FloridaFlorida sets up conditional grants for university genetic counseling programs
Florida’s Board of Governors awards competitive grants to state universities for graduate genetic counseling programs, if lawmakers provide money.
What it does
The Board of Governors awards competitive grants to state universities if money is appropriated. Grants can help start accredited graduate programs or reward programs based on student completion and exam results.
Universities may use grant money for faculty, student scholarships, and clinical training. They cannot use it for general overhead, new buildings, or unrelated activities.
Each university receiving funds reports its spending, results, and plans for the next fiscal year. The Board of Governors compiles a statewide summary for state leaders.
Argument forGrant money could help universities train more genetic counselors by supporting faculty, student scholarships, and supervised clinical practice.
Argument againstPrograms could receive no grant support if lawmakers do not provide money, even when they need faculty, student aid, or clinical training.
More detail
The Board of Governors awards competitive grants to state universities. Grants support graduate programs accredited by a recognized accrediting body. The Board may fund a one-time grant to start a program or award funds to accredited programs based on student completion and first-time certification exam results. The Board awards grants only if lawmakers appropriate money for the program. A start-up grant application must explain how the university will earn accreditation, expected results, and how it will add statewide training opportunities without shifting existing supervision resources. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
Grant recipients use program money for faculty, student aid, and clinical training. These rules apply to state universities that receive grants through the program. Student aid must be scholarships covering tuition, required books and materials, and reasonable living expenses. Grant money cannot pay for general overhead, new buildings, or activities unrelated to the program. Recipients must keep records showing they followed these rules.
Grant recipients report to the Board of Governors, which sends an annual summary to state leaders. These duties apply to each state university receiving program funds and to the Board of Governors. The Board sends the statewide summary to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker. Each university's report must cover spending, results, and plans for the next fiscal year. The Board must submit the summary by July 1 each year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 12Chapter No. 2026-131Latest
- Jun 11Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Jun 9Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 10Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10In Messages
- Mar 10CS passed; YEAS 38 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 10Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 10Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 10Substituted for CS/SB 1376
- Mar 10Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 10Withdrawn from AppropriationsMajor
- Feb 18ReceivedMinor
- Feb 18Referred to AppropriationsMinor
- Feb 17In Messages
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17CS passed as amended; YEAS 107, NAYS 0Passed House
- Feb 17Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 17Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Feb 17Amendment 654057 adopted
- Feb 17Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 10Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/17/2026)
- Feb 3Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (Education & Employment Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 3Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
- Feb 3Favorable by Education & Employment CommitteeMinor
- Jan 30Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
- Jan 28Now in Education & Employment Committee
- Vote recorded Favorable (Higher Education Budget Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28Reported out of Higher Education Budget Subcommittee
- Jan 28Favorable by Higher Education Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 26Added to Higher Education Budget Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 22Now in Higher Education Budget Subcommittee
- Jan 22Referred to Education & Employment CommitteeMinor
- Jan 22Referred to Higher Education Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 211st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Jan 21CS FiledMinor
- Jan 21Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Jan 21Reported out of Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
- Jan 20Favorable with CS by Careers & Workforce SubcommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Favorable With Committee Substitute (Careers & Workforce Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 15Added to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Jan 12Now in Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
- Jan 12Referred to Education & Employment CommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Higher Education Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Careers & Workforce SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 7FiledIntroduced
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