Florida Senate - 2023                                    SB 1656
       
       
        
       By Senator Stewart
       
       
       
       
       
       17-01532-23                                           20231656__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to financial aid for female victims of
    3         rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking;
    4         amending s. 1009.25, F.S.; providing that certain low
    5         income, female students who are pregnant as a result
    6         of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human
    7         trafficking and who decide to carry the pregnancy to
    8         term are exempt from paying specified postsecondary
    9         tuition and fees; authorizing the State Board of
   10         Education and the Board of Governors to adopt rules
   11         and regulations, respectively; creating s. 1009.8963,
   12         F.S.; establishing the Academic Success of Pregnant
   13         Female Students Who Are Victims of Sexual Abuse Grant
   14         Program within the Department of Education; providing
   15         the purpose of the program; providing student
   16         eligibility requirements; providing for program
   17         funding and the disbursement of awards; authorizing
   18         the State Board of Education to adopt rules; providing
   19         an effective date.
   20          
   21  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   22  
   23         Section 1. Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (1) of
   24  section 1009.25, Florida Statutes, to read:
   25         1009.25 Fee exemptions.—
   26         (1) The following students are exempt from the payment of
   27  tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that
   28  provides workforce education programs, Florida College System
   29  institution, or state university:
   30         (h)Beginning with a female student who has a conception
   31  date of January 1, 2023, or thereafter, a female student who is
   32  pregnant as a result of rape, incest, domestic violence, or
   33  human trafficking, who decides to carry the pregnancy to term,
   34  and whose household income level does not exceed 185 percent of
   35  the federal poverty level. The State Board of Education may
   36  adopt rules and the Board of Governors may adopt regulations
   37  regarding documentation and procedures to implement this
   38  paragraph.
   39         Section 2. Section 1009.8963, Florida Statutes, is created
   40  to read:
   41         1009.8963The Academic Success of Pregnant Female Students
   42  Who Are Victims of Sexual Abuse Grant Program.—There is
   43  established within the Department of Education the Academic
   44  Success of Pregnant Female Students Who Are Victims of Sexual
   45  Abuse Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to provide
   46  funds for child care for low-income, female students who are
   47  pregnant as a result of rape, incest, domestic violence, or
   48  human trafficking and who decide to carry the pregnancy to term.
   49         (1)A student is eligible for the program if she:
   50         (a)Is pregnant as a result of rape, incest, domestic
   51  violence, or human trafficking; has a conception date of January
   52  1, 2023, or thereafter; and decides to carry the pregnancy to
   53  term.
   54         (b)Has a household income level that does not exceed 185
   55  percent of the federal poverty level.
   56         (c)Is a Florida resident as described in s. 1009.40 and
   57  rules of the State Board of Education.
   58         (d)Is enrolled at a school district career center, charter
   59  career technical center, Florida College System institution, or
   60  state university.
   61         (2)(a)Subject to legislative appropriation, the department
   62  shall award grants to eligible students on a first-come, first
   63  served basis.
   64         (b)The amount of a grant award shall be the average cost
   65  of a child care provider that holds a Gold Seal Quality Care
   66  designation under s. 1002.945 for the county in which the
   67  eligible student resides.
   68         (c)The department shall disburse grant awards to eligible
   69  students at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.
   70         (3)The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
   71  implement this section.
   72         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.