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CS/HB 1115, Engrossed 1 2026 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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
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An act relating to the grants for genetic counseling 2
education; creating s. 1009.8963, F.S.; creating the 3
Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement Grant Program 4
within the State University System; providing the 5
purpose of the program; subject to legislative 6
appropriation, requiring the Board of Governors to 7
award grant funds to state universities for specified 8
purposes; requiring the program to reward excellence 9
among genetic counseling programs based on specified 10
criteria; providing authorized uses of grant funds; 11
prohibiting such funds from being used for specified 12
purposes; requiring state universities participating 13
in the program to maintain specified records; 14
requiring such state universities to submit an annual 15
report; requiring the Board of Governors to submit an 16
annual summary of such reports to the Governor and 17
Legislature by a specified date; requiring the Board 18
of Governors to adopt regulations; providing an 19
effective date. 20
21
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 22
23
Section 1. Section 1009.8963, Florida Statutes, is created 24
to read: 25
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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
1009.8963 The Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement 26
Grant Program.— 27
(1) The Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement Grant 28
Program is created within the State University System to support 29
the development, growth, and sustainability of graduate level 30
genetic counseling programs accredited by a recognized 31
accrediting body. The Board of Governors shall award competitive 32
grants to state universities to address faculty shortages, 33
student financial barriers, and clinical training needs in 34
genetic counseling. 35
(2) Subject to appropriation, the board shall award funds 36
to: 37
(a) Establish an accredited program at a state university 38
through a one-time start-up grant based upon an application 39
submitted in a format prescribed by the board. The application 40
must include: 41
1. A detailed plan demonstrating how grant funds will be 42
used to achieve program accreditation. 43
2. The projected outcomes of establishing the program, 44
including all of the following: 45
a. The anticipated program enrollment. 46
b. The plan for hiring and retaining faculty for the 47
program. 48
c. The anticipated program completion rates. 49
d. The anticipated first-time American Board of Genetic 50
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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
Counseling board certification examination passage rates. 51
e. The anticipated program contributions to the state's 52
genetic counseling workforce. 53
3. Documentation demonstrating that the proposed program 54
is supported by sufficient clinical training capacity consistent 55
with nationally recognized accreditation standards, and that the 56
proposed growth represents a net increase in statewide training 57
opportunities rather than a redistribution of existing 58
supervision resources. 59
(b) Accredited programs based on program performance 60
according to the following metrics: 61
1. The number of students completing the genetic 62
counseling program. 63
2. The first-time American Board of Genetic Counseling 64
board certification examination passage rate for students 65
completing the state university's genetic counseling program. 66
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The program shall reward excellence among genetic counseling 68
programs with an average first-time American Board of Genetic 69
Counseling board certification examination passage rate above 70
the national average. 71
(3)(a) Grant funds provided through the program must be 72
used for: 73
1. The recruitment and retention of qualified faculty, 74
including, but not limited to, salaries, professional 75
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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
development, and incentives. 76
2. Financial assistance to students enrolled in the 77
accredited program. Such financial assistance must be in the 78
form of scholarships that cover tuition, required books and 79
materials, and reasonable living expenses. 80
3. The establishment and maintenance of clinical rotations 81
required for completion of the master's degree in genetic 82
counseling, including partnerships with health care facilities 83
for supervised practicum experiences, simulation training 84
resources, and faculty oversight. 85
(b) Grant funds may not be used for: 86
1. General administrative overhead costs. 87
2. The construction of new facilities. 88
3. Nonprogram-related activities. 89
(c) State universities that receive a grant through the 90
program must maintain records sufficient to demonstrate 91
compliance with this subsection. 92
(4)(a) Each state university receiving funds pursuant to 93
this section shall submit an annual report to the board. The 94
report must include: 95
1. Expenditures. 96
2. The outcomes achieved using grant funds. 97
3. Plans for the upcoming fiscal year for the program. 98
(b) The board shall annually compile the reports into a 99
statewide summary. The summary must be submitted to the 100
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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
Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the 101
House of Representatives by July 1 of each year. 102
(5) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations to 103
administer this section. 104
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 105