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. The Department of Education is tasked with maintaining a list of eligible health science programs for funding, and institutions are required to submit annual reports to the center. The bill also amends existing statutes to require state universities to waive 100% of out-of-pocket tuition and fees for students enrolled in Programs of Strategic Emphasis after other aid is applied.

Additionally, the bill expands the purpose of the LINE Fund to support a wider range of health science professions beyond nursing and streamlines the funding process by removing certain reporting requirements for state universities and the Board of Governors. The fund will provide dollar-for-dollar matching for contributions from health care partners and other entities, with specific uses outlined for scholarships, faculty recruitment, and program enhancements, while prohibiting funds for new building construction. Institutions must submit standardized proposals detailing their health care partners and fund utilization to meet workforce demands, with the center evaluating these proposals based on their potential impact on student enrollment and program outcomes. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 2516E Filed: 464.0195