THE BILL ITSELF
SB 486
Discrimination in Education
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 486 By Senator Polsky 30-00314B-26 2026486__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to discrimination in education;
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amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; requiring each district
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school board to designate a Title VI coordinator;
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specifying requirements for and duties of the
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coordinator; authorizing a person alleging
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discrimination to file a complaint with the district
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school superintendent or the Title VI coordinator;
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authorizing a parent or guardian to submit a complaint
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on behalf of a minor child; requiring the State Board
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of Education to adopt rules; creating s. 1004.041,
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F.S.; requiring each Florida College System
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institution and state university to designate a Title
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VI coordinator; specifying requirements for and duties
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of the coordinator; authorizing a person alleging
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discrimination to file a complaint with the dean of
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students or the Title VI coordinator; authorizing a
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parent or guardian to submit a complaint on behalf of
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a minor child; requiring the State Board of Education
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and Board of Governors to adopt rules and regulations,
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respectively; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Present subsection (29) of section 1001.42,
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Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (30), and a new
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subsection (29) is added to that section, to read:
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1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The
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district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all
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powers and perform all duties listed below:
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(29) TITLE VI COORDINATOR.—
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(a) Each district school board shall designate a Title VI
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coordinator. The coordinator shall:
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1. Have expertise in and oversee compliance with Title VI
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of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and compliance with s. 1000.05.
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2. Promote equal access to and participation in the
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programs and activities of the institution.
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3. Provide training and educational resources regarding
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Title VI law and regulations, including, at a minimum, those who
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are responsible for receiving reports on potential Title VI
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complaints.
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4. Maintain records and reports related to Title VI
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compliance, including a summary of the allegations, the
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complainant’s protected category, the disposition of the
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complaint, and the corrective actions taken, so that the Title
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VI coordinator can assess compliance.
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5. Provide advice and consultation on supportive and
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corrective measures.
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6. Perform any other relevant duty established by the
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institution.
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(b)1. A person alleging discrimination in violation of
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Title VI may file a complaint with the district school
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superintendent or the Title VI coordinator of the school
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district.
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2. A parent or guardian may submit a complaint on behalf of
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his or her minor child.
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(c) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
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implement this subsection.
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Section 2. Section 1004.041, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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1004.041 Title VI coordinator.—
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(1) Each Florida College System institution and state
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university shall designate a Title VI coordinator. The
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coordinator shall:
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(a) Have expertise in and oversee compliance with Title VI
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of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and compliance with s. 1000.05.
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(b) Promote equal access to and participation in the
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programs and activities of the institution.
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(c) Provide training and educational resources regarding
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Title VI law and regulations, including, at a minimum, those who
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are responsible for receiving reports on potential Title VI
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complaints.
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(d) Maintain records and reports related to Title VI
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compliance, including a summary of the allegations, the
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complainant’s protected category, the disposition of the
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complaint, and the corrective actions taken, so that the Title
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VI coordinator can assess compliance.
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(e) Provide advice and consultation on supportive and
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corrective measures.
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(f) Perform any other relevant duty established by the
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institution.
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(2)(a) A person alleging discrimination in violation of
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Title VI may file a complaint with the college’s or university’s
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dean of students or Title VI coordinator.
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(b) A parent or guardian may submit a complaint on behalf
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of his or her minor child.
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(3) The State Board of Education and Board of Governors
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shall adopt rules and regulations, respectively, to implement
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this section.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.