This bill establishes the Florida Center for Nursing at the University of South Florida, which will manage the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund. The center's responsibilities include promoting matching funds, providing technical assistance to eligible institutions, developing guidelines for fund administration, evaluating funding proposals, prioritizing grant applications, and ensuring compliance with reporting standards. Additionally, the center is required to submit an annual report on its activities and progress. The bill also amends existing statutes regarding fee waivers for students in Programs of Strategic Emphasis, mandating state universities to waive tuition and fees for students' out-of-pocket expenses after other aid is applied, while removing certain reporting requirements related to these waivers.

The bill expands the purpose of the LINE Fund to address shortages in both nursing and other health science professions, and it clarifies the roles of various entities involved in fund administration, including the Department of Education, which will maintain a list of eligible health science programs. The fund will provide dollar-for-dollar matching contributions for funds raised by participating institutions, supporting uses such as scholarships and faculty recruitment, while prohibiting the use of funds for new building construction. Institutions must submit standardized proposals detailing their health care partners and intended fund usage, which the center will evaluate based on criteria like potential impact on student enrollment and workforce needs. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 2516 Filed: 464.0195