FL H5201

Establishes the Student Open Access Resource Repository, a statewide searchable database of open educational resources, and the Student Open Access Resource Grant Program to fund development of free course materials, with priority given to high-enrollment courses, high-cost textbook courses, and general education core courses; requires institutions to post zero-textbook-cost courses on registration systems at least 45 days before classes begin.

Restructures the William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program for independent nonprofit colleges and universities into a five-tier performance-based system, with award amounts ranging from 100% (Tier 1, meeting all 5 benchmarks) down to $0 (Tier 5, meeting 0–1 benchmarks), using metrics including access rate, affordability, graduation rate, retention rate, and postgraduate employment.

Creates the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund, which provides a dollar-for-dollar state match of health care partner contributions to eligible nursing education programs for scholarships, faculty recruitment, equipment, and simulation centers; funds may not be used for new building construction.

Creates the Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) Fund to allocate performance-based funding to public postsecondary nursing programs based on the number of program completers and first-time NCLEX passage rates, rewarding programs that exceed the national average.

Expands the Board of Governors' Programs of Strategic Emphasis from 8 to 10 by adding two programs in the critical workforce gap analysis category beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year, for which eligible students receive a 100% tuition and fee waiver; revises Florida Center for Nursing goals to include conducting biennial supply-and-demand gap analyses and developing best practices for nurse faculty and clinical preceptor preparation.