(Excerpts form the Florida Senate Website)

• This bill requires public disclosure of foreign gifts, scrutiny of grant applicants and vendors with certain foreign connections, and thorough scrutiny of foreign applicants for research positions and of foreign travel and activities of employees of major research institutions.
• The bill requires each institution of higher education (IHE) to semiannually report any gift or gifts received from a foreign source with a value of $50,000 or more. An IHE must make its report to the Board of Governors or State Board of Education, as applicable.
• The bill requires, beginning July 1, 2022, the applicable inspector general to randomly audit for compliance at least five percent of the total number of gifts or gift agreements received from IHEs the previous year. The bill subjects an IHE that knowingly, willfully, or negligently fails to disclose required information to a civil penalty of 105 percent of the amount of the undisclosed gift, payable from nonstate funds.
• The bill provides protection and a reward of 25 percent of any penalty to a whistle-blower who reports an undisclosed foreign gift.