State employee fee waivers.

(1) As a benefit to the employer and employees of the state, subject to approval by an employee’s agency head or the equivalent, each state university and Florida College System institution shall waive tuition and fees for state employees to enroll for up to 6 credit hours of courses per term on a space-available basis.

(2) The Chief Financial Officer, in cooperation with the Florida College System institutions and state universities, shall identify and implement ways to ease the administrative burden to Florida College System institutions and state universities, including, but not limited to, providing easier access to verify state employment.

(3) From funds appropriated by the Legislature for administrative costs to implement this section, Florida College System institutions and state universities shall be reimbursed on a pro rata basis according to the cost assessment data developed by the Department of Education.

(4) The Auditor General shall include a review of the cost assessment data in conjunction with his or her audit responsibilities for Florida College System institutions, state universities, and the Department of Education.

(5) For purposes of this section, employees of the state include employees of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government, except for persons employed by a state university.