FINANCIAL MATTERS

F.S. Ch. 1010

in effect

F.S. 1010.01 Uniform records and accounts.

(1)(a) The financial records and accounts of each school district, Florida College System institution, and other institution or agency under the supervision of the State Board of Education shall be prepared and maintained as prescribed by law and rules of the State Board of Education. (b) The financial records and accounts of each state university under the supervision of the Board of Governors shall be prepared and maintained as prescribed by law and rules of the Board of Governors. (2) Rules of the State Board of Education and rules of the Board of Governors shall incorporate the requirements of law and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Such rules shall include a uniform classification of accounts. (3) Each state university shall annually file with the Board of Governors financial statements prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted by the United States and the uniform classification of accounts prescribed by the Board of Governors. The Board of Governors’ rules shall prescribe the filing deadline for the financial statements. (4) Required financial accounts and reports shall include provisions that are unique to each of the following: K-12 school districts, Florida College System institutions, and state universities, and shall provide for the data to be reported to the National Center of Educational Statistics and other governmental and professional educational data information services as appropriate. (5) Each school district, Florida College System institution, and state university shall establish and maintain internal controls designed to: (a) Prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse as defined in s. 11.45(1). (b) Promote and encourage compliance with applicable laws, rules, contracts, grant agreements, and best practices. (c) Support economical and efficient operations. (d) Ensure reliability of financial records and reports. (e) Safeguard assets.

F.S. 1010.02 Financial accounting and expenditures.

(1) All funds accruing to a school district or a Florida College System institution must be received, accounted for, and expended in accordance with law and rules of the State Board of Education. (a) A school district may be subject to varying reporting frequencies based on its financial status, as determined in State Board of Education rule and as follows: 1. A school district identified as having a financial concern may be required to submit monthly financial reports. 2. A school district not identified as having a financial concern may not be required to submit financial reports more than once every quarter. (b) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to establish criteria for determining the financial status of school districts for the purpose of financial reporting. (2) All funds accruing to a state university must be received, accounted for, and expended in accordance with law and rules of the Board of Governors.

F.S. 1010.03 Delinquent accounts.

District school boards, Florida College System institution boards of trustees, and university boards of trustees: (1) Shall exert every effort to collect all delinquent accounts. (2) May charge off or settle such accounts as may prove uncollectible. (3) May employ the services of a collection agency when deemed advisable in collecting delinquent accounts. (4) May adopt rules, except that university boards of trustees may adopt regulations, as necessary, to implement the provisions of this section, including setoff procedures, payroll deductions, and restrictions on release of transcripts, awarding of diplomas, and access to other resources and services of the school district, Florida College System institution, or university.

F.S. 1010.04 Purchasing.

(1)(a) Purchases and leases by school districts and Florida College System institutions shall comply with the requirements of law and rules of the State Board of Education. (b) Before purchasing nonacademic commodities and contractual services, each district school board and Florida College System institution board of trustees shall review the purchasing agreements and state term contracts available under s. 287.056 to determine whether it is in the school board’s or the board of trustees’ economic advantage to use the agreements and contracts. Each bid specification for nonacademic commodities and contractual services must include a statement indicating that the purchasing agreements and state term contracts available under s. 287.056 have been reviewed. Each district school board may also use the cooperative state purchasing programs managed through the regional consortium service organizations pursuant to their authority under s. 1001.451(3). This paragraph does not apply to services that are eligible for reimbursement under the federal E-rate program administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company. (c) Purchases and leases by state universities shall comply with the requirements of law and regulations of the Board of Governors. (2) Each district school board and Florida College System institution board of trustees shall adopt rules, and each university board of trustees shall adopt regulations, to be followed in making purchases. Purchases may be made through an online procurement system, an electronic auction service, or other efficient procurement tool. (3) In districts in which the county purchasing agent is authorized by law to make purchases for the benefit of other governmental agencies within the county, the district school board and Florida College System institution board of trustees shall have the option to purchase from the current county contracts at the unit price stated therein if such purchase is to the economic advantage of the district school board or the Florida College System institution board of trustees; subject to confirmation of the items of purchase to the standards and specifications prescribed by the school district or Florida College System institution. (4)(a) The State Board of Education may, by rule, provide for alternative procedures for school districts and Florida College System institutions for bidding or purchasing in cases in which the character of the item requested renders competitive bidding impractical. (b) The Board of Governors may, by regulation, provide for alternative procedures for state universities for bidding or purchasing in cases in which the character of the item requested renders competitive bidding impractical. (5) Beginning July 1, 2023, school districts, Florida College System institutions, and state universities may not: (a) Request documentation of or consider a vendor’s social, political, or ideological interests. (b) Give preference to a vendor based on the vendor’s social, political, or ideological interests. Any solicitation for purchases and leases must include a provision notifying vendors of the provisions of this subsection.

F.S. 1010.05 Federal grants; maximization of indirect cost allowance.

The Department of Education shall maximize the available federal indirect cost allowed on all federal grants. Beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, none of the funds received from indirect cost allowance shall be expended by the department without specific appropriation by the Legislature. Funds received pursuant to s. 1004.22 are specifically exempt from this provision.

F.S. 1010.06 Indirect cost limitation.

State funds appropriated by the Legislature to the Division of Public Schools within the Department of Education may not be used to pay indirect costs to a university, Florida College System institution, school district, or any other entity.

F.S. 1010.07 Bonds or insurance required.

(1) Each district school board, Florida College System institution board of trustees, and university board of trustees shall ensure that each official and employee responsible for handling, expending, or authorizing the expenditure of funds shall be appropriately bonded or insured to protect the board and the funds involved. (2)(a) Contractors paid from school district or Florida College System institution funds shall give bond for the faithful performance of their contracts in such amount and for such purposes as prescribed by s. 255.05 or by rules of the State Board of Education relating to the type of contract involved. It shall be the duty of the district school board or Florida College System institution board of trustees to require from construction contractors a bond adequate to protect the board and the board’s funds involved. (b) Contractors paid from university funds shall give bond for the faithful performance of their contracts in such amount and for such purposes as prescribed by s. 255.05 or by regulations of the Board of Governors relating to the type of contract involved. It shall be the duty of the university board of trustees to require from construction contractors a bond adequate to protect the board and the board’s funds involved.

F.S. 1010.08 Promotion and public relations; funding.

Each district school board and Florida College System institution board of trustees may budget and use a portion of the funds accruing to it from auxiliary enterprises and undesignated gifts for promotion and public relations as prescribed by rules of the State Board of Education. Such funds may be used to provide hospitality to business guests in the district or elsewhere. However, such hospitality expenses may not exceed the amount authorized for such contingency funds as prescribed by rules of the State Board of Education.

F.S. 1010.09 Direct-support organizations.

(1) School district and Florida College System institution direct-support organizations shall be organized and conducted under the provisions of ss. 1001.453 and 1004.70 and rules of the State Board of Education, as applicable. (2) State university direct-support organizations shall be organized and conducted under the provisions of s. 1004.28 and rules of the Board of Governors, as applicable.

F.S. 1010.011 Definition.

For purposes of this chapter and chapter 1011, the terms “university,” “universities,” and “university board of trustees” include all state universities under the supervision of the Board of Governors.

F.S. 1010.11 Electronic transfer of funds.

Pursuant to the provisions of s. 215.85, each district school board, Florida College System institution board of trustees, and university board of trustees shall adopt written policies prescribing the accounting and control procedures under which any funds under their control are allowed to be moved by electronic transaction for any purpose including direct deposit, wire transfer, withdrawal, investment, or payment. Electronic transactions shall comply with the provisions of chapter 668. However, a district school board is exempt from the requirements of s. 668.50(18)(b).

F.S. 1010.20 Cost accounting and reporting for school districts.

(1) COST ACCOUNTING. — Each school district shall account for expenditures of all state, local, and federal funds on a school-by-school and a district-aggregate basis in accordance with the manual developed by the Department of Education or as provided by law. (2) COST REPORTING. — (a) Each district shall report on a district-aggregate basis expenditures for inservice training pursuant to s. 1011.62(3) and for categorical programs as provided in s. 1011.62(18). (b) Each district shall report to the department on a school-by-school and on an aggregate district basis expenditures for: 1. Each program funded in s. 1011.62(1)(c). 2. Total operating costs as reported pursuant to s. 1010.215. 3. Expenditures for classroom instruction pursuant to the calculation in s. 1010.215(4)(b)1. and 2. (c) The department shall: 1. Categorize all public schools and districts into appropriate groups based primarily on average full-time equivalent student enrollment as reported on the most recent student membership survey under s. 1011.62 and in state board rule to determine groups of peer schools and districts. 2. Annually calculate for each public school, district, and for the entire state, the percentage of classroom expenditures to total operating expenditures reported in subparagraphs (b)2. and 3. The results shall be categorized pursuant to this paragraph. 3. Annually calculate for all public schools, districts, and the state, the average percentage of classroom expenditures to total operating expenditures reported in subparagraphs (b)2. and 3. The results shall be categorized pursuant to this paragraph. 4. Develop a web-based fiscal transparency tool that identifies public schools and districts that produce high academic achievement based on the ratio of classroom instruction expenditures to total expenditures. The fiscal transparency tool shall combine the data calculated pursuant to this paragraph with the student performance measurements calculated pursuant to s. 1012.34(7) to determine the financial efficiency of each public school and district. The results shall be displayed in an easy to use format that enables the user to compare performance among public schools and districts. (d) The Commissioner of Education shall present to the Legislature, prior to the opening of the regular session each year, a district-by-district report of the expenditures reported pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b). The report shall include total expenditures, a detailed analysis showing expenditures for each program, and such other data as may be useful for management of the education system. The Commissioner of Education shall also compute cost factors relative to the base student allocation for each funded program in s. 1011.62(1)(c). (3) PROGRAM EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENTS. — (a) Each district shall expend at least the percent of the funds generated by each of the programs listed in this section on the aggregate total school costs for such programs: 1. Kindergarten and grades 1, 2, and 3, 90 percent. 2. Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, 80 percent. 3. Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, 80 percent. 4. Programs for exceptional students, on an aggregate program basis, 90 percent. 5. Grades 7 through 12 career education programs, on an aggregate program basis, 80 percent. 6. Students-at-risk programs, on an aggregate program basis, 80 percent. 7. Juvenile justice programs, on an aggregate program basis, 95 percent. 8. Any new program established and funded under s. 1011.62(1)(c), that is not included under subparagraphs 1.-7., on an aggregate basis as appropriate, 80 percent. (b) Funds for inservice training established in s. 1011.62(3) and for categorical programs established in s. 1011.62(18) shall be expended for the costs of the identified programs as provided by law and in accordance with the rules of the State Board of Education.

F.S. 1010.21 Indirect costs.

District school boards shall assess district indirect costs only for services received by the program or institution against which such cost is assessed. When assigning each specific indirect cost to multiple programs or institutions, district school boards shall identify one basis for the assessment of such cost and shall maintain the same basis for assigning such cost to each program or institution.

F.S. 1010.22 Cost accounting and reporting for workforce education.

(1) Each school district and each Florida College System institution shall account for expenditures of all state, local, federal, and other funds in the manner prescribed by the State Board of Education. (2) Each school district and each Florida College System institution shall report expenditures for workforce education in accordance with requirements prescribed by the State Board of Education. (3) The Department of Education, in cooperation with school districts and Florida College System institutions, shall develop and maintain a database of valid comparable information on workforce education which will meet both state and local needs.

F.S. 1010.23 Cost accounting and reporting for Florida College System institutions.

Florida College System institutions shall provide an annual report on the cost of operations as provided in s. 1011.84.

F.S. 1010.24 Cost accounting and reporting for universities.

Universities shall provide an annual expenditure analysis report as provided in s. 1011.90.

F.S. 1010.25 Foreign gift reporting.

(1) As used in this section, the term: (a) “Affiliate organization” means any entity under the control of or established for the benefit of an organization required to report under this section, including a direct-support organization. (b) “Contract” means any agreement for the acquisition by purchase, lease, or barter of property or services by the foreign source, for the direct benefit or use of either of the parties, and any purchase, lease, or barter of property or services from a foreign country of concern as defined in s. 286.101(1)(b). (c) “Direct-support organization” has the same meaning as provided in ss. 1004.28(1)(a), 1004.70(1)(a), and 1004.71(1)(a). (d) “Foreign government” means the government of any country, nation, or group of nations, or any province or other political subdivision of any country or nation, other than the government of the United States or the government of a state or political subdivision, including any agent of such foreign government. (e) “Foreign source” means any of the following: 1. A foreign government or an agency of a foreign government. 2. A legal entity, governmental or otherwise, created solely under the laws of a foreign state or states. 3. An individual who is not a citizen or a national of the United States or a territory or protectorate of the United States. 4. An agent, including a subsidiary or an affiliate of a foreign legal entity, acting on behalf of a foreign source. (f) “Gift” means any contract, gift, grant, endowment, award, or donation of money or property of any kind, or any combination thereof, including a conditional or an unconditional pledge of such contract, gift, grant, endowment, award, or donation. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “pledge” means a promise, an agreement, or an expressed intention to give a gift. (g) “Institution of higher education” means a state university, an entity listed in subpart B. of part II of chapter 1004 that has its own governing board, a Florida College System institution, an independent nonprofit college or university that is located in and chartered by the state and grants baccalaureate or higher degrees, any other institution that has a physical presence in the state and is required to report foreign gifts or contracts pursuant to 20 U.S.C. s. 1011f, or an affiliate organization of an institution of higher education. (2) Each institution of higher education must semiannually report, each January 31 and July 31, any gift received directly or indirectly from a foreign source with a value of $50,000 or more during the fiscal year. If a foreign source provides more than one gift directly or indirectly to an institution of higher education in a single fiscal year and the total value of those gifts is $50,000 or more, all gifts received from that foreign source must be reported. For purposes of this subsection, a gift received from a foreign source through an intermediary shall be considered an indirect gift to the institution of higher education. An institution of higher education may consolidate its report with that of all its affiliate organizations. A report required under this subsection must be made to the following entities: (a) The Board of Governors, if the recipient is a state university, an entity listed in subpart B. of part II of chapter 1004 that has its own governing board, or an affiliate organization of such university or entity. (b) Unless already reported to the Board of Governors pursuant to paragraph (a), the State Board of Education, if the recipient is any other institution of higher education or an affiliate organization of such institution. (3) For each gift subject to the reporting requirement in subsection (2), the report of the institution of higher education must provide all of the following information, unless otherwise prohibited or deemed confidential under federal law having no exemption applicable to such reporting: (a) The amount of the gift and the date it was received. (b) The contract start and end date if the gift is a contract. (c) The name of the foreign source and, if not a foreign government, the country of citizenship, if known, and the country of principal residence or domicile of the foreign source. (d)1. A copy of a gift agreement between the foreign source and the institution of higher education, signed by the foreign source and the chief administrative officer of the institution of higher education, or their respective designees, which must include a detailed description of the purpose for which the gift will be used by the institution of higher education, the identification of the persons for whom the gift is explicitly intended to benefit, and any applicable conditions, requirements, restrictions, or terms made a part of the gift regarding the control of curricula, faculty, student admissions, student fees, or contingencies placed upon the institution of higher education to take a specific public position or to award an honorary degree. With respect to an agreement containing information protected from disclosure under s. 1004.22(2), an abstract and redacted copy providing all required information that is not so protected may be submitted in lieu of a copy of the agreement. 2. Beginning July 1, 2022, the Inspector General of the Board of Governors or the Inspector General of the Department of Education, as applicable, shall annually, within existing resources, randomly inspect or audit at least 5 percent of the total number of gifts disclosed by or gift agreements received from institutions of higher education pursuant to this paragraph during the previous year to determine an institution’s compliance with the requirements of this section with respect to the gifts and gift agreements reviewed. 3. Upon the request of the Governor, the President of the Senate, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Inspector General of the Board of Governors or the Inspector General of the Department of Education, as applicable, must inspect or audit a gift or gift agreement. (4) The State Board of Education or the Board of Governors, as applicable, shall exercise the authority provided pursuant to s. 1008.32 or s. 1008.322, respectively, to sanction an institution of higher education that fails to report a reportable gift within 60 days after the reporting deadlines established in subsection (2). (5)(a) An institution of higher education that knowingly, willfully, or negligently fails to disclose the information required by this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of 105 percent of the amount of the undisclosed gift, payable only from nonstate funds of the institution of higher education or the affiliate organization that received such gift. The recovered funds must be deposited into the General Revenue Fund. The Board of Governors and the State Board of Education, as applicable, may administratively enforce this section and impose the civil penalty as an administrative penalty. (b) In the absence of enforcement by the Board of Governors or the State Board of Education, as applicable, the Attorney General or the Chief Financial Officer may bring a civil action to enforce this section. If such action is successful, the Attorney General or the Chief Financial Officer, as applicable, is entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs. (c) A whistle-blower who reports an undisclosed foreign gift to the appropriate inspector general may also report such undisclosed foreign gift to the Attorney General or the Chief Financial Officer and retain whistle-blower protection under s. 112.3188. Such whistle-blower shall be entitled to receive a reward in the amount of 25 percent of any penalty recovered by the Board of Governors, the State Board of Education, the Attorney General, or the Chief Financial Officer under this section. The Chief Financial Officer is authorized to incur expenditures to provide such reward from the penalty recovery. The reward may be paid through an intermediary attorney or trustee designated by the whistle-blower. (6) Information reported under subsection (3) is not confidential or exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution, except as provided in s. 1004.22(2) or unless protected by any statute as a trade secret as defined in s. 688.002 or s. 812.081(1)(c). (7) The Board of Governors may adopt regulations, and the State Board of Education may adopt rules, to implement this section.

F.S. 1010.30 Audits required.

(1) School districts, Florida College System institutions, and other institutions and agencies under the supervision of the State Board of Education and state universities under the supervision of the Board of Governors are subject to the audit provisions of ss. 11.45 and 218.39. (2) If an audit contains a significant deficiency or material weakness, the district school board, the Florida College System institution board of trustees, or the university board of trustees shall conduct an audit overview during a public meeting. The audit overview shall describe the corrective action to be taken and a timeline for completion of such action.

F.S. 1010.33 Financial and performance audits.

Each district school board and Florida College System institution board of trustees, and university board of trustees is authorized to have an audit of their accounts and records by an independent certified public accountant retained by them and paid from their public funds. These audits are in addition to those required by ss. 11.45 and 218.39.

F.S. 1010.34 Audits of direct-support organizations.

Audits of school district, Florida College System institution, and state university direct-support organizations are subject to the audit provisions of ss. 1001.453(4), 1004.28(5), and 1004.70(6), as applicable.

F.S. 1010.35 Screening foreign researchers.

(1) Each state university or entity listed in subpart A. or subpart B. of part II of chapter 1004 that receives state appropriations or state tax revenue and has a research budget of $10 million or more must screen applicants seeking employment in research or research-related support positions, graduate and undergraduate students applying for research or research-related support positions, and applicants for positions of visiting researcher who are citizens of a foreign country and who are not permanent residents of the United States, or who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States who have any affiliation with an institution or program, or at least 1 year of prior employment or training, excepting employment or training by an agency of the United States Government, in a foreign country of concern as defined in s. 286.101. Such screening is required prior to interviewing such applicant or offering to such applicant a position of employment or of visiting researcher. At the discretion of the university or entity, other applicants for such positions may be screened. (2) In addition to satisfying all employment and enrollment qualifications imposed by federal law, the Board of Governors or the governing board of the applicable entity must require the following of applicants included in subsection (1): (a) A foreign applicant must submit a complete copy of the applicant’s passport and most recently submitted Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, DS-160. After extraction of all information relevant to the requirements of this section, a university or entity may destroy or return the copy of the DS-160 submitted by an applicant. (b) All applicants described in subsection (1) must submit a complete résumé and curriculum vitae, including every institution of higher education attended; all previous employment since the applicant’s 18th birthday; a list of all published material for which the applicant received credit as an author, a researcher, or otherwise or to which the applicant contributed significant research, writing, or editorial support; a list of the applicant’s current and pending research funding from any source, including funder, amount, applicant’s role on the project, and brief description of the research; and a full disclosure of nonuniversity professional activities, including any affiliation with an institution or program in a foreign country of concern. For applicants who have been continually employed or enrolled in a postsecondary education institution in the United States for 20 years or more, the résumé may, but need not, include employment history before the most recent 20 years. (3) The president or chief administrative officer of the state university or applicable entity shall designate a research integrity office to review all materials required in subsection (2) and take reasonable steps to verify all attendance, employment, publications, and contributions listed in the application required in subsection (2) prior to any interview of or offer of a position to the applicant. Reasonable steps include searching public databases for research publications and presentations and public conflict of interest records to identify any research publication or presentation that may have been omitted from the application, contacting all employers of the most recent 10 years to verify employment, contacting all institutions of higher education attended to verify enrollment and educational progress, searching public listings of persons subject to sanctions or restrictions under federal law, submitting the applicant’s name and other identifying information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or any federal agency reasonably willing to scrutinize such applicant for national security or counterespionage purposes, and any other steps deemed appropriate to the office. The state university or applicable entity may also direct the office to approve applicants for hire based on a risk-based determination considering the nature of the research and the background and ongoing affiliations of the applicant. (4) The requirements of this section must be completed before interviewing or offering any position to an individual described in subsection (1) in any research or research-related support position and before granting such individual any access to research data or activities or other sensitive data. An applicant who must be screened under this section may not be employed in any research or research-related support position if he or she fails to disclose a substantial educational, employment, or research-related activity or publication or presentation at the time of submitting the application required in subsection (2), unless the department head, or a designee, certifies in writing the substance of the nondisclosure and the reasons for disregarding such failure to disclose. A copy of such certification must be kept in the investigative file of the research integrity office and must be submitted to the nearest Federal Bureau of Investigation field office. (5) The research integrity office must report to the nearest Federal Bureau of Investigation field office, and to any law enforcement agency designated by the Governor or the Board of Governors and the governing board of the applicable entity described in subsection (1), the identity of any applicant who was rejected for employment based on the scrutiny required by this section or other risk-based screening. (6) By July 1, 2025, the Inspector General of the Board of Governors, the inspector general of an entity described in subsection (1), or the Auditor General must perform an operational audit regarding the implementation of this section.

F.S. 1010.36 Foreign travel; research institutions.

(1) By January 1, 2022, each state university or entity listed in subpart A. or subpart B. of part II of chapter 1004 that receives state appropriations or state tax revenue and has a research budget of $10 million or more must establish an international travel approval and monitoring program. The program must require preapproval and screening by a research integrity office designated by the president or chief administrative officer of the state university or entity for any employment-related foreign travel and employment-related foreign activities engaged in by all faculty, researchers, and research department staff. Such requirement is in addition to any other travel approval process applicable to the state university or entity. (2)(a) Preapproval by the research integrity office must be based on the applicant’s review and acknowledgment of guidance published by the employing state university or entity which relates to countries under sanctions or other restrictions of the state or the United States Government, including any federal license requirement; customs rules; export controls; restrictions on taking state university or entity property, including intellectual property, abroad; restrictions on presentations, teaching, and interactions with foreign colleagues; and other subjects important to the research and academic integrity of the state university or entity. (b) Preapproval must be based on the binding commitment of the individual traveler not to violate the state university’s or entity’s limitations on travel and activities abroad and to obey all applicable federal laws. (3) The state university or entity must maintain records of all foreign travel requests and approvals; expenses reimbursed by the university or entity during such travel, including for travel, food, and lodging; and payments and honoraria received during such travel and activities, including for travel, food, and lodging. The state university or entity must also keep records of the purpose of the travel and any records related to the foreign activity review. Such records must be retained for at least 3 years or any longer period of time required by any other applicable state or federal law. (4) The state university or entity must provide an annual report of foreign travel to countries of concern listing individual travelers, foreign locations visited, and foreign institutions visited to the Board of Governors or the governing board of the applicable entity. (5) By July 1, 2025, the Inspector General of the Board of Governors, the inspector general of an entity described in subsection (1), or the Auditor General must perform an operational audit regarding the implementation of this section.

F.S. 1010.40 Proposals for issuing bonds.

Whenever the residents of a school district in this state shall desire the issuance of bonds by such school district for the purpose of acquiring, building, enlarging, furnishing, or otherwise improving buildings or school grounds, or for any other exclusive use of the public schools within such school district, they shall present to the district school board a petition signed by not less than 25 percent of the duly qualified electors residing within the school district, setting forth in general terms the amount of the bonds desired to be issued, the purpose thereof, and that the proceeds derived from the sale of such bonds shall be used for the purposes set forth in the petition. The requirement for such petition may be dispensed with and the proposition of issuing bonds for the purposes as herein outlined may be initiated by the district school board of the said district; however, nothing contained in this section shall repeal any of the provisions of ss. 100.201-100.221, 100.241, 100.261-100.341, and 100.351.

F.S. 1010.41 Procedure of district school boards with reference to proposals for issuing bonds.

It shall be the duty of the district school board to plan the school financial program of the district so that, insofar as practicable, needed capital outlay expenditures can be made without the necessity of issuing bonds. Whenever the district school board proposes an issue of bonds or has received any petition proposing the issuance of bonds, as provided in s. 1010.40, the said board shall forthwith proceed as follows: (1) The district school board, after considering recommendations submitted by the district school superintendent, shall determine whether in its opinion the projects for which bonds are proposed to be issued are essential for the school program of the district. (2) If the proposed projects are deemed essential by the district school board or if the proposed projects are rejected in whole or in part, the district school board shall, if practicable, prepare a plan for carrying out the projects, or at least part of the projects, with current funds which have been or can be set aside for that purpose. (3) If the district school board determines that any portion of the projects cannot be carried out so that all costs can be met from the proceeds of a special district millage voted for that purpose or from district current funds that are not needed for salaries of teachers or other necessary expenses of operating the schools or from such funds that can reasonably be expected to be available by the time the projects are completed, or cannot be completed on the basis of a loan against district current funds, approved in accordance with s. 1011.14, the district school board shall then determine the amount of bonds necessary to be issued to complete the projects as proposed for the district and shall adopt and transmit to the Department of Education a resolution setting forth the proposals with reference to the projects and the proposed plan for financing the projects, said resolution to be in such form and contain such information as may be prescribed by the State Board of Education. If the Department of Education shall determine that the issuance of bonds as proposed is unnecessary or is unnecessary in the amount and according to the plan proposed, and shall notify the district school board accordingly, the district school board shall then amend its resolution to conform to the recommendation of the Department of Education, and no further action shall be taken for a period of at least 1 year on the proposal for a bond issue unless, within 30 days thereafter, a petition signed by at least 35 percent of the qualified electors within the district is received by the school board requesting that an election be called to vote bonds for the purposes set forth and in an amount which shall not exceed the amount of bonds proposed by the district school board. If such a petition is received by the district school board, as provided herein, or if the resolution proposing a bond issue has been approved by the Department of Education, the school board shall then proceed at its next ensuing meeting to adopt a resolution authorizing that an election be held for the purpose of determining whether bonds shall be issued as proposed.

F.S. 1010.42 Publication of resolution.

It shall be the duty of the district school board, when the resolution proposing a bond issue has been approved by the Department of Education or when such a proposal has been rejected by the Department of Education and a new petition signed by 35 percent of the qualified electors of the district has been presented, and when the resolution authorizing an election has been adopted as set forth above, to cause such resolution to be published at least once each week for 2 consecutive weeks in some newspaper published in the district. This resolution may also include a notice of election as prescribed in s. 1010.43.

F.S. 1010.43 Notice of election; qualifications of electors.

The district school board shall also, at the meeting at which is passed the resolution provided for in s. 1010.41, order that an election shall be held in the school district to determine whether or not there shall be issued by the district the bonds provided for in such resolution, in which election only the duly qualified electors thereof shall vote; and prior to the time of holding such election, the district school board shall cause to be published at least once each week for 2 consecutive weeks in a newspaper published in the district a notice of the holding of such election, which shall specify the time and place or places of the holding thereof. The resolution prescribed in s. 1010.41 may be incorporated in and published as a part of the notice prescribed in this section.

F.S. 1010.44 Conduct of election; form of ballot; appointment of inspectors; canvassing returns.

The election, provided for in s. 1010.43, shall be held at the place or several places in the district where the last general election was held throughout the district, unless the district school board orders otherwise; and the district school board shall appoint inspectors for the election and cause to be prepared and furnished to the inspectors the ballots to be used at the election; the form of ballots for such election shall be: “For bonds” or “Against bonds.” The inspectors shall make returns to the district school board immediately after the election, and the school board shall hold a special meeting as soon thereafter as practicable for the purpose of canvassing the election returns and shall determine and certify its result.

F.S. 1010.45 Result of election held.

If it appears by the result of the election that a majority of the votes cast shall be “For bonds,” the district school board shall issue the bonds authorized by the election for the purposes specified in the resolution as published, not to exceed the amount named therein. If the majority of the votes cast shall have been “Against bonds,” no bonds shall be issued.

F.S. 1010.46 If election adverse, no second election within 6 months.

If the result of the election is adverse to the issuance of the bonds, no election shall be held for such purpose within 6 months thereafter. In the event such election shall result or shall have resulted in an equal number of votes being cast for the issuance of the bonds as shall be cast adverse to issuance of bonds, the district school board may call and order another or second election within the district to have determined the question of whether the bonds specified in the original petition and resolution shall be issued by the district, after giving notice as provided for by s. 1010.43, and it shall not be necessary to have presented to the district school board further petitions to order the second election.

F.S. 1010.47 Receiving bids and sale of bonds.

(1) If the issuance of bonds is authorized at the election, or if any bonds outstanding against the district are being refunded, the district school board shall sell the bonds in the manner provided in s. 218.385. (2) In the marketing of the bonds, the district school board shall be entitled to have such assistance as can be rendered by the Division of Bond Finance, the Commissioner of Education, or any other public state officer or agency. In determining the highest and best bidder for bonds offered for sale, the net interest cost to the school board as shown in standard bond tables shall govern, provided that the determination of the district school board as to the highest and best bidder shall be final.

F.S. 1010.48 Bidders to give security.

The district school board may require of all bidders for the bonds that they give security by bond or by a deposit to the district school board that the bidder shall comply with the terms of the bid, and any bidder whose bid is accepted shall be liable to the district school board for all damages on account of the nonperformance of the terms of such bid or to a forfeiture of the deposit required by the district school board.

F.S. 1010.49 Form and denomination of bonds.

The district school board may prescribe the denomination of the bonds to be issued, and such bonds may be issued with or without interest coupons in the discretion of the board. The form of the bonds to be issued may be prescribed by the State Board of Education on the recommendation of the Department of Legal Affairs. The schedule of maturities of the proposed bonds shall be so arranged that the total payments required each year shall be as nearly equal as practicable. The schedule shall provide that all bonds are to be retired within a period of 30 years from the date of issuance unless a longer period is required and has been specifically approved by the Department of Education. All bonds issued under this section shall be callable at the times and upon the terms prescribed by the district school board.

F.S. 1010.50 Investment of fiduciary funds in bonds; security for deposit of public funds.

School district bonds authorized and issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be lawful investments for fiduciary and trust funds, including all funds in the control of trustees, assignees, administrators, and executors, and may be accepted as security for all deposits of public funds.

F.S. 1010.51 Records to be kept and reports to be made.

The district school board shall maintain a complete record of all bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter, which record shall show upon what authority the bonds are issued, the amount for which issued, the persons to whom issued, the date of issuance, the purpose or purposes for which issued, the rate of interest to be paid, and the time and place of payment of each installment of principal and interest. This record shall be so arranged as to show the amount of principal and interest to be paid each year and shall also show the annual or semiannual payments which are made and the bonds which are canceled. In addition, the district school superintendent shall file with the Department of Education in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education reports giving such information as may be required regarding any bonds which may be issued as provided herein.

F.S. 1010.52 Bonds may be validated; validity of bonds.

When an issue of bonds for any school district shall be authorized in the manner provided under the terms of this chapter, such bonds shall, in the discretion of the district school board, be subject to validation in the manner provided for in chapter 75. In lieu of validation as set forth in that chapter, the district school board may, in its discretion, submit to the Department of Legal Affairs all information relating to the issuance of bonds as provided in said chapter 75, and an approving opinion of the Department of Legal Affairs shall be sufficient evidence that the bonds are valid. Bonds reciting that they are issued pursuant to the terms of this chapter shall, in any action or proceeding involving their validity, be conclusively deemed to be fully authorized thereby, to have been issued, sold, executed, and delivered in conformity therewith, and with all other provisions of law applicable thereto, and shall be incontestable, anything herein or in other statutes to the contrary notwithstanding, unless such action or proceeding is begun before or within 30 days after the date upon which the bonds are sold, paid for, and delivered.

F.S. 1010.53 Proceeds; how expended.

The proceeds derived from the sale of the bonds shall be held by the district school board and shall be expended by the board for the purpose for which the bonds were authorized for the school district, and shall be held and expended in the manner following: (1) The district school board shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, the proceeds arising from the sale of each issue of bonds in a separate bond construction fund account in the school depository. (2) All or any part of the fund derived from the proceeds of any such bond issue that in the judgment of the district school board is not immediately needed may be placed in the following securities maturing not later than the time when the funds are reasonably expected to be needed: (a) In investments listed in s. 218.415(16). (b) In any bonds issued by the district; provided, such bonds are not in default and can be obtained at a price which will result in a net saving to the taxpayers of the district. (c) In any obligations of the district school board approved in accordance with the provisions of ss. 1011.13, 1011.14, and 1011.15. (d) In any bonds issued by the State Board of Education or another school district.

F.S. 1010.54 Disposition of surplus of bond issue.

Should there remain any of the proceeds of the sale of school district bonds after the purpose and object for which the bonds were issued shall have been carried out and performed by the district school board, the surplus then shall be held by the district school board and expended for the exclusive use of the public schools within the school district as the district school board may deem reasonable and proper.

F.S. 1010.55 Additional bond issues.

After the issuance by any school district of bonds in the manner authorized in this chapter, the qualified electors of the school district may thereafter, from time to time, in the manner herein provided for, authorize one or more additional bond issues as they may determine upon.

F.S. 1010.56 Board of Administration to act as fiscal agent in issuance and sale of motor vehicle anticipation certificates.

(1) In aid of the provisions of s. 18, Art. XII of the State Constitution of 1885 as adopted by s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution and the additional provisions of s. 9(d), the State Board of Administration may upon request of the State Board of Education, act as fiscal agent for the State Board of Education in the issuance and sale of any or all bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates, including any refunding of bonds, certificates or interest coupons thereon which may be issued pursuant to the above cited provisions of the State Constitution and upon request of the State Board of Education the State Board of Administration may take over the management, control, bond trusteeship, administration, custody and payment of any or all debt service or other funds or assets now or hereafter available for any bonds or certificates issued for the purpose of obtaining funds for the use of any district school board or to pay, fund or refund any bonds or certificates theretofore issued for such purpose. The State Board of Education may from time to time provide by its duly adopted resolution or resolutions the duties said fiscal agent shall perform as authorized by this section and such duties may be changed, modified or repealed by subsequent resolution or resolutions as the State Board of Education may deem appropriate, provided, however, that such changes shall only affect the duties of the State Board of Administration as fiscal agent and shall not affect or modify the paramount constitutional authority of the State Board of Education nor affect, modify, or impair the contract rights of persons holding or owning the obligations so authorized to be issued. (2) No such bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates shall ever be issued by the State Board of Administration until after the adoption of a resolution requesting the issuance thereof by the State Board of Education for and on behalf of the district for which the obligations are to be issued. (3) All such bonds or certificates issued pursuant to this part shall be issued in the name of the State Board of Education but shall be issued for and on behalf of the district school board requesting the issuance thereof and shall be issued pursuant to any rules adopted by the State Board of Education which are not in conflict with the provisions of s. 18, Art. XII of the State Constitution of 1885 as adopted by s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution, and the additional provisions of s. 9(d). (4) The proceeds of any sale of original bonds or original certificates shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the particular construction account for which the original bonds or original certificates were issued and shall be under the direct control and supervision of the State Board of Education, and withdrawals from such construction accounts shall be made only upon warrants signed by the Chief Financial Officer. Such warrants shall be issued by the Chief Financial Officer only when the vouchers requesting such warrants are accompanied by the certificates of the State Board of Education to the effect that such withdrawals are proper expenditures for the cost of the particular construction account against which the requested warrants are to be drawn. (5) The State Board of Administration shall annually determine the amounts necessary to meet the debt service requirements of all bonds or certificates administered by it pursuant to this section and shall certify to the State Board of Education said amounts needed. The State Board of Education, upon being satisfied that the amounts are correct, shall pay the amounts directly to the State Board of Administration for application by the State Board of Administration as provided under the terms of the resolutions authorizing the issuance of the bonds or certificates and as provided in s. 18, Art. XII of the State Constitution of 1885 as adopted by s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution, and the additional provisions of s. 9(d). (6) The expenses of the State Board of Administration incident to the issuance and sale of any bonds or certificates issued under the provisions of the constitution and under the provisions of this section shall be paid from the proceeds of the sale of the bonds or certificates or from the funds distributable to each county under the provisions of s. 18(a), Art. XII of the State Constitution of 1885 as adopted by s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution. All other expenses of the State Board of Administration for services rendered specifically for, or which are properly chargeable to the account of any bonds or certificates issued for and on behalf of any district school board under the above cited provisions of the State Constitution shall be paid from the funds distributable to each county under the provisions of s. 18(a), Art. XII of the State Constitution of 1885 as adopted by s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution; but general expenses of the State Board of Administration for services rendered all the districts alike shall be prorated among them and paid from the funds distributable to each district on the same basis as such funds are distributable under the provisions of s. 18(a), Art. XII of the State Constitution of 1885 as adopted by s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution. (7) The provisions of this section contemplate that it will aid the State Board of Education and better serve the purposes contemplated by s. 18, Art. XII of the State Constitution of 1885 as adopted by s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution, and the additional provisions of s. 9(d) and not be inconsistent therewith.

F.S. 1010.57 Bonds payable from motor vehicle license tax funds; instruction units computed.

(1) For the purpose of administering the provisions of s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution as amended in 1972, the number of current instruction units in districts shall be computed annually by the Department of Education by multiplying the number of full-time equivalent students in programs under s. 1011.62(1)(c) in each district by the cost factors established in the General Appropriations Act and dividing by 23, except that all basic program cost factors shall be one, and the special program cost factors for hospital- and homebound I and for community service shall be zero. Full-time equivalent membership for students residing in Department of Children and Families residential care facilities or identified as Department of Juvenile Justice students shall not be included in this computation. Any portion of the fund not expended during any fiscal year may be carried forward in ensuing budgets and shall be temporarily invested as prescribed by law or rules of the State Board of Education. (2) Whenever the State Board of Education issues bonds or certificates for and on behalf of any district school board, or whenever any district school board issues bonds or certificates repayable from motor vehicle license tax funds, the aggregate number of instruction units in the district in any future school fiscal year, as authorized under the amendment contained in s. 18, Art. XII of the State Constitution of 1885 as amended and adopted by reference in s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution, to the full extent necessary to pay all principal of and interest on, and reserves for, bonds or certificates issued for and on behalf of the district or by the district school board in any school fiscal year, as they become due and payable, shall be not less than the aggregate number of instruction units in the district for the school fiscal year preceding the school fiscal year in which the bonds or certificates are issued, computed in accordance with the statutes in force in the school fiscal year preceding the school fiscal year in which the bonds or certificates are issued. (3) The provisions of this section are not intended to, and shall not, be applicable to, or confer any rights on, any district to payments from said motor vehicle license taxes except to the full extent necessary to pay all principal of and interest on, and reserves for, bonds or certificates so issued by the district school board and by the State Board of Education for and on behalf of the school districts, in each future school fiscal year as they mature and become due; and except for such purpose, all payments of the amounts of the motor vehicle license taxes distributable under the provisions of s. 18, Art. XII of the State Constitution of 1885 as amended and adopted by reference in s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution shall continue to be made and distributed to the districts in the manner provided by the amendment and the general laws of Florida in force and effect at the time of the distributions.

F.S. 1010.58 Procedure for determining number of instruction units for Florida College System institutions.

The number of instruction units for Florida College System institutions shall be determined from the full-time equivalent students in the Florida College System institution, provided that full-time equivalent students may not be counted more than once in determining instruction units. Instruction units for Florida College System institutions shall be computed as follows: (1) One unit for each 12 full-time equivalent students at a Florida College System institution for the first 420 students and one unit for each 15 full-time equivalent students for all over 420 students, in other than career education programs as defined by rules of the State Board of Education, and one unit for each 10 full-time equivalent students in career education programs and compensatory education programs as defined by rules of the State Board of Education. Full-time equivalent students enrolled in a Florida College System institution shall be defined by rules of the State Board of Education. (2) For each 8 instruction units in a Florida College System institution, 1 instruction unit or proportionate fraction of a unit shall be allowed for administrative and special instructional services, and for each 20 instruction units, 1 instruction unit or proportionate fraction of a unit shall be allowed for student personnel services.

F.S. 1010.59 Interest rates.

All bonds issued by the State Board of Education pursuant to the provisions of s. 9(a), Art. XII of the State Constitution, as amended, may bear interest at such rate or rates as may be determined by the State Board of Education. However, the maximum rate of interest shall not exceed the rates authorized under the provisions of s. 215.84.

F.S. 1010.62 Revenue bonds and debt.

(1) As used in this section, the term: (a) “Auxiliary enterprise” means any activity defined in s. 1011.47(1) and performed by a university or a direct-support organization. (b) “Capital outlay project” means: 1. Any project to acquire, construct, improve, or change the functional use of land, buildings, and other facilities, including furniture and equipment necessary to operate a new or improved building or facility. 2. Any other acquisition of equipment or software. (c) “Debt” means bonds, except revenue bonds as defined in paragraph (e), loans, promissory notes, lease-purchase agreements, certificates of participation, installment sales, leases, or any other financing mechanism or financial arrangement, whether or not a debt for legal purposes, for financing or refinancing for or on behalf of a state university or a direct-support organization or for the acquisition, construction, improvement, or purchase of capital outlay projects. (d) “Direct-support organization” means an organization created pursuant to s. 1004.28 or any entity specifically established to incur debt. (e) “Revenue bonds” means any obligation that constitutes a revenue bond pursuant to s. 11(d), Art. VII of the State Constitution. (2)(a) The Board of Governors may request the issuance of revenue bonds pursuant to the State Bond Act and s. 11(d), Art. VII of the State Constitution to finance or refinance capital outlay projects permitted by law. Revenue bonds may be secured by or payable only from those revenues authorized for such purpose, including the Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee, the building fee, the health fee, the transportation access fee, hospital revenues, or those revenues derived from or received in relation to sales and services of auxiliary enterprises or component units of the university, including, but not limited to, housing, transportation, health care, research or research-related activities, food service, retail sales, athletic activities, or other similar services, other revenues attributable to the projects to be financed or refinanced, any other revenue approved by the Legislature for facilities construction or for securing revenue bonds issued pursuant to s. 11(d), Art. VII of the State Constitution, or any other revenues permitted by law. Revenues from the activity and service fee and the athletic fee may be used to pay and secure revenue bonds except that the annual debt service shall not exceed an amount equal to 5 percent of the fees collected during the most recent 12 consecutive months for which collection information is available prior to the sale of the bonds. The assets of a university foundation and the earnings thereon may also be used to pay and secure revenue bonds of the university or its direct-support organizations. Revenues from royalties and licensing fees may also be used to pay and secure revenue bonds so long as the facilities being financed are functionally related to the university operation or direct-support organization reporting such royalties and licensing fees. Revenue bonds may not be secured by or be payable from, directly or indirectly, tuition, the financial aid fee, sales and services of educational departments, revenues from grants and contracts, except for money received for overhead and indirect costs and other moneys not required for the payment of direct costs, or any other operating revenues of a state university. However, moneys due to the state university from the Federal Government for the payment of grants and contracts may be used to pay debt service on revenue bonds only as required through the United States Department of Education’s Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program. Revenues from one auxiliary enterprise may not be used to secure revenue bonds of another unless the Board of Governors, after review and analysis, determines that the facilities being financed are functionally related to the auxiliary enterprise revenues being used to secure such revenue bonds. (b) In connection with the issuance of revenue bonds, the Board of Governors, and the state university if so designated by the Board of Governors, shall comply with all covenants, commitments, or other provisions relating to the revenue bonds. Such covenants, commitments, or other provisions, in addition to those provided in the State Bond Act, may relate to: 1. Pledging the fees, charges, and other revenues that secure the revenue bonds; 2. Fixing and maintaining fees, rates, and other charges pledged to the payment of the revenue bonds; 3. Providing a lien on the revenues pledged; 4. Preventing or providing for the creation of other liens on the fees, charges, and other revenues that secure the revenue bonds; 5. Establishing and maintaining reserves for debt service payments on revenue bonds; 6. Providing for the operation, maintenance, and improvement of facilities that are related to the generation of the fees, revenues, and other charges pledged to the payment of the revenue bonds; and 7. Establishing any other covenants, commitments, or provisions that are deemed necessary or advisable to enhance the security of the revenue bonds, or the marketability thereof, and that are customary in accordance with the market requirements for the sale of such revenue bonds. (c) Revenue bonds issued pursuant to this subsection are not required to be validated pursuant to chapter 75. (3)(a) A state university or direct-support organization may not issue debt without the approval of the Board of Governors. The Board of Governors may approve the issuance of debt by a state university or a direct-support organization only when such debt is used to finance or refinance capital outlay projects. The debt may be secured by or payable only from those revenues authorized for such purpose, including the health fee, the transportation access fee, hospital revenues, or those revenues derived from or received in relation to sales and services of auxiliary enterprises or component units of the university, including, but not limited to, housing, transportation, health care, research or research-related activities, food service, retail sales, athletic activities, or other similar services. Revenues derived from the activity and service fee and the athletic fee may be used to pay and secure debt except that the annual debt service shall not exceed an amount equal to 5 percent of the fees collected during the most recent 12 consecutive months for which collection information is available prior to incurring the debt. The assets of university foundations and the earnings thereon may be used to pay and secure debt of the university or its direct-support organizations. Gifts and donations or pledges of gifts may also be used to secure debt so long as the maturity of the debt, including extensions, renewals, and refundings, does not exceed 5 years. Revenues from royalties and licensing fees may also be used to secure debt so long as the facilities being financed are functionally related to the university operation or direct-support organization reporting such royalties and licensing fees. The debt may not be secured by or be payable from, directly or indirectly, tuition, the financial aid fee, sales and services of educational departments, revenues from grants and contracts, except for money received for overhead and indirect costs and other moneys not required for the payment of direct costs of grants, or any other operating revenues of a state university. The debt of direct-support organizations may not be secured by or be payable under an agreement or contract with a state university unless the source of payments under such agreement or contract is limited to revenues that universities are authorized to use for payment of debt service. Revenues from one auxiliary enterprise may not be used to secure debt of another unless the Board of Governors, after review and analysis, determines that the facilities being financed are functionally related to the auxiliary enterprise revenues being used to secure such debt. Debt may not be approved to finance or refinance operating expenses of a state university or a direct-support organization. The maturity of debt used to finance or refinance the acquisition of equipment or software, including any extensions, renewals, or refundings thereof, shall be limited to 5 years or the estimated useful life of the equipment or software, whichever is shorter. The Board of Governors may establish conditions and limitations on such debt as it determines to be advisable. (b) Approval by the Board of Governors of the issuance of debt shall be based upon a determination that the debt: 1. Is for a purpose consistent with the mission of the state university; 2. Is structured in a manner appropriate for the prudent financial management of the state university; 3. Is secured by revenues adequate to provide for all payments relating to the debt; 4. Has been analyzed by the Division of Bond Finance and issues raised by such analysis have been appropriately considered by the Board of Governors; and 5. Is consistent with the requirements of any policies or criteria adopted by the Board of Governors for the approval of debt. (c) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), state universities and direct-support organizations may engage in the following activities without the approval of the Board of Governors: 1. State universities may lease-purchase equipment and software in accordance with the deferred-purchase provisions in chapter 287 and direct-support organizations may lease-purchase equipment and software to the extent that the overall term of the financing, including any extension, renewal, or refinancing thereof, does not exceed 5 years or the estimated useful life of the equipment or software, whichever is shorter; 2. Direct-support organizations may issue promissory notes and grant conventional mortgages for the acquisition of real property; and 3. State universities and direct-support organizations may secure debt with gifts and donations and pledges of gifts so long as the facilities being financed thereby have been included in the university’s 5-year capital improvement plan that has been approved by the Board of Governors and the maturity of the debt, including any extension, renewal, or refunding, does not exceed 5 years. (4) The approval by the Board of Governors of revenue bonds, except refunding bonds, or debt must be requested by a resolution of the board of trustees of each state university involved in the issuance of the revenue bonds or debt. (5) Revenue bonds or debt issued under this section may be secured on a parity with prior revenue bonds or debt issued by or on behalf of one or more universities or a direct-support organization. (6) Capital outlay projects to be financed by revenue bonds or debt are limited to those approved by the Legislature through approval of the specific project or general approval of the type or category of capital outlay project. (7)(a) As required pursuant to s. 11(d), Art. VII of the State Constitution and subsection (6), the Legislature approves capital outlay projects meeting the following requirements: 1. The project is located on a campus of a state university or on land leased to the university or is used for activities relating to the state university; 2. The project is included in the master plan of the state university or is for facilities that are not required to be in a university’s master plan; 3. The project is approved by the Board of Governors as being consistent with the strategic plan of the state university and the programs offered by the state university; and 4. The project is for purposes relating to the housing, transportation, health care, research or research-related activities, food service, retail sales, or student activities of the state university. (b) Capital outlay projects for the acquisition of equipment or software are also approved for purposes of subsection (6) to the extent that the overall term of the financing, including any extension, renewal, or refinancing thereof, does not exceed 5 years or the estimated useful life of the equipment or software, whichever is shorter. (8) Notwithstanding any other law, the Board of Governors, each state university, and any direct-support organization must comply with the provisions of this section in order to issue or enter into agreements for the issuance of revenue bonds or debt. (9) The Board of Governors may adopt such policies as may be necessary or desirable for carrying out all of the requirements of this section and may do all things necessary or desirable to carry out the powers granted under this section. Such policies may include categories of debt, other than revenue bonds, which may be issued without approval of the specific issuance by the Board of Governors if the issuance complies with any terms, conditions, or requirements included in such policy and laws governing the imposition of fees and laws requiring specific authority to pledge revenues to secure debt. (10) Any legal commitments, contracts, or other obligations relating to the financing of capital outlay projects that were lawfully entered into before the effective date of this section shall remain in full force and effect. Any such legal commitment, contract, or other obligation may be amended without compliance with this section, but only to the extent that such amendment does not increase the financial obligation of the Board of Governors, a state university, or a direct-support organization.

F.S. 1010.70 Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.

Each fiscal year, variable percentages of the gross revenue from the sale of online and instant lottery tickets as determined by the department, and other earned revenue, excluding application processing fees, shall be deposited in the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund as provided in s. 24.121.

F.S. 1010.71 State School Trust Fund.

(1) The State School Trust Fund shall be derived from the following sources: (a) The proceeds of all lands that have been or may hereafter be granted to the state by the United States for public school purposes; (b) Donations to the state when the purpose is not specified; (c) Appropriations by the state; (d) The proceeds of escheated property or forfeitures; and (e) Twenty-five percent of the sales of public lands which are now or may hereafter be owned by the state. (2) The land comprising part of the State School Trust Fund shall not be subject to taxes of any kind whatsoever, but shall enjoy constitutional immunity therefrom, nor shall taxes of any kind be imposed thereon; nor, since not subject to tax, shall the state or any state agency be liable for taxes or the equivalent thereof sought to be imposed upon said land. All outstanding tax sale certificates against land of the State School Trust Fund are hereby canceled.

F.S. 1010.73 State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund.

(1) The State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund is hereby created, to be administered by the Department of Education. Funds shall be credited to the trust fund as provided in the General Appropriations Act or similar legislation, to be used for the purposes set forth therein. (2) The department may transfer into this trust fund general revenue, private donations for the purpose of matching state funds, and federal receipts for scholarships and grant programs. An individual account code shall be established for each funded scholarship and grant program for accountability purposes. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301, and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund.

F.S. 1010.74 Educational Certification and Services Trust Fund.

The proceeds from the collection of certification fees, fines, penalties, and costs levied pursuant to s. 1012.59 shall be remitted by the Department of Education to the Chief Financial Officer for deposit into and disbursed from the “Educational Certification and Services Trust Fund” as re-created by chapter 99-31, Laws of Florida.

F.S. 1010.75 Teacher Certification Examination Trust Fund.

The proceeds for the certification examination fee levied pursuant to s. 1012.59 shall be remitted by the Department of Education to the Chief Financial Officer for deposit into and disbursed from the “Teacher Certification Examination Trust Fund” as re-created by chapter 99-28, Laws of Florida.

F.S. 1010.80 Educational Media and Technology Trust Fund.

Chapter 99-25, Laws of Florida, re-created the Educational Media and Technology Trust Fund to record revenue and disbursements by the Department of Education for the cost of producing and disseminating educational materials and products as authorized in s. 1006.39.

F.S. 1010.81 Education Working Capital Trust Fund.

The Education Working Capital Trust Fund shall be administered by the Department of Education as a depository for funds received by the department’s technology office, interest earnings, and cash advances from customer entities. Moneys deposited in the trust fund shall be used to fund the services provided by the department’s technology office.

F.S. 1010.82 Textbook Bid Trust Fund.

Chapter 99-36, Laws of Florida, re-created the Textbook Bid Trust Fund to record the revenue and disbursements of textbook bid performance deposits submitted to the Department of Education as required in s. 1006.33.

F.S. 1010.83 Institutional Assessment Trust Fund.

(1) Chapter 99-32, Laws of Florida, re-created the Institutional Assessment Trust Fund to be administered by the Department of Education pursuant to this section and rules of the State Board of Education. The trust fund shall consist of: (a) All fees and fines imposed upon nonpublic colleges and schools pursuant to chapter 1005 and this chapter, including all fees collected from nonpublic colleges and schools for participation in the Student Protection Fund pursuant to s. 1005.37. (b) All fees imposed upon nonpublic colleges and schools for participation in the statewide course numbering system pursuant to s. 1007.24. (c) All fees collected from institutions for participation in a reciprocity agreement pursuant to s. 1000.35. The department shall maintain separate accounts for the operation of the Commission for Independent Education, the Student Protection Fund, a reciprocity agreement pursuant to s. 1000.35, and the Department of Education. (2) Funds from the trust fund shall be used for purposes including, but not limited to, the following: (a) Authorized expenses of the Commission for Independent Education in carrying out its required duties. (b) Authorized expenses from the Department of Education account incurred as a result of the inclusion of nonpublic colleges in the statewide course numbering system. (c) Expenses authorized by the Commission for Independent Education from the Student Protection Fund account to complete the training of students enrolled in an institution that terminates a program or ceases operation while the student is enrolled or to facilitate the retrieval or safekeeping of records from a closed institution. (d) Expenses authorized by the Department of Education related to a reciprocity agreement. (3) The Commission for Independent Education may utilize other individuals or entities to administer the programs authorized in subsection (2).

F.S. 1010.85 Phosphate Research Trust Fund.

Chapter 99-45, Laws of Florida, re-created the Phosphate Research Trust Fund to record the revenue and disbursements from tax on severance of phosphate rock as provided in s. 211.3103.

F.S. 1010.86 Administration of the Capital Improvement Fee Trust Fund.

The Board of Governors of the State University System shall administer the Capital Improvement Fee Trust Fund, which includes receipts from capital improvement student fee assessments, interest earnings, and subsidy grants. All funds, except those to be used for debt service payments, reserve requirements, and educational research centers for child development, pursuant to s. 1011.48, shall be used to fund projects appropriated by the Legislature. Projects funded pursuant to this section may be expanded by the use of supplemental funds such as grants, auxiliary enterprises, private donations, and other nonstate sources.

F.S. 1010.215 Educational funding accountability.

(1) As used in this section, the term: (a) “Administrative personnel” means those employees responsible for management functions such as the development of broad policies and implementation of those policies through the direction of personnel. (b) “Educational support personnel” means district-based and school-based employees, including professional staff, technicians, secretaries, clerks, skilled workers, transportation employees, food service employees, and custodial and maintenance workers. (c) “Instructional personnel” means classroom teachers, including substitute teachers. (d) “Instructional specialists” means staff members responsible for providing student personnel services, librarians, and media specialists. (e) “Instructional support personnel” means aides or assistants to instructional personnel or instructional specialists. (f) “Managers” means instructional and noninstructional employees with some managerial and supervisory functions, although primarily responsible for general operations. This category includes only district-based employees. (2) Each district school board must classify each employee of the district school board into one of the following categories: (a) Instructional personnel; (b) Instructional specialists; (c) Instructional support personnel; (d) Administrative personnel; (e) Managers; or (f) Educational support personnel. The district school board shall notify each employee of such classification. (3)(a) The school public accountability report to parents must include the number of employees in each of the categories listed in subsection (2), by work location. However, this does not include the number of temporary substitute employees. (b) Any teacher-to-student ratio or class size measure required by law or State Board of Education rule must be computed by dividing the number of students in membership at the school by the number of full-time equivalent instructional personnel pursuant to paragraph (2)(a). Class size reports for exceptional student education shall be computed by dividing the number of exceptional students in membership by the number of full-time equivalent exceptional education classroom teachers who are classified as instructional personnel pursuant to paragraph (2)(a). (4)(a) All expenditures within the general and special revenue funds for each district school board, including salaries, benefits, purchased services, energy services, materials and supplies, capital outlay, and miscellaneous expenditures, for the following purposes are classified as administrative expenditures: 1. District school board. 2. General administration. 3. School administration, excluding support expenditures. 4. Facilities acquisition and construction at the district level. 5. Fiscal services. 6. Central services at the district level. (b) All expenditures within the general and special revenue funds for each district school board, including salaries, benefits, purchased services, energy services, materials and supplies, capital outlay, and miscellaneous expenditures, for the following purposes are classified as instructional expenditures: 1. Instruction. 2. Instructional support services, including student personnel services, instructional media services, instruction and curriculum development, and instructional staff training services. 3. School administration, including support expenditures. 4. Facilities acquisition and construction at the school level. 5. Food services. 6. Central services at the school level. 7. Student transportation services. 8. Operation of plant. 9. Maintenance of plant. Definitions for the functions specified in this subsection are specified in State Board of Education rules. (5) The annual school public accountability report required by ss. 1001.42(18) and 1008.345 must include a school financial report. The purpose of the school financial report is to better inform parents and the public concerning how funds were spent to operate the school during the prior fiscal year. Each school’s financial report must follow a uniform, districtwide format that is easy to read and understand. (a) Total revenue must be reported at the school, district, and state levels. The revenue sources that must be addressed are state and local funds, other than lottery funds; lottery funds; federal funds; and private donations. (b) Expenditures must be reported as the total expenditures per unweighted full-time equivalent student at the school level and the average expenditures per full-time equivalent student at the district and state levels in each of the following categories and subcategories: 1. Teachers, excluding substitute teachers, and education paraprofessionals who provide direct classroom instruction to students enrolled in programs classified by s. 1011.62 as: a. Basic programs; b. Students-at-risk programs; c. Special programs for exceptional students; d. Career education programs; and e. Adult programs. 2. Substitute teachers. 3. Other instructional personnel, including school-based instructional specialists and their assistants. 4. Contracted instructional services, including training for instructional staff and other contracted instructional services. 5. School administration, including school-based administrative personnel and school-based education support personnel. 6. The following materials, supplies, and operating capital outlay: a. Textbooks; b. Computer hardware and software; c. Other instructional materials; d. Other materials and supplies; and e. Library media materials. 7. Food services. 8. Other support services. 9. Operation and maintenance of the school plant. (c) The school financial report must also identify the types of district-level expenditures that support the school’s operations. The total amount of these district-level expenditures must be reported and expressed as total expenditures per full-time equivalent student. (6) Based on the classifications in this section, each district school board shall annually submit a report by January 1, which identifies and summarizes administrative expenditures and instructional expenditures by fund for the preceding fiscal year. The report shall also state the number of unweighted full-time equivalent students enrolled in the school district. The total amount of administrative expenditures shall be divided by the number of unweighted full-time equivalent students to determine the administrative expenditures per student. This calculation is to be made separately for the general and the special revenue funds. In addition, the report shall reflect the number of employees in each category outlined in subsection (2) and the percentage of employees in each category, excluding the number of temporary substitute employees. This report shall be submitted to the commissioner and shall be made available to the public. The school public accountability report shall contain notification of the availability of this report.

F.S. 1010.305 Audit of student enrollment.

(1) The Auditor General shall periodically examine the records of school districts, and other agencies as appropriate, to determine compliance with law and State Board of Education rules relating to the classification, assignment, and verification of full-time equivalent student enrollment and student transportation reported under the Florida Education Finance Program. (2) If it is determined that the approved criteria and procedures for the placement of students and the conduct of programs have not been followed by the district, appropriate adjustments in the full-time equivalent student count for that district must be made, and any excess funds must be deducted from subsequent allocations of state funds to that district. As provided for by rule, if errors in a specific program of a district recur in consecutive years due to lack of corrective action by the district, adjustments may be made based upon statistical estimates of error projected to the overall district program.

F.S. 1010.731 Student Loan Guaranty Reserve Trust Fund.

Chapter 99-35, Laws of Florida, re-created the Student Loan Guaranty Reserve Trust Fund to be used by the Department of Education for the administration of the guaranteed student loan program as provided in s. 1009.92.

Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter1010/AllFetched: 7/8/2026