240.2094  State University System management flexibility.--

(1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of ss. 216.031, 216.181, 216.262, and 240.271 to the contrary and pursuant to the provisions of s. 216.351, but subject to any guidelines imposed in the General Appropriations Act, funds for the operation of the State University System shall be requested and appropriated within budget entities, program components, program categories, lump sums, or special categories. Funds appropriated to the State University System for each program category, lump sum, or special category may be transferred to traditional categories for expenditure by the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents shall provide each university an approved budget based upon the appropriations act, and the universities shall develop an annual operating budget that allocates funds by program component and traditional expenditure category.

(2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.181 and pursuant to the provisions of s. 216.351, but subject to any requirements imposed in the General Appropriations Act, no lump-sum plan is required to implement the special categories, program categories, or lump-sum appropriations. Upon release of the special categories, program categories, or lump-sum appropriations to the Board of Regents, the Comptroller, upon the request of the Board of Regents, shall transfer or reallocate funds to or among accounts established for each university within each budget entity, for disbursement purposes. The Board of Regents shall maintain records to account for the original appropriation.

(3)  Notwithstanding the provisions of ss. 216.031, 216.181, 216.251, and 216.262 to the contrary and pursuant to the provisions of s. 216.351, but subject to any requirements imposed in the General Appropriations Act, the Board of Regents shall establish the authorized positions and initial approved salary rate and may amend such positions and rate, within the maximum number of total positions and salary rate authorized annually in the appropriations act.