for nonresident undergraduate students, granting universities greater flexibility in their fee structures. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 2512 pb: 464.0195