(1) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term “postsecondary education institution” means a Florida College System institution, state university, or nonpublic postsecondary education institution that receives state funds.
(2) ACCREDITATION.—(a) By September 1, 2022, the Board of Governors or the State Board of Education, as applicable, shall identify and determine the accrediting agencies or associations best suited to serve as an accreditor for public postsecondary institutions. Such accrediting agencies or associations must be recognized by the database created and maintained by the United States Department of Education. In the year following reaffirmation or fifth-year review by its accrediting agencies or associations, each public postsecondary institution must seek and obtain accreditation from an accrediting agency or association identified by the Board of Governors or State Board of Education, respectively, before its next reaffirmation or fifth-year review date. The requirements in this section are limited to a one-time change in accreditation. The requirements of this subsection are not applicable to those professional, graduate, departmental, or certificate programs at public postsecondary institutions that have specific accreditation requirements or best practices, including, but not limited to, law, pharmacy, engineering, or other similarly situated educational programs.
(b) Once a public postsecondary institution is required to seek and obtain accreditation from an agency or association identified pursuant to paragraph (a), the institution shall seek accreditation from a regional accrediting agency or association and provide quarterly reports of its progress to the Board of Governors or State Board of Education, as applicable. If each regional accreditation agency or association identified pursuant to paragraph (a) has refused to grant candidacy status to an institution, the institution must seek and obtain accreditation from any accrediting agency or association that is different from its current accrediting agency or association and is recognized by the database created and maintained by the United States Department of Education. If a public postsecondary institution is not granted candidacy status before its next reaffirmation or fifth-year review date, the institution may remain with its current accrediting agency or association.
(c) This subsection expires December 31, 2032.
(3) PROHIBITION.—An accrediting agency or association may not compel any public postsecondary institution to violate state law, and any adverse action upon the institution based upon the institution’s compliance with state law constitutes a violation of this section that may be enforced through subsection (4), except to the extent that state law is preempted by a federal law that recognizes the necessity of the accreditation standard or requirement.
(4) CAUSE OF ACTION.—A postsecondary education institution negatively impacted by retaliatory or adverse action taken against the postsecondary education institution by an accrediting agency or association may bring an action against the accrediting agency or association in a court of competent jurisdiction and may obtain liquidated damages in the amount of federal financial aid received by the postsecondary education institution, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees.
(5) EXPIRATION.—This section expires December 31, 2032.
