There is a LOT going on right now, but wanted to lift for your attention that SB266 (the Senate companion for HB999) had a hearing on Wednesday and was AMENDED. Unfortunately, the amendments really did not make things much better.
Click here and read below for breakdown of both SB266 and HB999 as of 4/13/2023.
NOTE: Both SB266 and HB999 only have ONE more committee stop. I suspect more movement next week.
Please continue to spread the word and defend academic freedom!
SB266 (Amended)
- Does not require removal of majors or minors associated with Critical Theory, but it does mandate general education curriculum w/political orthodoxy and gives authority to the BOG to review and provide “direction” for programs or curriculum that violate s. 1000.05 24 or “that is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.” (lines 21-27)
- Prohibits funds, regardless of source, to promote, support, or maintain any programs or campus activities that violates. 1000.05; or “Are based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.” (lines 192-201)
- Bill attempts to provide a carveout for federal requirements and other specific agreements/opportunities. Does not explicitly carve out student groups.
- Tenure has returned to status quo from last year.
- Hiring process has improved slightly by taking it away from Board of Trustees. Deans have now been included in the list of admin to whom hiring can be delegated. That said, the pool of those who can hire (president, executive team, and deans) is still too small to be sustainable, and cutting faculty out of hiring decisions is still a major problem with no benefit.
- The bill now contains a stronger prohibition on accreditors enforcing accreditation requirements. This portion is clearly designed to intimidate accreditors into not enforcing standards around academic freedom, tenure, and equal protection when they conflict with state law, which will unquestionably generate an accreditation crisis for Florida’s colleges and universities as well as for the degree-specific and program-specific accreditations across an array of fields.
- The bill now bars grievance and arbitration actions in response to faculty employment decisions/disciplinary actions. This is a major change in the status quo and is more than likely illegal, especially in regard to tenure.
- Creates the Institute for Risk Management & Insurance Education within the College of Business at the University of Central Florida, proposes significant partisan modifications to the FSU School of Policy and FIU’s Adam Smith Center.
- Requires each university president to review the results of performance evaluations and associated salaries for all personnel earning $200,000 or more.
HB999
- Requires the removal of majors or minors using pedagogical methodology associated with an array of Critical Theory, including but not limited to Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality (full list in lines 80-84).
- Prohibits state and federal fund usage for programs or campus activities that advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, engage in political or social activism, or provide preferential treatment or special benefits based on certain criteria. It remains unclear how this prohibition will affect student groups.
- Requires each UBOT to select and hire faculty for the university, which may only be delegated to the university president.
- Creates the Institute for Risk Management & Insurance Education within the College of Business at the University of Central Florida and proposes significant partisan modifications to the FSU School of Policy and FIU’s Adam Smith Center.
- Mandates general education curriculum and compels faculty speech regarding the teaching of American history. Limits instruction of “unproven” concepts in general education courses.
- Adds an additional standard for the Preeminent State Research University Program related to continued investment in Florida’s workforce.
- Permits the immediate review of a faculty members’ tenure for cause and not for cause.
- Requires each university president to review the results of performance evaluations and associated salaries for all personnel earning $100,000 or more.