THE BILL ITSELF
CS/HB 1115
Grants for Genetic Counseling Education
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An act relating to the grants for genetic counseling
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education; creating s. 1009.8963, F.S.; creating the
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Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement Grant Program
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within the State University System; providing the
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purpose of the program; subject to legislative
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appropriation, requiring the Board of Governors to
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award grant funds to state universities for specified
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purposes; requiring the program to reward excellence
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among genetic counseling programs based on specified
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criteria; providing authorized uses of grant funds;
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prohibiting such funds from being used for specified
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purposes; requiring state universities participating
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in the program to maintain specified records;
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requiring such state universities to submit an annual
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report; requiring the Board of Governors to submit an
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annual summary of such reports to the Governor and
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Legislature by a specified date; requiring the Board
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of Governors to adopt regulations; providing an
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effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 1009.8963, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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1009.8963 The Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement
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Grant Program.—
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(1) The Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement Grant
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Program is created within the State University System to support
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the development, growth, and sustainability of graduate level
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genetic counseling programs accredited by a recognized
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accrediting body. The Board of Governors shall award competitive
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grants to state universities to address faculty shortages,
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student financial barriers, and clinical training needs in
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genetic counseling.
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(2) Subject to appropriation, the board shall award funds
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to:
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(a) Establish an accredited program at a state university
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through a one-time start-up grant based upon an application
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submitted in a format prescribed by the board. The application
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must include:
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1. A detailed plan demonstrating how grant funds will be
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used to achieve program accreditation.
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2. The projected outcomes of establishing the program,
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including all of the following:
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a. The anticipated program enrollment.
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b. The plan for hiring and retaining faculty for the
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program.
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c. The anticipated program completion rates.
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d. The anticipated first-time American Board of Genetic
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Counseling board certification examination passage rates.
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e. The anticipated program contributions to the state's
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genetic counseling workforce.
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3. Documentation demonstrating that the proposed program
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is supported by sufficient clinical training capacity consistent
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with nationally recognized accreditation standards, and that the
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proposed growth represents a net increase in statewide training
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opportunities rather than a redistribution of existing
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supervision resources.
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(b) Accredited programs based on program performance
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according to the following metrics:
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1. The number of students completing the genetic
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counseling program.
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2. The first-time American Board of Genetic Counseling
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board certification examination passage rate for students
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completing the state university's genetic counseling program.
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The program shall reward excellence among genetic counseling
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programs with an average first-time American Board of Genetic
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Counseling board certification examination passage rate above
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the national average.
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(3)(a) Grant funds provided through the program must be
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used for:
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1. The recruitment and retention of qualified faculty,
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including, but not limited to, salaries, professional
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development, and incentives.
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2. Financial assistance to students enrolled in the
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accredited program. Such financial assistance must be in the
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form of scholarships that cover tuition, required books and
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materials, and reasonable living expenses.
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3. The establishment and maintenance of clinical rotations
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required for completion of the master's degree in genetic
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counseling, including partnerships with health care facilities
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for supervised practicum experiences, simulation training
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resources, and faculty oversight.
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(b) Grant funds may not be used for:
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1. General administrative overhead costs.
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2. The construction of new facilities.
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3. Nonprogram-related activities.
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(c) State universities that receive a grant through the
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program must maintain records sufficient to demonstrate
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compliance with this subsection.
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(4)(a) Each state university receiving funds pursuant to
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this section shall submit an annual report to the board. The
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report must include:
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1. Expenditures.
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2. The outcomes achieved using grant funds.
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3. Plans for the upcoming fiscal year for the program.
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(b) The board shall annually compile the reports into a
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statewide summary. The summary must be submitted to the
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Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
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House of Representatives by July 1 of each year.
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(5) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations to
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administer this section.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.