F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 1325 2026 A bill to be entitled An act relating to the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund;
revising thelegislative Legislative intent forto theincentivize Linkingcollaboration Industrywith toother Nursingpersons Educationand (LINE)entities Fund;that contribute monetary or nonmonetary contributions;
revisingauthorizing thedollar-to- definitiondollar matches of thefunds termfor "healthcertain carecontributions partner";by persons or entities to an institution;
authorizing the inclusion of nonmonetary contributions to institutions for purposes of proposals for LINE Fund matching funds;
requiring monetary contributions to receive priority in the award of matching funds;
revising the authorized uses of awarded funds;
requiring proposals for participation in the fund to be submitted by specified persons;
providing allowable nonmonetary contributions;
providing requirements for the acceptance of nonmonetary contributions as health care matching funds;
revising the criteria the Board of Governors andor the Department of Education must use to review proposals;
authorizingrevising the Board of Governors and theState DepartmentBoard of Education duties to provideadopt multiyearregulations awardsand underrules, certainrespectively, circumstances;to administer the program;
providing notificationan requirementseffective fordate. such awards;
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hb1325-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB 1325 2026 providing an effective date.
1009.8962 Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund.— (1)Page This1 section shall be known and may be cited as the "Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund Act." (2) Recognizing that the state has a persistent and growing nursing shortage, it is the intent of the6 LegislatureCODING: to address this critical workforce need by incentivizing collaboration between nursing education programs and health care partners that contribute monetary or nonmonetary contributions through the establishment of the LINE Fund.
This fund is intended to meet local, regional, and state workforce demand by recruiting faculty and clinical preceptors, increasing the capacity of high-quality nursing education programs, and increasing the number of nursing education program graduates who are prepared and licensed to enter the workforce.
(3) As used in this section, the term:
(a) "Health care partner" means a health care provider as defined in s.
768.38(2) which is licensed to operate in this state.
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hb1325-02-c2hb1325-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 1325 2026 (b)(1) "Institution"This meanssection shall be known and may be cited as the "Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund Act." (2) Recognizing that the state has a schoolpersistent districtand careergrowing centernursing undershortage, s.it is the intent of the Legislature to address this critical workforce need by incentivizing collaboration among between nursing education programs, and health care partners, and other persons and entities that contribute monetary or nonmonetary contributions through the establishment of the LINE Fund.
This fund is intended to meet local, regional, and state workforce demand by recruiting faculty and clinical preceptors, increasing the capacity of high-quality nursing education programs, and increasing the number of nursing education program graduates who are prepared to enter the workforce.
(3) As used in this section, the term:
(a) "Health care partner" means a health care provider as defined in s.
768.38(2).
(b) "Institution" means a school district career center under s.
or an independent school, college, or universityPage with2 anof accredited6 programCODING: as defined in s.
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words underlined are additions.
hb1325-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1325 2026 university with an accredited program as defined in s.
(4) The LINE Fund shall be administered by the Board of Governors for state universities and the Department of Education Pagefor 3all ofother 8institutions. CODING:
(5) Subject to available funds, for every monetary or nonmonetary contribution dollar contributed to an institution by a health care partner or other person or entity, the fund shall provide a dollar-to-dollar match to the participating institution.
Monetary and nonmonetary contributions from health care partners shall receive priority when awarding matching funds to institutions.
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hb1325-02-c2hb1325-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 1325 2026 (6)(a) Funds may be used for allstudent otherscholarships, institutions.recruitment of additional faculty, equipment, and simulation centers to advance high-quality nursing education programs throughout the state.
(5)(b) SubjectFunds tomay availablenot funds,be used for every monetary or nonmonetary contribution dollar contributed to an institution by a health care partner, the fundconstruction shallof providenew abuildings. dollar-to-dollar match to the participating institution to implement the activities outlined in the institution's approved proposal.
Monetary(7)(a) contributionsTo fromparticipate, healthan careinstitution partnersmust shallsubmit receivea prioritytimely whenand awardingcompleted matchingproposal funds to institutions.the Board of Governors or Department of Education, in a format prescribed by the Board of Governors or Department of Education, as applicable.
(6)(a)(b) FundsThe mayproposal bemust usedidentify fora studenthealth scholarships;,care recruitmentpartner oflocated additionaland facultylicensed andto preceptors;operate in the state or other person or entity whose monetary contributions will be matched by the fund on a dollar-to-dollar basis.
increasing(c) programA enrollment,proposal programmay completion,not andbe licensurecomprised examinationsolely passageof rates;,nonmonetary equipment;,contributions. and simulation centers;
(8) The Board of Governors or Department of Education, as applicable, must review and internshipsevaluate toeach advancecompleted high-qualityand nursingtimely educationsubmitted programsproposal throughoutaccording to the state.following minimum criteria:
(b)(a) FundsWhether maymonetary notand benonmonetary usedcontributions forfunds thecommitted constructionby of new buildings, but may be used to expand, retrofit, or upgrade existing facilities if the proposalhealth willcare resultpartner in increased program enrollments or improvedother orperson modernized educational or simulationentity spacewill forcontribute to an institution'seligible nursingpurpose. education program students.
(7)(a)(b) ToHow participate,the aninstitution institution'splans president,to chiefuse administrativethe officer,funds or designeenonmonetary institutioncontribution, mustincluding submithow asuch timelyfunds and completed proposal to the Board of Governors or Departmentnonmonetary ofcontribution Education,will inbe autilized formatto prescribedincrease bystudent thePage Board4 of Governors6 orCODING: Department of Education, as applicable.
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hb1325-02-c2hb1325-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 1325 2026 (b)enrollment The proposal must identify a health care partner located and licensedprogram tocompletion. operate in the state whose monetary contributions will be matched by the fund on a dollar-to-dollar basis.
(c) AllowableHow nonmonetarythe contributionshealth arecare limitedpartner towill theonboard following:and retain graduates.
1.(d) How the funds or nonmonetary contribution will expand the institution's nursing education programs to meet local, regional, or state workforce demands.
The value of the donated use of health care partner employees as nursing education program instructors or preceptors.
2.
The value of the donated use of a health care partner's space or equipment by a nursing education program.
3.
The value of donated educational or simulation equipment.
4.
Other similar quantifiable donated goods and services deemed by the Board of Governors or Department of Education, as applicable, to be good faith contributions that support the goals of the LINE Fund.
(d) To accept nonmonetary contributions as health care matching funds, the applicant and Board of Governors or Department of Education, as applicable, must quantify the fair market value of the contribution in dollars and certify that the proposed contribution directly supports the goals of the LINE Fund outlined in subsection (2).
(e) A proposal may not be comprised solely of nonmonetary contributions.
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hb1325-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB 1325 2026 (8) The Board of Governors or Department of Education, as applicable, must review and evaluate each completed and timely submitted proposal according to the following minimum criteria, where applicable:
(a) Whether monetary and nonmonetary contributions funds committed by the health care partner will contribute to an eligible purpose.
(b) How the institution plans to use the funds or nonmonetary contribution, including how such funds or nonmonetary contribution will be utilized to increase student enrollment and program completion.
(c) How the health care partner will onboard and retain graduates or otherwise improve the likelihood that graduates will successfully join the state or local workforce.
(d) How the funds or nonmonetary contribution will be used to expand the institution's nursing education programs to meet local, regional, or state workforce demands.
PageThe 6Board of 8Governors CODING:or Department of Education, as applicable, shall release grant funds, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to the amount of funds or the fair market value of the nonmonetary contribution received by the institution.
Words(b) strickenAnnually, areby deletions;February 1, each institution awarded grant funds in the previous fiscal year shall submit a report to the Board of Governors or Department of Education, as applicable, that demonstrates the expansion as outlined in the proposal and the use of funds.
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hb1325-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB 1325 2026 The Board of Governors or Department of Education, as applicable, shall release grant funds, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to the amount of funds or the fair market value of the nonmonetary contribution received by the institution, including notifications made on a rolling or periodic basis.
(b) If deemed to meet the long-term goals of the LINE Fund, the Board of Governors or Department of Education, as applicable, may, but are not required to, award funds for an approved proposal for up to 2 academic years immediately following the academic year within which the initial approval is granted.
If the Board of Governors or Department of Education, as applicable, approves a multiyear award to an institution, it must notify the recipient that the award amount in subsequent years is subject to a LINE Fund appropriation and the continued notification of the health care partner's contribution to match the multiyear award of state funds.
(c)(b) Annually, by February 1, each institution awarded grant funds in the previous fiscal year shall submit a report to the Board of Governors or Department of Education, as applicable, that demonstrates the expansion as outlined in the proposal and the use of funds.
if scholarships were awarded using grantPage funds,5 the number of students6 whoCODING: received scholarships and the average award amount;
and the outcomes of students as Page 7 of 8 CODING:
hb1325-02-c2hb1325-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 1325 2026 reportedgrant byfunds, the Officenumber of Reimaginingstudents Educationwho andreceived Careerscholarships Helpand pursuantthe toaverage s.award amount;
and the outcomes of students as reported by the Office of Reimagining Education and Career Help pursuant to s.
(10) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations and the State Board of Education shall adopt rules to administer the fund, establish dates for the submission and review of proposals, award funds, determine under what circumstances nonmonetary contributions may be considered, how the fair market value of such nonmonetary contributions may be determined, and other regulations and rules necessary to implement this section.
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