A.G. Gancarski
The Education Access and Affordability Bill, HB 7019, got high marks from Gov. Rick Scott Friday, who said he would sign the bill. He said it will allow students to make “informed decisions” toward an “affordable, quality college education in Florida.”
The bill “holds the line” on graduate school costs, and requires notification of required and “recommended” texts before classes start, thus allowing advance planning of hard costs in student budgets.
The measure requires a public notice for tuition and fee hikes among public universities. It also mandates discrete itemization of costs of instructional materials from tuition, and includes instructional materials in textbook affordability guidelines.
Scott said, “I appreciate the Legislature, especially bill sponsors Senator John Legg and Representative Elizabeth Porter, for continuing to focus on the needs of Florida students. The costs of textbooks and materials will now be publicly available to students well ahead of class registration so they can make informed decisions. I will continue to work with the Legislature so every student has the resources and support they need to get an affordable, quality college education in Florida.”
