FL H1261

Grants civil liability immunity to postsecondary educational institutions (public and nonpublic), the Board of Governors, and the State Board of Education for reasonably necessary COVID-19 pandemic actions, including shifting to online instruction, closing facilities, and modifying student services; exceptions apply for bad faith acts or breaches of express contractual provisions allocating liability.

Requires the Board of Governors to publish an online career data dashboard by January 1, 2022, showing post-graduation median salary (at 1, 5, and 10 years), median student loan debt, and debt-to-income ratios by academic discipline; undergraduate students must register with their university's career center and complete a career readiness module before registering for second-year classes.

Creates a 100% tuition and fee waiver for Florida resident students who earn 60 credit hours within 2 academic years and enroll in one of eight Board of Governors-designated STEM Programs of Strategic Emphasis, applicable to upper-level courses up to 110% of required credit hours, beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year.

Establishes the State University Free Seat Program to waive tuition and fees for one online course for veterans, active duty military, Florida National Guard members, and nontraditional students (not enrolled in postsecondary education for 5+ years) pursuing online baccalaureate degrees, capped at 1,000 students systemwide per year, with remaining program courses charged at no more than 75% of tuition.

Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, requires state universities to waive out-of-state fees for nonresident students who have a grandparent who is a Florida legal resident and score at or above the 89th national percentile on the SAT (or equivalent), capped at 350 students systemwide per year; also makes 2021-2022 the last year out-of-state students may receive an initial Benacquisto Scholarship award.