A.G. Gancarski
Higher education bills keep moving in the Legislature.
The Senate is advancing its own higher education bill (SB 1726). The legislation, sponsored by Republican Sen. Alexis Calatayud, has two new amendments.
One of them removes the requirement for an office of public policy at universities.
The other removes the requirement for the Institute for Freedom in the Americas to partner with the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom.
Presidential searches were a topic of discussion, with Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia noting a key difference from the House bill just passed, which Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed to veto last week.
The House resoundingly approved HB 1321, which would publicize all presidential candidates’ identities, stop the Governor from discussing openings and lobbying for connected candidates with leadership of state colleges and universities, and let university Boards pick their Presidents rather than the Board Of Governors (BOG).
Calatayud confirmed that the process on the Senate bill is “in the shade,” though the final three presidential candidates “are recommended for the public to see” in a manner consistent with current law. The House product offers full visibility on the field of candidates overall.
A university’s Board of Trustees, not the BOG, would make that final selection.
Ingoglia said the provision was unconstitutional, stripping powers from the BOG. Calatayud held to her belief the move is legal.
The legislation raises other constitutional questions, particularly with its proposed term limits for members of the BOG and university Boards of Trustees, and Florida residency requirements to be on the BOG.
Democratic Sen. Tracie Davis wondered why debates and speeches were to only be retained on video for one year, down by five years. Calatayud said the universities wanted that and other proposed revisions to public policy programming.
Davis also wondered why the bill restricts university polling operations from looking at candidates and races. Calatayud expressed fear that polls involving candidates and campaigns somehow “influence the public.”
The House version of the bill imposes no new restrictions on polling.
