SPB 7098 Summary

• Requires Auditor General to notify Legislative Auditing Committee when state universities or colleges fail to take corrective action on audit recommendations across two consecutive reports, with potential for hearings if non-compliance is unjustified.

• Eliminates exemption for training and education services for injured employees from competitive procurement requirements and repeals the reemployment of injured workers rehabilitation program (s. 440.491).

• Establishes Florida Degree Consortium by merging Florida Distance Learning Consortium, computer-assisted student advising system, and degree completion pilot program to provide centralized online course and degree information with focus on adult learners and veterans.

• Creates Florida Education Library Resource Center to consolidate library automation services, requiring Florida Center for Library Automation and College Center for Library Automation to cease independent operations by June 30, 2013.

• Requires state universities and Florida College System institutions to enter into purchasing consortia and cooperative agreements with goal of achieving 5 percent savings on contract prices.

• Modifies Bright Futures Scholarship eligibility timelines and credit hour limits based on graduation year, establishes excess hour surcharge for students exceeding 110-120 percent of degree requirements, and allows summer term enrollment beginning 2012-2013 academic year.

• Authorizes University of Florida to use activity and service fees to finance J. Wayne Reitz Union renovation and expansion at up to $2.55 per credit hour.