Senate Bill 2524 (2022) created the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund, to incentivize collaboration between nursing education programs and health care partners to address the nursing workforce needs in the ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-10.0352Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Senate Bill 2524 (2022) created the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund, to incentivize collaboration between nursing education programs and health care partners to address the nursing workforce needs in the state. The purpose of the proposed amendment is to modify the current LINE Fund Rule 6A-10.0352, Florida Administrative Code, to include the removal of dates specific to the 2022-23 grant period. Additionally, the proposed amendment provides clarification on proposal submission deadlines and criteria, and the reporting requirements to align with the language in the LINE Fund statute (section 1009.8962, F.S.). The effect of this rule amendment will be to provide clarity regarding the funding notification, required documentation, and reporting requirements.

SUMMARY: To modify Rule 6A-10.0352, F.A.C., to include the removal of dates specific to the 2022-23 grant period. Additionally, the proposed amendment provides clarification on proposal submission deadlines and criteria, and the reporting requirements to align with the language in the LINE Fund statute (section 1009.8962, F.S.).

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: Implementation of the proposed rule amendment is not expected to have any adverse economic impact and costs of administration will be absorbed by current staff. No requirement for a SERC was triggered under s. 120.541(1), F.S., and the adverse impact or regulatory cost, if any, do not exceed nor would be expected to exceed any one of the economic analysis criteria set forth in Section 120.541(2)(a), F.S., and will not require legislative ratification.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1009.8962(10), F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1009.8962, F.S.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: August 23, 2023, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Collier County School Board Office 5775 Osceola Trail, Naples, FL 34109.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Katie Grissom, Director of Workforce and Academic Alignment, Division of Florida Colleges, [e-mail], [phone]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-10.0352 Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund.

(1) through (2) No change.

(3) Notification of Funding Opportunity. Each year that the LINE Fund is funded by the legislature, the Department will publish notice of the availability of grants and Request for Proposals at https://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/funding-opportunities at least fifteen (15) days prior to the notice of intent submission. For the 2022-2023 year, the notification of funding opportunity will be posted no later than September 15. The notification of funding opportunity will include:

(a) Grant period. For Fiscal Year 2022-2023, the grant period is July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.

(b) No change. 

(c) Deadline Earliest and latest date to apply for the grant. Proposals will be accepted as early as thirty (30) days following the notice of intent deadline and will continue to be accepted for another fifteen (15) days or until all appropriated funds are awarded, whichever comes first.

(d) No change. 

(4) Proposals.  If funds are designated in the General Appropriations Act, the Department shall solicit proposals for LINE funds. To be eligible for an allocation, proposals must include the following components which will be used to prioritize funding along with the criteria established in subsection (5).

(a) The total amount of LINE funds requested and a detailed budget for the expenditure of these funds, including proposed budget for the program, which includes the health care partner contribution and the amount of LINE Funds requested. The proposed budget includes personnel costs, operating expenses, equipment costs and training expenses, and other allowable expenses.

(b) through (d) No change.

(5) through (7) No change.

(8) Required Reporting.

(a) Quarterly, institutions that have been awarded LINE funds must report to the Department the amount and use of funds, as outlined in the proposal, expended in the prior three months. Quarterly submissions are due on January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 of each year. No later than thirty (30) days before the submission deadline, the Department will release guidelines for institutions to securely transmit an electronic file to meet this requirement.

(b) Annually, by February 1, institutions that were have been awarded LINE funds in the previous fiscal year must report to the Department all information required by Section 1009.8962(9)(b), F.S. Minimally, the report must include, by program level, the number of additional nursing education students enrolled; if scholarships were awarded using grant funds, the number of students who received scholarships and the average award amount; and the outcomes of students as reported by the Florida Talent Development Council pursuant to Section 1004.015(6), F.S. No later than thirty (30) days before the submission deadline, the Department will release guidelines for institutions to transmit an electronic file to meet this requirement.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1009.8962(10) FS. Law Implemented 1009.8962 FS. History‒New 9-20-22,

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Katie Grissom, Director of Workforce and Academic Alignment, Division of Florida Colleges.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Manny Diaz Jr., Commissioner, Department of Education.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: July 24, 2023

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: June 16, 2023