Read the full stored bill text
Florida Senate
-
2026
CS for SB 1376
By
the Committee on Education Postsecondary; and Senators
Burgess, Sharief, and Berman
589-02281-26 20261376c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to grants for genetic counseling
3 education; creating s. 1009.8963, F.S.; creating the
4 Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement Grant Program
5 within the State University System; providing the
6 purpose of the program; requiring the Board of
7 Governors, subject to legislative appropriation, to
8 award grant funds to state universities for specified
9 purposes; requiring the program to reward excellence
10 among genetic counseling programs based on specified
11 criteria; providing authorized uses of grant funds;
12 prohibiting such funds from being used for specified
13 purposes; requiring state universities participating
14 in the program to maintain specified records;
15 requiring such state universities to submit an annual
16 report; requiring the Board of Governors to submit an
17 annual summary of such reports to the Governor and
18 Legislature by a specified date; requiring the Board
19 of Governors to adopt regulations; providing an
20 effective date.
21
22 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24 Section 1. Section 1009.8963, Florida Statutes, is created
25 to read:
26
1009.8963
The Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement
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Grant Program.—
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(1)
The Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement Grant
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Program is created within the State University System to support
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the development, growth, and sustainability of graduate level
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genetic counseling programs accredited by the Accreditation
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Council for Genetic Counseling. The Board of Governors shall
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award competitive grants to state universities to address
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faculty shortages, student financial barriers, and clinical
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training needs in genetic counseling.
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(2) Subject to appropriation, the board shall award funds
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to:
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(a) Establish an accredited program at a state university
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through a one-time start-up grant based upon an application
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submitted in a format prescribed by the board. The application
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must include:
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1. A detailed plan demonstrating how grant funds will be
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used to achieve program accreditation.
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2. The projected outcomes of establishing the program,
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including all of the following:
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a. The anticipated program enrollment.
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b. The plan for hiring and retaining faculty for the
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program.
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c. The anticipated program completion rates.
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d. The anticipated first-time American Board of Genetic
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Counseling board certification examination passage rates.
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e. The anticipated program contributions to the state’s
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genetic counseling workforce.
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3. Documentation demonstrating that the proposed program is
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supported by sufficient clinical training capacity consistent
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with nationally recognized accreditation standards and that the
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proposed growth represents a net increase in statewide training
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opportunities rather than a redistribution of existing
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supervision resources.
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(b)
Accredited programs based on program performance
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according to the following metrics:
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1.
The number of students completing the genetic counseling
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program.
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2.
The first-time American Board of Genetic Counseling
,
65
Inc.,
board certification examination passage rate for students
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completing the state university’s genetic counseling program.
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The program shall reward excellence among genetic counseling
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programs with an average first-time American Board of Genetic
70
Counseling
, Inc.,
board certification examination passage rate
71
above the national average.
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(3)(a)
Grant funds provided through the program must be
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used for:
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1.
The recruitment and retention of qualified faculty,
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including, but not limited to, salaries, professional
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development, and incentives.
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2.
Financial assistance to students enrolled in the
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accredited program. Such financial assistance must be in the
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form of scholarships that cover tuition, required books and
80
materials, and reasonable living expenses.
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3.
The establishment and maintenance of clinical rotations
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required for completion of the master’s degree in genetic
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counseling, including partnerships with health care facilities
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for supervised practicum experiences, simulation training
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resources, and faculty oversight.
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(b)
Grant funds may not be used for:
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1.
General administrative overhead costs.
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2.
The construction of new facilities.
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3.
Nonprogram-related activities.
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(c)
State universities that receive a grant through the
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program must maintain records sufficient to demonstrate
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compliance with this subsection.
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(4)(a)
Each state university receiving funds pursuant to
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this section shall submit an annual report to the board. The
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report must include:
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1.
Expenditures.
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2.
The outcomes achieved using grant funds.
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3.
Plans for the upcoming fiscal year for the program.
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(b)
The board shall annually compile the reports into a
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statewide summary. The summary must be submitted to the
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Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
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House of Representatives by July 1 of each year.
103
(5)
The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations to
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administer this section.
105 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.