The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Appropriations
BILL: SB 7044
INTRODUCER: Education Committee and Senator Diaz
SUBJECT: Postsecondary Education
DATE: February 23, 2022 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
Jahnke Bouck ED Submitted as Committee Bill
1. Grace Sadberry AP Favorable
I. Summary:
SB 7044 modifies requirements related to postsecondary education transparency of course
information and student fees, transfer of credit, and accreditation. Specifically the bill:
Requires additional information about textbooks and instructional materials that Florida
College System (FCS) institutions and state universities must post at least 45 days before the
first day of class for each term.
Revises the maintenance requirements and course information that must be included in the
statewide course numbering system (SCNS).
Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules governing the SCNS procedures,
collection of course information, publication of course information, and faculty discipline
committee reviews.
Requires certain postsecondary education institutions receiving general education course
credit in transfer to apply the credit to general education core course requirements and other
general education requirements before applying as elective credit.
Establishes transparency requirements for FCS institutions and state universities to
prominently post and email to enrolled students all tuition and fees.
Subjects any FCS institution or state university proposal or action to increase a fee,
authorized by law, to an extraordinary vote.
Prohibits a state college or state university from being accredited by the same accrediting
agency or association for consecutive accreditation cycles.
Provides a cause of action for any postsecondary education institution that is negatively
impacted by a retaliatory action by its accrediting agency or association.
The bill has no fiscal impact on state government. See Section V. Fiscal Impact Statement.
The bill is effective July 1, 2022.
BILL: SB 7044 Page 2
II. Present Situation:
The present situation for the relevant portions of the bill is discussed under the Effect of
Proposed Changes of this bill analysis.
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
Textbooks and Instructional Materials Transparency
Present Situation
Current law establishes requirements regarding the textbook and instructional materials adoption
process at Florida College System (FCS) institutions and state universities. As part of this
process, each FCS institution and university is required to post a hyperlink to lists of required
and recommended textbooks for at least 95 percent of all courses and course sections offered
during the upcoming term. Such lists must be posted as early as is feasible, but at least 45 days
before the first day of class for each term. The lists must include the International Standard Book
Number (ISBN) for each required textbook or other identifying information, which must include,
at a minimum: the title, all authors listed, publishers, edition number, copyright date, published
date, and any other relevant information necessary to identify the specific textbooks or
instructional materials required and recommended for each course. 1
Eight of the 12 state universities met the 95 percent threshold for posting of lists of required and
recommended textbooks and instructional materials for courses and course sections at least 45
days prior to the start of classes for the Fall 2020 semester. Ten universities met the threshold for
the Spring 2021 semester. 2
Twenty-one of the 28 FCS institutions met the 95 percent threshold for posting of lists of
required and recommended textbooks and instructional materials for courses and course sections
at least 45 days prior to the start of classes for the Fall 2020 semester.3
The State Board of Education (SBE) and the Board of Governors (BOG) are required to adopt
textbook and instructional materials affordability policies, procedures, and guidelines for
implementation by FCS institutions and state universities, respectively, that further efforts to
minimize the cost of textbooks and instructional materials for students attending such institutions
while ensuring that the quality of education and academic freedom is maintained.
Further, the board of trustees of each FCS institution and state university is required to submit an
annual report by September 30 to the Chancellor of the FCS or the State University System
(SUS), respectively. Each FCS institution's and state university’s report is required to address the
following four components:
The textbook and instructional materials selection process for high-enrollment courses.
1
Section 1004.085, F.S.
2
Florida Board of Governors, State University System Textbook & Instructional Materials Affordability Report Fall 2021, at
pg. 7, available at https://www.flbog.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-Textbook-Instructional-Materials-
Report_Final.pdf.
3
See Florida Department of Education, College and Textbook Affordability in the Florida College System 2021 (Fall 2021).
BILL: SB 7044 Page 3
Specific initiatives of the institution designed to reduce the costs of textbooks and
instructional materials.
Institution policies implemented for the posting of textbook and instructional materials
information for students.
The number of courses and course sections that did not meet the textbook and instructional
materials posting deadline in the previous academic year. 4
Effect of Proposed Changes
The bill modifies s. 1004.085, F.S., to supplement current law requiring posts of lists of required
and recommended textbooks and instructional materials at least 45 days before the first day of
class for each term. The bill requires the lists to:
Remain posted for at least five academic years.
Be searchable by the course subject, course number, course title, the name of the instructor of
the course, the title of each assigned textbook or instructional material, and each author of an
assigned textbook or instructional material.
Be easily downloadable by current and prospective students.
In addition, if a course is a general education core course option, the list must include course
syllabi information containing sufficient detail to inform students of all of the following:
The course curriculum.
The goals, objectives, and student expectations of the course.
How student performance will be measured.
Articulation
The Legislature has established policies to facilitate articulation and seamless integration within
Florida’s education system. The purpose of the State’s system of articulation is to provide for the
efficient and effective progression and transfer of students within the education system and to
allow students to proceed toward their educational objectives as rapidly as their circumstances
permit.5
Present Situation
Florida law requires the Department of Education, in conjunction with the BOG, to develop,
coordinate, and maintain a statewide course numbering system for postsecondary and dual
enrollment education in school districts, public postsecondary educational institutions, and
participating nonpublic postsecondary educational institutions that will:
Improve program planning.
Increase communication among all delivery systems.
Facilitate student acceleration and the transfer of students and credits between public school
districts, public postsecondary educational institutions, and participating nonpublic
educational institutions.
4
Section 1004.085, F.S.
5
Section 1007.01(1) and (2), F.S.
BILL: SB 7044 Page 4
The continuing maintenance of the system must be accomplished with the assistance of
appropriate faculty committees representing public and participating nonpublic educational
institutions.6
All 12 of Florida’s state universities, 28 FCS institutions, 38 participating nonpublic
postsecondary institutions, and 48 career education centers participate in the statewide course
numbering system (SCNS).7 When transferring institutions, a student’s credits are accepted at
institutions participating in the SCNS when the two institutions offer the same course, course
prefix, and number.8
Courses that have the same academic content and are taught by faculty with comparable
credentials are given the same prefix and number and are considered equivalent courses.9
Equivalent courses are guaranteed to transfer to any other institution participating in the SCNS.
Credits awarded for equivalent courses must satisfy institutional requirements on the same basis
as credits awarded to native students. Courses that are not substantially like any other course in
the SCNS are given a unique course number and are not considered equivalent.
Specific types of courses are exempted from the guarantee of transfer for equivalent courses.
Exceptions include courses not offered at the receiving institution; special topics, internship,
practicum, and dissertation courses, graduate courses; and applied performing arts or skills
courses in criminal justice that require demonstration achievement. 10
Statewide Articulation Agreement
Florida established a Statewide Articulation Agreement in 1971 to facilitate the seamless
articulation of student credits between and among public postsecondary institutions. The “2+2”
articulation system provides for the equitable treatment of transfer students.11 The Articulation
Coordinating Committee, made up of members representing the SUS, FCS, public career and
technical education, K-12 education, and nonpublic postsecondary education oversees the
agreement and makes recommendation for continuous improvement.12
Under the statewide articulation agreement, a student who graduates from an FCS institution
with an associate in arts (AA) degree is guaranteed the following rights:
Admission to an upper division program at a state university or FCS institution if it offers
baccalaureate degree programs, except to limited access programs.
6
Section 1007.24(1), F.S.
7
Florida Department of Education, Statewide Postsecondary Articulation Manual (Jan. 2021), at 3, available at
https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5421/urlt/Statewide-Articulation-Manual.pdf.
8
Id. at 3-4.; See also Section 1007.24(7), F.S. The course number is composed of a three character prefix, a three digit
number indicating the course content, and a level digit indicating the level of instruction (non college credit, lower or upper
division, or graduate and professional).
9
Florida Department of Education, Statewide Postsecondary Articulation Manual (Jan. 2021), at 4, available at
https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5421/urlt/Statewide-Articulation-Manual.pdf.
10
Section 1007.24(7), F.S.
11
Florida Department of Education, Statewide Postsecondary Articulation Manual (Jan. 2021), at 14, available at
https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5421/urlt/Statewide-Articulation-Manual.pdf.
12
Section 1007.01(3), F.S.
BILL: SB 7044 Page 5
Acceptance of at least 60 semester hours by the state universities and FCS baccalaureate
degree-granting institutions.
Adherence to the university or college requirements and policies, based on the catalog in
effect at the time the student first enters the Florida college, provided the student maintains
continuous enrollment.
Transfer of equivalent courses under the SCNS.
Acceptance by the state universities and baccalaureate degree-granting FCS institutions of
credits earned in accelerated programs (e.g. Dual Enrollment, CLEP, Advanced Placement,
International Baccalaureate, and Advanced International Certificate of Education).
No additional general education core or general education institutional requirements.
Advance knowledge of selection criteria for limited access programs.
Equal opportunity with native university students to enter limited access programs.
Some degree programs require specific lower division coursework outside of common
prerequisites, thus, depending on a student’s course selection, the 60 hours earned in the AA will
be accepted; however, not all of the credit may apply towards a student’s degree program.13
General Education Courses
Current law requires an AA degree at an FCS or SUS institution to be no more than 60 semester
hours of college credit and include 36 semester hours of general education course work. A
baccalaureate degree must be no more than 120 semester hours of college credit, unless prior
approval has been granted by the BOG or the SBE, as applicable, and include 36 semester hours
of general education coursework.
Students initially entering an FCS or SUS institution in 2015-2016 and thereafter, are required to
complete at least one identified general education core course in each of the subject areas of
communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. All public
postsecondary educational institutions are required to accept these courses as meeting general
education core course requirements.14 After completing the general education core course
requirements, the remaining courses and credits that fulfill the total 36-hour general education
requirement for an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree are at the discretion of the FCS or
SUS institution.15
General education programs in Florida, while consistent at the general education core
requirements and the total of 36 hours for completion, vary in the selection of institutionally-
required courses. Students who transfer with an AA or associate in science (AS) degree, or who
have completed their block of 36 general education hours do not have to meet the receiving
institution’s general education program requirements. If a student does not complete the total 36-
hour general education curriculum prior to transfer, each course, outside of courses taken as
13
Florida Department of Education, Statewide Postsecondary Articulation Manual (Jan. 2021), at 15, available at
https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5421/urlt/Statewide-Articulation-Manual.pdf.
14
Section 1007.25, F.S.
15
Florida Board of Governors, Regulation 8.005 General Education Core Course Options, available at
https://www.flbog.edu/wp-content/uploads/8_005GeneralEducationCore_final.pdf and Rule 6A -14.0303(5), F.A.C.
BILL: SB 7044 Page 6
general education courses, will be reviewed individually to determine if it meets the general
education requirements of the new institution. 16
Effect of Proposed Changes
The bill modifies s. 1007.24, F.S., to largely codify existing practice in the development and
maintenance of the SCNS. The bill requires the SCNS to be maintained electronically and
regularly updated by the DOE, and in addition to including the courses at the recommended
levels, requires the inclusion of course numbers, course titles, credits awarded, and other
identifiable information by institution and academic year, as required by SBE rule. The bill
further requires such information to be included in the registration process at each state
university and FCS institution.
When receiving transfer course credit, the bill requires postsecondary institutions participating in
the SCNS to accept and apply general education courses and credit, including credit earned
through dual enrollment, course equivalences, and other acceleration mechanisms, as first
satisfying general education core course credit requirements and other general education subject
area course credit requirements before applying the course credit as elective credit.
Additionally, the bill requires the SBE to adopt rules that provide for the collection of course
information from participating institutions, identifiable information required for each course