CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.


H

Senators Forman and Kirkpatrick moved the following
amendment:



                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    

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10                                                                

11  Senators Forman and Kirkpatrick moved the following amendment:

12

13         Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 

14         Delete everything after the enacting clause

15

16  and insert:

17         Section 1.  Section 232.2466, Florida Statutes, is

18  amended to read:

19         232.2466  College-ready diploma program.--

20         (1)  Beginning with the 1998-1999 1997-1998 school

21  year, each school district shall award a differentiated

22  college-ready diploma to each student who:

23         (a)  Successfully completes the requirements for a

24  standard high school diploma as prescribed by s. 232.246.

25  Among courses taken to fulfill the 24-academic-credit

26  requirement, a student must take high school courses that are

27  adopted by the Board of Regents and recommended by the State

28  Board of Community Colleges as college-preparatory academic

29  courses.:

30         1.  Two credits in algebra and one credit in geometry,

31  or their equivalents, as determined by the state board.

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         2.  One credit in biology, one credit in chemistry, and

 2  one credit in physics, or their equivalents, as determined by

 3  the state board.

 4         3.  Two credits in the same foreign language, taken for

 5  elective credit. A student whose native language is not

 6  English is exempt from this requirement if the student

 7  demonstrates proficiency in the native language. American sign

 8  language constitutes a foreign language.

 9         (b)  Takes the postsecondary education common placement

10  test prescribed in s. 240.117, or an equivalent test

11  identified by the State Board of Education, before graduation

12  and scores at or above the established statewide passing score

13  in each test area.

14         (2)  A college-ready diploma entitles a student to

15  admission without additional placement testing to a public

16  postsecondary education program that terminates in a technical

17  certificate, an applied technology diploma, an associate in

18  applied science degree, an associate in science degree, or an

19  associate in arts degree, if the student enters postsecondary

20  education within 2 years after earning the college-ready

21  diploma.

22         (3)  The Department of Education shall periodically

23  convene a task force of educators and employers to recommend

24  additional incentives for students to pursue a college-ready

25  diploma.  The incentives may include awards and recognition,

26  preference for positions in firms, and early registration

27  privileges in postsecondary education institutions.

28         Section 2.  Paragraph (f) is added to subsection (4) of

29  section 239.117, Florida Statutes, to read:

30         239.117  Postsecondary student fees.--

31         (4)  The following students are exempt from the payment

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  of registration, matriculation, and laboratory fees:

 2         (f)  A student who is a proprietor, owner, or worker of

 3  a company whose business has been at least 50 percent

 4  negatively financially impacted by the buy-out of property

 5  around Lake Apopka by the State of Florida. Such a student may

 6  receive a fee exemption only if the student has not received

 7  compensation because of the buy-out, the student is designated

 8  a Florida resident for tuition purposes, pursuant to s.

 9  240.1201, and the student has applied for and been denied

10  financial aid, pursuant to s. 240.404, which would have

11  provided, at a minimum, payment of all student fees. The

12  student is responsible for providing evidence to the

13  postsecondary education institution verifying that the

14  conditions of this paragraph have been met, including support

15  documentation provided by the Department of Revenue. The

16  student must be currently enrolled in, or begin coursework

17  within, a program area by fall semester 2000.  The exemption

18  is valid for a period of 4 years from the date that the

19  postsecondary education institution confirms that the

20  conditions of this paragraph have been met.

21         Section 3.  Subsection (1) and paragraph (c) of

22  subsection (3) of section 239.225, Florida Statutes, are

23  amended, and subsection (5) is added to said section, to read:

24         239.225  Vocational Improvement Program.--

25         (1)  There is established the Vocational Improvement

26  Program to be administered by the Department of Education

27  pursuant to this section and rules of the State Board for

28  Career Education. Such rules must provide for the submission

29  of applications and distribution of funds pursuant to this

30  section. The priorities for allocation of funds for the

31  program are the development of vocational programs for

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  disadvantaged persons; recruitment, preservice and inservice

 2  activities for vocational counselors and teachers; the

 3  development of information systems that are compatible between

 4  school districts and community colleges; job placement

 5  services for vocational completers; the development of

 6  exploratory vocational courses; activities that provide

 7  faculty articulation for the purpose of integrating vocational

 8  and academic instruction; and activities that ensure greater

 9  community involvement in career education.

10         (3)

11         (c)  The State Board for Career Education may adopt

12  rules necessary to implement the provisions of this

13  subsection.

14         (5)  The State Board for Career Education may adopt

15  rules to implement this program.

16         Section 4.  Subsections (4) and (5) are added to

17  section 240.1163, Florida Statutes, to read:

18         240.1163  Joint dual enrollment and advanced placement

19  instruction.--

20         (4)  School districts and community colleges must weigh

21  college-level dual enrollment courses the same as honors

22  courses and advanced placement courses when grade point

23  averages are calculated. Alternative grade calculation or

24  weighting systems that discriminate against dual enrollment

25  courses are prohibited.

26         (5)  The Commissioner of Education may approve dual

27  enrollment agreements for limited course offerings that have

28  statewide appeal. Such programs shall be limited to a single

29  site with multiple county participation.

30         Section 5.  Subsections (6), (7), (8), and (9) of

31  section 240.235, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as

                                  4
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  subsections (7), (8), (9), and (10), respectively, and a new

 2  subsection (6) is added to said section to read:

 3         240.235  Fees.--

 4         (6)  Any proprietor, owner, or worker of a company

 5  whose business has been at least 50 percent negatively

 6  financially impacted by the buy-out of property around Lake

 7  Apopka by the State of Florida is exempt from the payment of

 8  registration, matriculation, and laboratory fees. A student

 9  receiving a fee exemption in accordance with this subsection

10  must not have received compensation because of the buy-out,

11  must be designated a Florida resident for tuition purposes,

12  pursuant to s. 240.1201, and must first have applied for and

13  been denied financial aid, pursuant to s. 240.404, which would

14  have provided, at a minimum, payment of all student fees. The

15  student is responsible for providing evidence to the

16  postsecondary education institution verifying that the

17  conditions of this subsection have been met, including support

18  documentation provided by the Department of Revenue. The

19  student must be currently enrolled in, or begin coursework

20  within, a program area by fall semester 2000. The exemption is

21  valid for a period of 4 years from the date that the

22  postsecondary education institution confirms that the

23  conditions of this subsection have been met.

24         Section 6.  Subsection (3) of section 240.311, Florida

25  Statutes, is amended to read:

26         240.311  State Board of Community Colleges; powers and

27  duties.--

28         (3)  The State Board of Community Colleges shall:

29         (a)  Provide for each community college to offer

30  educational training and service programs designed to meet the

31  needs of both students and the communities served.

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         (b)  Provide, through rule, for the coordination of the

 2  state community college system.

 3         (c)  Review new associate degree or certificate

 4  programs for relationship to student demand; conduct periodic

 5  reviews of existing programs; and provide rules for

 6  termination of associate degree or certificate programs when

 7  excessive duplication exists.

 8         (d)  Ensure that the rules and procedures of community

 9  college district boards relating to admission to, enrollment

10  in, employment in, and programs, services, functions, and

11  activities of each college provide equal access and equal

12  opportunity for all persons.

13         (e)  Advise presidents of community colleges of the

14  fiscal policies adopted by the Legislature and of their

15  responsibilities to follow such policies.

16         (f)  Specify, by rule, procedures to be used by the

17  boards of trustees in the periodic evaluations of presidents

18  and formally review the evaluations of presidents by the

19  boards of trustees.

20         (g)  Recommend to the State Board of Education minimum

21  standards for the operation of each community college as

22  required in s. 240.325, which standards may include, but are

23  not limited to, general qualifications of personnel,

24  budgeting, accounting and financial procedures, educational

25  programs, student admissions and services, and community

26  services.

27         (h)  Establish an effective information system which

28  will provide composite data about the community colleges and

29  assure that special analyses and studies about the colleges

30  are conducted, as necessary, for provision of accurate and

31  cost-effective information about the colleges and about the

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  community college system as a whole.

 2         (i)  Encourage the colleges and the system as a whole

 3  to cooperate with other educational institutions and agencies

 4  and with all levels and agencies of government in the interest

 5  of effective utilization of all resources, programs, and

 6  services.

 7         (j)  Establish criteria for making recommendations

 8  relative to modifying district boundary lines and for making

 9  recommendations upon all proposals for the establishment of

10  additional centers or campuses for community colleges.

11         (k)  Develop a plan in cooperation with the local

12  school district and the Department of Education to include any

13  and all counties in a community college service district.

14         (l)  Assess the need to consolidate any community

15  colleges.

16         (m)  Develop and adopt guidelines relating to salary

17  and fringe benefit policies for community college

18  administrators, including community college presidents.

19         (n)  Develop and adopt guidelines relating to official

20  travel by community college employees.

21         (o)  Receive an annual administrative review of each

22  community college.

23         1.  Such review shall include, but is not limited to,

24  the administrator-to-faculty ratio, the percent of funds for

25  administrative costs in the total budget, and the percent of

26  funds in support programs compared to the percent of funds in

27  instructional programs and may include such other indicators

28  of quality as are necessary.

29         2.  The review shall also include all courses offered

30  by a community college outside its district.  Courses offered

31  outside the home district which are not approved by the State

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  Board of Community Colleges shall not be counted for funding

 2  purposes or to meet enrollment assignments. For purposes of

 3  this subparagraph, electronically originated instruction, to

 4  include satellite, broadcast, and internet delivered

 5  instruction, shall be exempt. Exemption is only permitted when

 6  the community college's intent is to offer the instruction for

 7  students residing within the community college's home district

 8  and only markets the instruction to students residing within

 9  the community college's home district. If a community

10  college's intent is to market the electronically originated

11  instruction outside its home district and thus recruit

12  students outside its home district, the community college must

13  receive the approval of the State Board of Community Colleges.

14  The State Board of Community Colleges shall have authority to

15  review any electronically originated instruction for

16  compliance with this section.

17         (p)  Encourage and support activities which promote and

18  advance college and statewide direct-support organizations.

19         (q)  Specify, by rule, the degree program courses that

20  may be taken by students concurrently enrolled in

21  college-preparatory instruction.

22         Section 7.  Section 240.321, Florida Statutes, is

23  amended to read:

24         240.321  Community college district board of trustees;

25  rules for admissions of students.--The board of trustees shall

26  make rules governing admissions of students.  These rules

27  shall include the following:

28         (1)  Admissions counseling shall be provided to all

29  students entering college credit programs, which counseling

30  shall utilize tests to measure achievement of college-level

31  communication and computation competencies by all students

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  entering college credit programs.

 2         (2)  Admission to associate degree programs is subject

 3  to minimum standards adopted by the State Board of Education

 4  and shall require:

 5         (a)  A standard high school diploma, a high school

 6  equivalency diploma as prescribed in s. 229.814, previously

 7  demonstrated competency in college credit postsecondary

 8  coursework, or, in the case of a student who is home educated,

 9  a signed affidavit submitted by the student's parent or legal

10  guardian attesting that the student has completed a home

11  education program pursuant to the requirements of s.

12  232.02(4).  Students who are enrolled in a dual enrollment or

13  early admission program pursuant to s. 240.116 and secondary

14  students enrolled in college-level instruction creditable

15  toward the associate degree, but not toward the high school

16  diploma, shall be exempt from this requirement.

17         (b)  A demonstrated level of achievement of

18  college-level communication and computation skills. Students

19  entering a postsecondary education program within 2 years of

20  graduation from high school with an earned college-ready

21  diploma issued pursuant to s. 232.2466 shall be exempt from

22  this testing requirement.

23         (c)  Any other requirements established by the board of

24  trustees.

25         (3)  Admission to other programs within the community

26  college shall include education requirements as established by

27  the board of trustees.

28

29  Each board of trustees shall establish policies that notify

30  students about, and place students into, adult basic

31  education, adult secondary education, or other instructional

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  programs that provide students with alternatives to

 2  traditional college-preparatory instruction, including private

 3  provider instruction. Such notification shall include a

 4  written listing or a prominent display of information on

 5  alternative remedial options that must be available to each

 6  student who scores below college level in any area on the

 7  common placement test. The list or display shall include, but

 8  is not limited to, options provided by the community college,

 9  adult education programs, and programs provided by

10  private-sector providers. The college shall not endorse,

11  recommend, evaluate, or rank any of the providers. The list of

12  providers or the display materials shall include all those

13  providers that request to be included. The written list must

14  provide students with specific contact information and

15  disclose the full costs of the course tuition, laboratory

16  fees, and instructional materials of each option listed. A

17  student who elects a private provider for remedial instruction

18  is entitled to enroll in up to 12 credits of college-level

19  courses in skill areas other than those for which the student

20  is being remediated. A student is prohibited from enrolling in

21  additional college-level courses until the student scores

22  above the cut-score on all sections of the common placement

23  test.

24         Section 8.  Section 240.324, Florida Statutes, is

25  amended to read:

26         240.324  Community college accountability process.--

27         (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature that a

28  management and accountability process be implemented which

29  provides for the systematic, ongoing improvement and

30  assessment of the improvement of the quality and efficiency of

31  the State Community College System.  Accordingly, the State

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  Board of Community Colleges and the community college boards

 2  of trustees shall develop and implement an accountability a

 3  plan to improve and evaluate the instructional and

 4  administrative efficiency and effectiveness of the State

 5  Community College System.  This plan shall be designed in

 6  consultation with staff of the Governor and the Legislature

 7  and must address the following issues:

 8         (a)  Graduation rates of A.A. and A.S. degree-seeking

 9  students compared to first-time-enrolled students seeking the

10  associate degree.

11         (b)  Minority student enrollment and retention rates.

12         (c)  Student performance, including student performance

13  in college-level academic skills, mean grade point averages

14  for community college A.A. transfer students, and community

15  college student performance on state licensure examinations.

16         (d)  Job placement rates of community college

17  vocational students.

18         (e)  Student progression by admission status and

19  program.

20         (f)  Vocational accountability standards identified in

21  s. 239.229.

22         (g)  Other measures as identified by the Postsecondary

23  Education Planning Commission and approved by the State Board

24  of Community Colleges.

25         (2)  By January 1, 1992, the State Board of Community

26  Colleges shall submit to the Governor, the President of the

27  Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a plan

28  for addressing these issues.  The plan must provide a specific

29  timetable that identifies specific issues to be addressed each

30  year and must provide for full implementation by December 31,

31  1994. Beginning September 1, 1998 December 31, 1992, the State

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  Board of Community Colleges shall submit an annual interim

 2  report, to coincide with the submission of the agency

 3  strategic plan required by law, providing the results of

 4  initiatives taken during the prior year and the initiatives

 5  and related objective performance measures proposed for the

 6  next year. The initial plan and each interim plan shall be

 7  designed in consultation with staff of the Governor and the

 8  Legislature.

 9         (3)  Beginning January 1, 1993, The State Board of

10  Community Colleges shall address within the annual evaluation

11  of the performance of the executive director, and the boards

12  of trustees shall address within the annual evaluation of the

13  presidents, the achievement of the performance goals

14  established by the accountability process in the community

15  college accountability plan.

16         Section 9.  Subsections (4) through (14) of section

17  240.35, Florida Statutes, as amended by chapter 97-383, Laws

18  of Florida, are renumbered as subsections (5) through (15),

19  respectively, paragraph (c) of present subsection (10) is

20  amended, and a new subsection (4) is added to said section, to

21  read:

22         240.35  Student fees.--Unless otherwise provided, the

23  provisions of this section apply only to fees charged for

24  college credit instruction leading to an associate degree,

25  including college-preparatory courses defined in s. 239.105.

26         (4)  Any proprietor, owner, or worker of a company

27  whose business has been at least 50 percent negatively

28  financially impacted by the buy-out of property around Lake

29  Apopka by the State of Florida is exempt from the payment of

30  registration, matriculation, and laboratory fees.  A student

31  receiving a fee exemption in accordance with this subsection

                                  12
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  must not have received compensation because of the buy-out,

 2  must be designated a Florida resident for tuition purposes

 3  pursuant to s. 240.1201, and must first have applied for and

 4  been denied financial aid, pursuant to s. 240.404, which would

 5  have provided, at a minimum, payment of all student fees. The

 6  student is responsible for providing evidence to the

 7  postsecondary education institution verifying that the

 8  conditions of this subsection have been met, including support

 9  documentation provided by the Department of Revenue.  The

10  student must be currently enrolled in, or begin coursework

11  within, a program area by fall semester 2000.  The exemption

12  is valid for a period of 4 years from the date that the

13  postsecondary education institution confirms that the

14  conditions of this subsection have been met.

15         (11)(10)

16         (c)  Up to 25 percent or $250,000, whichever is

17  greater, of the fees collected may be used to assist students

18  who demonstrate academic merit, who participate in athletics,

19  public service, cultural arts, and other extracurricular

20  programs as determined by the institution, or who are

21  identified as members of a targeted gender or ethnic minority

22  population.  The financial aid fee revenues allocated for

23  athletic scholarships and fee exemptions provided pursuant to

24  subsection (15) (14) for athletes shall be distributed

25  equitably as required by s. 228.2001(3)(d).  A minimum of 50

26  percent of the balance of these funds shall be used to provide

27  financial aid based on absolute need, and the remainder of the

28  funds shall be used for academic merit purposes and other

29  purposes approved by the district boards of trustees.  Such

30  other purposes shall include the payment of child care fees

31  for students with financial need.  The State Board of

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  Community Colleges shall develop criteria for making financial

 2  aid awards.  Each college shall report annually to the

 3  Department of Education on the criteria used to make awards,

 4  the amount and number of awards for each criterion, and a

 5  delineation of the distribution of such awards.  Awards which

 6  are based on financial need shall be distributed in accordance

 7  with a nationally recognized system of need analysis approved

 8  by the State Board of Community Colleges. An award for

 9  academic merit shall require a minimum overall grade point

10  average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent for both

11  initial receipt of the award and renewal of the award.

12         Section 10.  Subsections (4) and (7) of section 240.36,

13  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

14         240.36  Dr. Philip Benjamin Academic Improvement Trust

15  Fund for Community Colleges.--

16         (4)  Challenge grants shall be proportionately

17  allocated from the trust fund on the basis of matching each $4

18  of state funds with $6 of local or private funds. The matching

19  funds shall come from contributions made after July 1, 1983,

20  for the purposes of matching this grant.  To be eligible, a

21  minimum of $4,500 must be raised from private sources, and

22  such contributions must be in excess of the total average

23  annual cash contributions made to the foundation at each

24  community college in the 3 fiscal years before July 1, 1983.

25         (7)(a)  The board of trustees of the community college

26  and the State Board of Community Colleges are responsible for

27  determining the uses for the proceeds of their respective

28  trust funds.  Such uses of the proceeds shall be limited to

29  expenditure of the funds for:

30         1.  Scientific and technical equipment.

31         2.  Other activities that will benefit future students

                                  14
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  as well as students currently enrolled at the community

 2  college and that will improve the quality of education at the

 3  community college or in the community college system.

 4         3.  Scholarships, loans, or need-based grants, which

 5  are the lowest priority for use of these funds.

 6         (b)  If a community college includes scholarships,

 7  loans, or need-based grants in its proposal, it shall create

 8  an endowment in its academic improvement trust fund and use

 9  the earnings of the endowment to provide scholarships, loans,

10  or need-based grants. in its proposal, it shall create an

11  endowment in its academic improvement trust fund and use the

12  earnings of the endowment to provide scholarships.  Such

13  scholarships must be program specific and require high

14  academic achievement for students to qualify for or retain the

15  scholarship. A scholarship program may be used for minority

16  recruitment but may not be used for athletic participants. The

17  board of trustees may award scholarships to students in

18  associate in arts programs and vocational programs. However,

19  for vocational programs, the board of trustees must have

20  designated the program as a program of emphasis for quality

21  improvement, a designation that should be restricted to a

22  limited number of programs at the community college.  In

23  addition, the board of trustees must have adopted a specific

24  plan that details how the community college will improve the

25  quality of the program designated for emphasis and that

26  includes quality measures and outcome measures.  Over a period

27  of time, the community college operating budget should show

28  additional financial commitment to the program of emphasis

29  above and beyond the average increases to other programs

30  offered by the community college.  Fundraising activities must

31  be specifically identified as being for the program of

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  emphasis or scholarship money.  The community college must

 2  fully levy the amount for financial aid purposes provided by

 3  s. 240.35(10) in addition to the tuition and matriculation fee

 4  before any scholarship funds are awarded to the community

 5  college as part of its approved request.

 6         (b)(c)  Proposals for use of the trust fund shall be

 7  submitted to the State Board of Community Colleges for

 8  approval.  Any proposal not acted upon in 60 days shall be

 9  considered not approved.

10         Section 11.  Subsection (5) of section 240.382, Florida

11  Statutes, is amended to read:

12         240.382  Establishment of child development training

13  centers at community colleges.--

14         (5)  In addition to revenues derived from child care

15  fees charged to parents and other external resources, each

16  child development training center may be funded by a portion

17  of funds from the student activity and service fee authorized

18  by s. 240.35(10)(9) and the capital improvement fee authorized

19  by s. 240.35(14)(13). Community colleges are authorized to

20  transfer funds as necessary from the college's general fund to

21  support the operation of the child development training

22  center.

23         Section 12.  Subsection (2) of section 240.4097,

24  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

25         240.4097  Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance

26  Grant Program; eligibility for grants.--

27         (2)(a)  Florida postsecondary student assistance grants

28  through the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may

29  be made only to full-time degree-seeking students who meet the

30  general requirements for student eligibility as provided in s.

31  240.404, except as otherwise provided in this section.  Such

                                  16
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  grants shall be awarded for the amount of demonstrated unmet

 2  need for tuition and fees and may not exceed a total of $1,500

 3  per academic year, or as specified in the General

 4  Appropriations Act, to any applicant.  A demonstrated unmet

 5  need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible

 6  for a Florida postsecondary student assistance grant.

 7  Recipients of such grants must have been accepted at a

 8  postsecondary institution that is located in and chartered as

 9  a domestic corporation by the state and that is:

10         1.  A private nursing diploma school approved by the

11  Florida Board of Nursing; or

12         2.  An institution either licensed by the State Board

13  of Independent Colleges and Universities or exempt from

14  licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(a), excluding those

15  institutions the students of which are eligible to receive a

16  Florida private student assistance grant pursuant to s.

17  240.4095.

18

19  No student may receive an award for more than the equivalent

20  of 9 semesters or 14 quarters in a period of not more than 6

21  consecutive years, except as otherwise provided in s.

22  240.404(3).

23         (b)  A student applying for a Florida postsecondary

24  student assistance grant shall be required to apply for the

25  Pell Grant. The Pell Grant entitlement shall be considered by

26  the department when conducting an assessment of the financial

27  resources available to each student.

28         (c)  The criteria and procedure for establishing

29  standards of eligibility shall be determined by the

30  department.  The department is directed to establish a rating

31  system upon which to base the approval of grants, including

                                  17
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  the use of a nationally recognized system of need analysis.

 2  The system shall include a certification of acceptability by

 3  the school of the applicant's choice.  Priority in the

 4  distribution of grant moneys shall be given to students with

 5  the lowest total family resources, as determined pursuant to

 6  this subsection, taking into consideration the receipt of Pell

 7  Grants and student contributions to educational costs.

 8         (d)  The department is directed to establish, for fall

 9  enrollment, an initial application deadline for students

10  attending all eligible institutions and an additional

11  application deadline for students who apply to all eligible

12  institutions after the initial application deadline.  The

13  second deadline shall be October 1 following the initial

14  application deadline.  The department shall reserve an amount

15  to be designated annually in the General Appropriations Act

16  for the purpose of providing awards to postsecondary students

17  who apply for a student assistance grant after the initial

18  application deadline.  Applicants who apply during the initial

19  application period and are eligible to receive an award, but

20  do not receive an award because of insufficient funds, shall

21  have their applications reconsidered with those applicants who

22  apply after the initial application deadline.  The provisions

23  of this paragraph shall take effect with the 1999-2000

24  academic year.

25         Section 13.  Section 246.201, Florida Statutes, is

26  amended to read:

27         246.201  Legislative intent.--

28         (1)  Sections 246.201-246.231 shall provide for the

29  protection of the health, education, and welfare of the

30  citizens of Florida and shall facilitate and promote the

31  acquisition of a minimum satisfactory career, technical,

                                  18
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  trade, and business education by all the citizens of this

 2  state. There are presently many fine nonpublic schools

 3  existing in this state, but there are some nonpublic schools

 4  which do not generally offer those educational opportunities

 5  which the citizens of Florida deem essential.  The latter type

 6  of school also fails to contribute to the ultimate health,

 7  education, and welfare of the citizens of Florida.  It shall

 8  be in the interest of, and essential to, the public health and

 9  welfare that the state create the means whereby all nonpublic

10  postsecondary career independent degree career education,

11  technical, trade, and business schools as defined in s.

12  246.203(1) shall satisfactorily meet minimum educational

13  standards and fair consumer practices.

14         (2)  A common practice in our society is to use

15  diplomas and degrees for many purposes.  Some of these

16  purposes are:  for employers to judge the qualifications of

17  prospective employees; for public and nonpublic professional

18  groups, vocational groups, educational agencies, governmental

19  agencies, and educational institutions to determine the

20  qualifications for admission to, and continuation of,

21  educational goals, occupational goals, professional

22  affiliations, or occupational affiliations; and for public and

23  professional assessment of the extent of competency of

24  individuals engaged in a wide range of activities within our

25  society.

26         (3)  Because of the common use of diplomas and degrees,

27  the minimum legal requirements provided by ss. 246.201-246.231

28  for the establishment and operation of nonpublic postsecondary

29  career independent degree career education, technical, trade,

30  and business schools shall protect the individual student from

31  deceptive, fraudulent, or substandard education; protect such

                                  19
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  independent degree career education, technical, trade, and

 2  business schools; and protect the citizens of Florida holding

 3  diplomas or degrees.

 4         (4)  Nothing contained herein is intended in any way,

 5  nor shall be construed, to regulate the stated purpose of an

 6  independent degree career education, technical, trade, and

 7  business school or to restrict any religious instruction or

 8  training in a nonpublic school. Any school or business

 9  regulated by the state or approved, certified, or regulated by

10  the Federal Aviation Administration is hereby expressly exempt

11  from ss. 246.201-246.231.  Nonprofit schools, owned,

12  controlled, operated, and conducted by religious,

13  denominational, eleemosynary, or similar public institutions

14  exempt from property taxation under the laws of this state

15  shall be exempt from the provisions of ss. 246.201-246.231.

16  However, such schools may choose to apply for a license

17  hereunder, and, upon approval and issuance thereof, such

18  schools shall be subject to ss. 246.201-246.231.

19         Section 14.  Subsections (1) and (7) of section

20  246.203, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

21         246.203  Definitions.--As used in ss. 246.201-246.231,

22  unless the context otherwise requires:

23         (1)  "School" means any nonpublic postsecondary

24  noncollegiate career educational institution, association,

25  corporation, person, partnership, or organization of any type

26  that:

27         (a)  Offers to provide or provides any postsecondary

28  program of instruction, course, or class through the student's

29  personal attendance, in the presence of an instructor, in a

30  classroom, clinical, or other practicum setting or through

31  correspondence or other distance learning; and

                                  20
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         (b)  Represents, directly or by implication, that the

 2  instruction will qualify the student for employment in any

 3  occupation whose practice in this state does not require a

 4  degree, as defined in s. 246.021(5); and

 5         (c)  Receives remuneration from the student or any

 6  other source on the enrollment of a student or on the number

 7  of students enrolled; or

 8         (d)  Offers to award or awards a diploma, as defined in

 9  subsection (6), regardless of whether or not it engages in the

10  activities described in paragraph (a), paragraph (b), or

11  paragraph (c). nongovernmental, postsecondary, vocational,

12  technical, trade, or business noncollegiate educational

13  institution, organization program, home study course, or class

14  maintained or conducted in residence or through correspondence

15  by any person, partnership, association, organization, or

16  corporation for the purpose of offering instruction of any

17  kind leading to occupational objectives or of furnishing a

18  diploma, as defined in subsection (6), in business,

19  management, trade, technical, or other career education and

20  professional schools not otherwise regulated.  Nonpublic

21  colleges and universities which award a baccalaureate or

22  higher degree, and nonpublic junior colleges which award an

23  associate degree in liberal arts do not fall under the

24  authority granted in ss. 246.201-246.231 unless the college,

25  university, or junior college conducts, or seeks to conduct, a

26  program for which a diploma, as defined in subsection (6), is

27  to be awarded.  Any nonpublic college, university, or junior

28  college which conducts or seeks to conduct a diploma program

29  shall, for the purposes of ss. 246.201-246.231, be included in

30  the definition of "school." Schools offering only examination

31  preparation courses for which they do not award a diploma as

                                  21
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  defined in subsection (6) do not fall under the authority

 2  granted in ss. 246.201-246.231; nor does a nonprofit class

 3  provided and operated entirely by an employer, a group of

 4  employers in related business or industry, or a labor union

 5  solely for its employees or prospective employees or members.

 6         (7)  "Board" means the State Board of Nonpublic Career

 7  Education Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical,

 8  Trade, and Business Schools.

 9         Section 15.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section

10  246.205, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

11         246.205  State Board of Nonpublic Career Education

12  Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and

13  Business Schools.--

14         (1)  There shall be established in the Department of

15  Education a State Board of Nonpublic Career Education

16  Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and

17  Business Schools.  The board shall be assigned to the

18  Department of Education only for the purpose of payroll,

19  procurement, and related administrative functions which shall

20  be exercised by the head of the department.  The board shall

21  independently exercise the other powers, duties, and functions

22  prescribed by law.  The board shall include nine members,

23  appointed by the Governor as follows:

24         (a)  One from a business school;

25         (b)  One from a technical school;

26         (c)  One from a home study school;

27         (d)  One from a nonpublic school;

28         (e)  Four from business and industry; and

29         (f)  An administrator of vocational-technical education

30  from a public school district or community college.

31         (2)  Each of the members shall be appointed by the

                                  22
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, for a term of

 2  3 years.  Of the original members appointed by the Governor,

 3  three shall serve for terms of 1 year, three shall serve for

 4  terms of 2 years, and three shall serve for terms of 3 years.

 5  Of the appointive members from the nonpublic postsecondary

 6  career independent schools, each shall have occupied executive

 7  or managerial positions in a nonpublic postsecondary career an

 8  independent school in this state for at least 5 years.  All

 9  members shall be residents of this state.  In the event of a

10  vacancy on the board caused other than by the expiration of a

11  term, the Governor shall appoint a successor to serve the

12  unexpired term.

13         Section 16.  Subsection (1) and paragraph (e) of

14  subsection (2) of section 246.207, Florida Statutes, are

15  amended to read:

16         246.207  Powers and duties of board.--

17         (1)  The board shall:

18         (a)  Hold such meetings as are necessary to administer

19  efficiently the provisions of ss. 246.201-246.231.

20         (b)  Select annually a chairperson and a vice

21  chairperson.

22         (c)  Adopt and use an official seal in the

23  authentication of its acts.

24         (c)(d)  Make rules for its own government.

25         (d)(e)  Prescribe and recommend to the State Board of

26  Education rules as are required by ss. 246.201-246.231 or as

27  it may find necessary to aid in carrying out the objectives

28  and purposes of ss. 246.201-246.231.

29         (e)(f)  Administer ss. 246.201-246.231 and execute such

30  rules adopted pursuant thereto by the State Board of Education

31  for the establishment and operation of nonpublic postsecondary

                                  23
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  career independent schools as defined in s. 246.203(1).

 2         (f)(g)  Appoint, on the recommendation of its

 3  chairperson, executives, deputies, clerks, and employees of

 4  the board.

 5         (g)(h)  Maintain a record of its proceedings.

 6         (h)(i)  Cooperate with other state and federal agencies

 7  in administering ss. 246.201-246.231.

 8         (i)(j)  Prepare an annual budget.

 9         (j)(k)  Transmit all fees, donations, and other

10  receipts of money to the Institutional Assessment Trust Fund

11  State Treasurer to be deposited in the General Revenue Fund.

12         (k)(l)  Transmit to the Governor, the Speaker of the

13  House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the

14  minority leader of the Senate, and the minority leader of the

15  House of Representatives on July 1, 1987, and each succeeding

16  year an annual report which shall include, but not be limited

17  to:

18         1.  A detailed accounting of all funds received and

19  expended.

20         2.  The number of complaints received and investigated,

21  by type.

22         3.  The number of findings of probable cause.

23         4.  A description of disciplinary actions taken, by

24  statutory classification.

25         5.  A description of all administrative hearings and

26  court actions.

27         6.  A description of the board's major activities

28  during the previous year.

29         (l)(m)  Assure that no school that has met board

30  requirements established by law or rule be made to operate

31  without a current license due to scheduling of board meetings

                                  24
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  or application procedures for license renewal.

 2         (m)(n)  Cause to be investigated criminal justice

 3  information, as defined in s. 943.045, for each owner,

 4  administrator, and agent employed by a school applying for

 5  licensure or renewal of licensure.

 6         (n)(o)  Serve as a central agency for collection and

 7  distribution of current information regarding institutions

 8  licensed by the board.

 9         1.  The data collected by the board shall include

10  information relating to the school administration, calendar

11  system, admissions requirements, student costs and financial

12  obligations, financial aid information, refund policy,

13  placement services, number of full-time and part-time faculty,

14  student enrollment and demographic figures, programs, and

15  off-campus programs.  Other information shall be collected in

16  response to specific needs or inquiries.  Financial

17  information of a strictly proprietary, commercial nature is

18  excluded from this requirement.

19         2.  The data collected by the board must also include

20  the data for the career education program evaluation reports

21  required by s. 239.233 for each school that chooses to provide

22  public information under s. 239.245.

23         3.  The board shall provide to each participating

24  institution annually the format, definitions, and instructions

25  for submitting the required information.

26         4.  The data submitted by each institution shall be

27  accompanied by a letter of certification signed by the chief

28  administrative officer of the institution, affirming that the

29  information submitted is accurate.

30         5.  A summary of the data collected by the board shall

31  be included in the annual report to the Governor, the Speaker

                                  25
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  of the House of Representatives and the President of the

 2  Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, and the minority

 3  leader of the House of Representatives.  The information

 4  collected by the board may also be used by the Department of

 5  Education for such purposes as statewide master planning,

 6  state financial aid programs, and publishing directories, by

 7  the Legislature, and to respond to consumer inquiries received

 8  by the board.

 9         (p)  Publish and index all policies and agency

10  statements. If a policy or agency statement meets the criteria

11  of a rule, as defined in s. 120.52, the board shall adopt it

12  as a rule.

13         (o)(q)  Establish and publicize the procedures for

14  receiving and responding to complaints from students, faculty,

15  and others about schools or programs licensed by the board and

16  shall keep records of such complaints in order to determine

17  their frequency and nature for specific institutions of higher

18  education.  With regard to any written complaint alleging a

19  violation of any provision of ss. 246.201-246.231 or any rule

20  promulgated pursuant thereto, the board shall periodically

21  notify, in writing, the person who filed the complaint of the

22  status of the investigation, whether probable cause has been

23  found, and the status of any administrative action, civil

24  action, or appellate action, and if the board has found that

25  probable cause exists, it shall notify, in writing, the party

26  complained against of the results of the investigation and

27  disposition of the complaint.  The findings of the probable

28  cause panel, if a panel is established, shall not be disclosed

29  until the information is no longer confidential.

30         (2)  The board may:

31         (e)  Issue a license to any school subject to ss.

                                  26
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  246.201-246.231 which is exempted excluded from the licensing

 2  and regulatory requirements of ss. 246.201-246.231, upon

 3  voluntary application for such license and upon payment of the

 4  appropriate fee as set forth in s. 246.219.

 5         Section 17.  Section 246.213, Florida Statutes, is

 6  amended to read:

 7         246.213  Power of State Board of Education.--

 8         (1)  The State Board of Education, acting on the

 9  recommendation of the State Board of Nonpublic Career

10  Education Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical,

11  Trade, and Business Schools, shall adopt such minimum

12  standards and rules as are required for the administration of

13  ss. 246.201-246.231.

14         (2)(a)  The minimum educational standards for the

15  licensing of schools shall include, but not be limited to:

16  name of school, purpose, administrative organization,

17  educational program and curricula, finances, financial

18  stability, faculty, library, student personnel services,

19  physical plant and facilities, publications, and disclosure

20  statements about the status of the institution in relation to

21  professional certification and licensure.

22         (b)  Rules of the State Board of Education shall

23  require that nonpublic schools administer an entry-level test

24  of basic skills to each student who enrolls in a nondegree

25  program of at least 450 clock hours, or the credit hour

26  equivalent, which purports to prepare such student for

27  employment. The State Board of Nonpublic Career Education

28  Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and

29  Business Schools shall designate examinations authorized for

30  use for entry-level testing purposes. State Board of Education

31  rules shall require that applicable schools provide students

                                  27
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  who are deemed to lack a minimal level of basic skills with a

 2  structured program of basic skills instruction. No student

 3  shall be granted a diploma, as defined in s. 246.203, until he

 4  or she has demonstrated mastery of basic skills. Exceptional

 5  students, as defined in s. 228.041, may be exempted from the

 6  provisions of this paragraph. The State Board of Education

 7  shall identify means through which students who are capable of

 8  demonstrating mastery of basic skills may be exempted from the

 9  provisions of this paragraph.

10         (c)  The State Board of Nonpublic Career Education

11  Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and

12  Business Schools may request that schools within its

13  jurisdiction provide the board all documents associated with

14  institutional accreditation.  The board shall solicit from

15  schools which provide such documents only such additional

16  information undisclosed in the accreditation documents

17  provided.  The board may conduct a comprehensive study of a

18  school that fails to provide all documents associated with its

19  institutional accreditation.  The cost of such study shall be

20  borne by the institution. Standards imposed by the board shall

21  not be constrained in quality or quantity to those imposed by

22  the respective accrediting body.

23         (d)  The State Board of Nonpublic Career Education

24  Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and

25  Business Schools shall recommend to the State Board of

26  Education minimum placement standards for institutions that

27  conduct programs that prepare students for employment.

28         (3)  The minimum requirements for the licensing of

29  agents shall include:  name, residential and business

30  addresses, background training, institution or institutions to

31  be represented, and demonstrated knowledge of statutes and

                                  28
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  rules related to the authority granted to agents and the

 2  limitations imposed upon such authority.  No employee of a

 3  nonpublic school shall solicit prospective students for

 4  enrollment in such school until that employee is licensed by

 5  the State Board of Nonpublic Career Education Independent

 6  Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and Business

 7  Schools as an agent.

 8         (4)  The State Board of Nonpublic Career Education

 9  Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and

10  Business Schools shall adopt criteria for specialized

11  associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, or other

12  educational credentials that will be recognized in licensed

13  schools.  The State Board of Nonpublic Career Education

14  Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and

15  Business Schools shall adopt a common definition for each

16  credential.  To determine the level of a nonpublic an

17  independent institution's vocational program or to establish

18  criteria for a specialized degree, the board shall use

19  procedures developed pursuant to s. 239.205, which requires

20  the Department of Education to determine the level of each

21  public degree career education program.

22         Section 18.  Section 246.215, Florida Statutes, is

23  amended to read:

24         246.215  License required.--

25         (1)  No nonpublic postsecondary career independent

26  school required to be licensed pursuant to ss. 246.201-246.231

27  shall be operated or established within the state until such

28  school makes application and obtains a license or

29  authorization from the board.  Each nonpublic school that

30  seeks licensure shall first submit articles of incorporation

31  to the Department of State.  After the Department of State

                                  29
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  approves such articles and verifies that the articles indicate

 2  the corporation is a postsecondary school within the meaning

 3  and intent of s. 246.203, the corporation shall apply for

 4  licensure by the board within 60 days of approval of the

 5  articles.  Department of State approval of the articles of

 6  incorporation shall not constitute authorization to operate

 7  the nonpublic school.  The Department of State shall

 8  immediately transmit approved articles of incorporation for

 9  nonpublic schools to the board.

10         (2)  No agent shall solicit any prospective student for

11  enrollment in a nonpublic school until both the agent and the

12  school are appropriately licensed or otherwise authorized by

13  the board.

14         (3)  No nonpublic postsecondary career independent

15  school required to be licensed pursuant to ss. 246.201-246.231

16  shall advertise in any manner until such school is granted an

17  appropriate license by the board, nor shall any licensed

18  school advertise in any manner while such school is under an

19  injunction against operating, soliciting students, or offering

20  diplomas.

21         (4)  No license granted by the board shall be

22  transferable to another nonpublic postsecondary career

23  independent school or to another agent, nor shall school

24  licensure transfer upon a change in ownership of the

25  institution.

26         (5)  Each license granted by the board shall delineate

27  the specific nondegree programs that the nonpublic school is

28  authorized to offer.  No such school shall conduct a program

29  unless express authority is granted in its license.

30         (6)  A diploma program offered by a nonpublic junior

31  college, college, or university must be licensed by the board,

                                  30
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  notwithstanding the fact that such institution is concurrently

 2  subject to the jurisdiction of the State Board of Independent

 3  Colleges and Universities, if such program does the following:

 4         (a)  The program qualifies a student for employment or

 5  engagement in an occupation whose practice in this state does

 6  not require a degree.

 7         (b)  The program awards a diploma, as defined in s.

 8  246.203(6), for successful completion, including any program

 9  that is organized to give students an option of exiting at a

10  specified point and receiving a diploma, or continuing and

11  receiving a degree, as defined in s. 246.021(5).

12         Section 19.  Section 246.216, Florida Statutes, is

13  created to read:

14         246.216  Exemption from licensure.--

15         (1)  A person or entity which otherwise fits the

16  definition of school in s. 246.203(1) shall be exempt from

17  licensure if it meets the criteria specified in this section

18  and applies to the board for a statement of exemption. The

19  board shall issue a statement of exemption if it determines,

20  based on all available information, that the applicant meets

21  the following criteria:

22         (a)  The entity is a church or religious organization

23  whose programs of instruction include:

24         1.  A religious modifier in the title of the program,

25  immediately preceding the name of the occupation to which the

26  instruction relates, and in the title of the diploma.

27         2.  No representation, directly or by implication, that

28  individuals who successfully complete the program will be

29  qualified to be employed in the field to which the training

30  relates by an employer other than a church or religious

31  organization.

                                  31
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         3.  No students who receive state or federal financial

 2  aid to pursue the program;

 3         (b)  The person or entity is regulated by the Federal

 4  Aviation Administration, another agency of the Federal

 5  Government, or an agency of the state whose regulatory laws

 6  are similar in nature and purpose to those of the board and

 7  require minimum educational standards, for at least

 8  curriculum, instructors, and academic progress and provide

 9  protection against fraudulent, deceptive, and substandard

10  education practices;

11         (c)  The person or entity offers only examination

12  preparation courses provided that:

13         1.  A diploma as defined in s. 246.203(6) is not

14  awarded.

15         2.  The courses do not include state licensing

16  examinations in occupations for which state laws do not

17  require a licensee to have a bachelor's degree or higher

18  academic or professional degree;

19         (d)  The person or entity is:

20         1.  An employer who offers training and trains only its

21  own bona fide employees;

22         2.  A trade or professional association or a group of

23  employers in the same or related business who in writing agree

24  to offer training and to train only individuals who are bona

25  fide employees of an employer who is a member of the

26  association or a party to the written agreement; or

27         3.  An independent contractor engaged by any of the

28  foregoing by written contract to provide the training on its

29  behalf exclusively to individuals who are selected by the

30  employer, association, or group which engaged the contractor

31  and who are bona fide employees thereof.

                                  32
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1

 2  For purposes of this paragraph, a bona fide employee is an

 3  individual who works for salary or wages paid by the employer

 4  in at least the minimum amount required by law;

 5         (e)  The entity is a labor union or group of labor

 6  unions which offers training to, and trains only, individuals

 7  who are dues paying members of a participating labor union; or

 8  the person or entity is an independent contractor engaged by

 9  the labor union or group of labor unions, by written contract,

10  to provide the training on its behalf exclusively to

11  individuals who are selected by the labor union or group of

12  labor unions which engaged the contractor and who are dues

13  paying members thereof;

14         (f)  The person or entity offers only continuing

15  education programs to individuals who engage in an occupation

16  or profession whose practitioners are subject to licensure,

17  certification, or registration by a state agency which

18  recognizes the programs for continuing education purposes and

19  provides a written statement of such recognition; or

20         (g)  The person or entity offers a program of

21  instruction whose objective is not occupational, but is

22  avocational and only for personal enrichment and which:

23         1.  Prior to enrollment, gives to each enrollee, and

24  maintains a record copy of, a written statement which states

25  substantially the following:  "This program is not designed or

26  intended to qualify its participants and graduates for

27  employment in (the field to which the training pertains).  It

28  is intended solely for the avocation, personal enrichment, and

29  enjoyment of its participants."

30         2.  Makes no other verbal or written statements which

31  negate the written statement required in subparagraph 1. by

                                  33
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  stating or implying that persons who enroll in or complete the

 2  program have any more substantial likelihood of getting

 3  employment in the field to which the training pertains than

 4  persons who do not.

 5         3.  Maintains and makes available to the board, upon

 6  request, records which demonstrate that each enrollee received

 7  the statement required by subparagraph 1. prior to

 8  enrollment.

 9

10  To be eligible for the statement of exemption, the applicant

11  must maintain records documenting its qualification for

12  exemption. A person or entity which is exempt pursuant to this

13  subsection and which is also a licensee for programs which do

14  not qualify for exemption may not include in the catalog,

15  contract, or advertising relating to its licensed program any

16  reference to its unlicensed programs.  This restriction does

17  not apply to a licensee which voluntarily becomes licensed to

18  offer programs which would otherwise qualify for exemption.

19         (2)  The board shall revoke a statement of exemption if

20  it determines, based on all available information, that the

21  entity does not meet the criteria required in subsection (1)

22  because of the following:

23         (a)  There has been a material change in circumstances

24  or in the law;

25         (b)  The statement was erroneously issued as a result

26  of false or misleading information provided by the applicant

27  or other source;

28         (c)  There was a misunderstanding by the board of the

29  information which it had considered; or

30         (d)  New information has been received.

31

                                  34
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  Probable cause proceedings do not apply to the foregoing board

 2  decisions.

 3         (3)  The board may invoke the remedies provided in s.

 4  246.227 when no application for a statement of exemption is

 5  pending; in conjunction with, or subsequent to, its notice of

 6  denial of an application; or in conjunction with, or

 7  subsequent to, its notice of revocation. The filing of a civil

 8  action pursuant to s. 246.227 shall have the effect of

 9  suspending administrative proceedings under this section

10  unless the board takes a voluntary dismissal without prejudice

11  in a judicial case. An order of the court which determines or

12  renders moot an issue presented in suspended administrative

13  proceedings shall be grounds for dismissal of the

14  administrative proceeding as to that issue.

15         Section 20.  Subsection (1) of section 246.219, Florida

16  Statutes, is amended to read:

17         246.219  License fees.--

18         (1)  Each initial application for a license to operate

19  a nonpublic postsecondary career school shall be accompanied

20  by a license fee of not less than $500, and each application

21  for the renewal of such license shall be accompanied by an

22  annual license fee of at least $300, provided that the fee for

23  a biennial license shall be at least $600.  A fee shall be

24  charged for a supplementary application for the approval of

25  any additional field or course of instruction.  Such fees

26  shall be delineated, by rule, by the board.

27         Section 21.  Section 246.220, Florida Statutes, is

28  amended to read:

29         246.220  Surety bonds or insurance.--Surety bonds or

30  insurance shall not be required of any school licensed by the

31  State Board of Nonpublic Career Education Independent

                                  35
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and Business

 2  Schools, except as may be required by the board to insure the

 3  train-out of projected or currently enrolled students,

 4  issuance of refunds to projected or currently enrolled

 5  students, payment of liabilities to the Student Protection

 6  Fund, or for the retrieval or safekeeping of student records.

 7         Section 22.  Subsections (1) and (4) of section

 8  246.2265, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

 9         246.2265  Additional regulatory powers while

10  disciplinary proceedings are pending; cease and desist

11  orders.--

12         (1)  The board may, in conjunction with an

13  administrative complaint or notice of denial of licensure,

14  issue cease and desist orders for the purpose of protecting

15  the health, safety, and welfare of students, prospective

16  students, and the general public.  Such orders may be

17  mandatory or prohibitory in form and may order a nonpublic an

18  independent postsecondary career institution, officer,

19  employee, or agent to:

20         (a)  Cease and desist from specified conduct which

21  relates to acts or omissions stated in the administrative

22  complaint or notice of denial of licensure; or

23         (b)  Cease and desist from failing to engage in

24  specified conduct which is necessary to achieve or preserve

25  the regulatory purposes of ss. 246.201-246.231.

26         (4)  The executive director of the board, with the

27  approval of the chair of the board, may issue and deliver a

28  cease and desist order to a nonpublic an independent

29  postsecondary career institution.

30         Section 23.  Subsections (2) and (3) of section

31  246.227, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

                                  36
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         246.227  Injunctive relief; unlicensed operation of a

 2  school; cease and desist notice; civil penalty.--

 3         (2)  An unlicensed nonpublic independent postsecondary

 4  career institution required to be licensed pursuant to ss.

 5  246.201-246.231 that advertises or causes advertisements to be

 6  made public through which students are solicited for

 7  enrollment or are offered diplomas shall be in violation of

 8  the provisions of ss. 246.201-246.231.  A licensed nonpublic

 9  independent postsecondary career institution that is under

10  temporary or permanent injunction against operating or

11  offering diplomas that advertises or causes advertisements to

12  be made public through which students are solicited for

13  enrollment or are offered diplomas shall be in violation of

14  such injunctive order upon presentation to the court of the

15  advertisement.

16         (3)  The executive director of the board, with the

17  approval of the chair of the board, may issue and deliver a

18  cease and desist order to any nonpublic independent

19  postsecondary career institution or agent required to be

20  licensed pursuant to ss. 246.201-246.231 that is not so

21  licensed.  The board may file, in the name of the state, a

22  proceeding which seeks issuance of an injunction against any

23  person in violation of any provision of such order.

24         Section 24.  Subsection (1) of section 246.31, Florida

25  Statutes, is amended to read:

26         246.31  Institutional Assessment Trust Fund.--

27         (1)  There is created an Institutional Assessment Trust

28  Fund to be administered by the Department of Education

29  pursuant to this section and rules of the State Board of

30  Education.  The trust fund shall consist of all fees and fines

31  imposed upon nonpublic colleges and schools pursuant to this

                                  37
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  chapter, including all fees collected from nonpublic colleges

 2  for participation in the common course designation and

 3  numbering system.  The department shall maintain separate

 4  revenue accounts for the State Board of Independent Colleges

 5  and Universities; the State Board of Nonpublic Career

 6  Education Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical,

 7  Trade, and Business Schools; and the Department of Education.

 8         Section 25.  Subsection (6) of section 20.15, Florida

 9  Statutes, is amended to read:

10         20.15  Department of Education.--There is created a

11  Department of Education.

12         (6)  COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES.--Notwithstanding anything

13  contained in law to the contrary, the Commissioner of

14  Education shall appoint all members of all councils and

15  committees of the Department of Education, except the Board of

16  Regents, the State Board of Community Colleges, the community

17  college district boards of trustees, the Postsecondary

18  Education Planning Commission, the Education Practices

19  Commission, the Education Standards Commission, the State

20  Board of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Florida

21  Commission on Education Reform and Accountability, and the

22  State Board of Nonpublic Career Education Independent

23  Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and Business

24  Schools.

25         Section 26.  Subsection (5) of section 240.40204,

26  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

27         240.40204  Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;

28  eligible postsecondary education institutions.--A student is

29  eligible for an award or the renewal of an award from the

30  Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program if the student

31  meets the requirements for the program as described in this

                                  38
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  act and is enrolled in a postsecondary education institution

 2  that meets the description in any one of the following

 3  subsections:

 4         (5)  A Florida independent postsecondary education

 5  institution that is licensed by the State Board of Nonpublic

 6  Career Education Independent Postsecondary Vocational,

 7  Technical, Trade, or Business Schools and which:

 8         (a)  Has a program completion and placement rate of at

 9  least the rate required by the current Florida Statutes, the

10  Florida Administrative Code, or the Department of Education

11  for an institution at its level; and

12         (b)  Shows evidence of sound financial condition; and

13  either:

14         1.  Is accredited at the institutional level by an

15  accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department

16  of Education and has operated in the state for at least 3

17  years during which there has been no complaint for which

18  probable cause has been found; or

19         2.  Has operated in Florida for 5 years during which

20  there has been no complaint for which probable cause has been

21  found.

22         Section 27.  Subsection (3) of section 246.011, Florida

23  Statutes, is amended to read:

24         246.011  Purpose.--

25         (3)  It is the intent of the Legislature that a

26  nonpublic college which offers both degrees and vocational

27  certificates or diplomas shall be subject to the rules of the

28  State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities as

29  provided by ss. 246.011-246.151 and the State Board of

30  Nonpublic Career Education Independent Postsecondary

31  Vocational, Technical, Trade, and Business Schools as provided

                                  39
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  by ss. 246.201-246.231.

 2         Section 28.  Subsection (3) of section 246.081, Florida

 3  Statutes, is amended to read:

 4         246.081  License, certificate of exemption, or

 5  authorization required; exceptions.--

 6         (3)  No nonpublic college shall continue to conduct or

 7  begin to conduct any diploma program, as defined in s.

 8  246.203, unless the college applies for and obtains from the

 9  State Board of Nonpublic Career Education Independent

10  Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and Business

11  Schools a license or authorization for such diploma program in

12  the manner and form prescribed by the State Board of Nonpublic

13  Career Education Independent Postsecondary Vocational,

14  Technical, Trade, and Business Schools.

15         Section 29.  Subsection (3) of section 246.085, Florida

16  Statutes, is amended to read:

17         246.085  Certificate of exemption.--

18         (3)  Any college which holds a certificate of exemption

19  and which conducts any diploma program, as defined in s.

20  246.203, shall be subject to licensure of such diploma program

21  by the State Board of Nonpublic Career Education Independent

22  Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and Business

23  Schools.

24         Section 30.  Subsection (3) of section 246.091, Florida

25  Statutes, is amended to read:

26         246.091  License period and renewal.--

27         (3)  A licensed college which seeks to conduct any

28  diploma program, as defined in s. 246.203, shall apply to the

29  State Board of Nonpublic Career Education Independent

30  Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and Business

31  Schools for licensure for such program.

                                  40
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         Section 31.  Subsection (1) of section 246.111, Florida

 2  Statutes, is amended to read:

 3         246.111  Denial, probation, or revocation of license or

 4  certificate of exemption.--

 5         (1)  Any temporary license, provisional license, or

 6  regular license, agent's license, certificate of exemption, or

 7  other authorization required under the provisions of ss.

 8  246.011-246.151 may be denied, placed on probation, or revoked

 9  by the board.  A college which has its certificate of

10  exemption revoked shall become subject to the licensing

11  provisions of the board.  The board shall promulgate rules for

12  these actions. Placement of a college on probation for a

13  period of time and subject to such conditions as the board may

14  specify may also carry the imposition of an administrative

15  fine not to exceed $5,000. Such fine shall be deposited into

16  the Institutional Assessment Trust Fund.  Disciplinary action

17  undertaken pursuant to this section against a college that is

18  also licensed by the State Board of Nonpublic Career Education

19  Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and

20  Business Schools shall prompt disciplinary proceedings

21  pursuant to s. 246.226.

22         Section 32.  Subsection (1) of section 246.50, Florida

23  Statutes, is amended to read:

24         246.50  Certified Teacher-Aide Welfare Transition

25  Program; participation by independent postsecondary

26  schools.--An independent postsecondary school may participate

27  in the Certified Teacher-Aide Welfare Transition Program and

28  may receive incentives for successful performance from the

29  Performance Based Incentive Funding Program if:

30         (1)  The school is accredited by the Southern

31  Association of Colleges and Schools and licensed by the State

                                  41
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  Board of Nonpublic Career Education Independent Postsecondary

 2  Vocational, Technical, Trade, and Business Schools;

 3         Section 33.  Section 455.2125, Florida Statutes, is

 4  amended to read:

 5         455.2125  Consultation with postsecondary education

 6  boards prior to adoption of changes to training

 7  requirements.--Any state agency or board that has jurisdiction

 8  over the regulation of a profession or occupation shall

 9  consult with the State Board of Independent Colleges and

10  Universities; the State Board of Nonpublic Career Education

11  Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and

12  Business Schools; the Board of Regents; and the State Board of

13  Community Colleges prior to adopting any changes to training

14  requirements relating to entry into the profession or

15  occupation. This consultation must allow the educational board

16  to provide advice regarding the impact of the proposed changes

17  in terms of the length of time necessary to complete the

18  training program and the fiscal impact of the changes. The

19  educational board must be consulted only when an institution

20  offering the training program falls under its jurisdiction.

21         Section 34.  Section 455.554, Florida Statutes, is

22  amended to read:

23         455.554  Consultation with postsecondary education

24  boards prior to adoption of changes to training

25  requirements.--Any state agency or board that has jurisdiction

26  over the regulation of a profession or occupation shall

27  consult with the State Board of Independent Colleges and

28  Universities; the State Board of Nonpublic Career Education

29  Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and

30  Business Schools; the Board of Regents; and the State Board of

31  Community Colleges prior to adopting any changes to training

                                  42
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  requirements relating to entry into the profession or

 2  occupation. This consultation must allow the educational board

 3  to provide advice regarding the impact of the proposed changes

 4  in terms of the length of time necessary to complete the

 5  training program and the fiscal impact of the changes. The

 6  educational board must be consulted only when an institution

 7  offering the training program falls under its jurisdiction.

 8         Section 35.  Subsection (8) of section 467.009, Florida

 9  Statutes, is amended to read:

10         467.009  Midwifery programs; education and training

11  requirements.--

12         (8)  Nonpublic educational institutions that conduct

13  approved midwifery programs shall be accredited by a member of

14  the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation

15  and shall be licensed by the State Board of Nonpublic Career

16  Education Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical,

17  Trade, and Business Schools.

18         Section 36.  Section 476.178, Florida Statutes, is

19  amended to read:

20         476.178  Schools of barbering; licensure.--No private

21  school of barbering shall be permitted to operate without a

22  license issued by the State Board of Nonpublic Career

23  Education Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical,

24  Trade, and Business Schools pursuant to chapter 246.  However,

25  this section shall not be construed to prevent certification

26  by the Department of Education of barber training programs

27  within the public school system or to prevent government

28  operation of any other program of barbering in this state.

29         Section 37.  Section 477.023, Florida Statutes, is

30  amended to read:

31         477.023  Schools of cosmetology; licensure.--No private

                                  43
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  school of cosmetology shall be permitted to operate without a

 2  license issued by the State Board of Nonpublic Career

 3  Education Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical,

 4  Trade, and Business Schools pursuant to chapter 246.  However,

 5  nothing herein shall be construed to prevent certification by

 6  the Department of Education of cosmetology training programs

 7  within the public school system or to prevent government

 8  operation of any other program of cosmetology in this state.

 9         Section 38.  Section 488.01, Florida Statutes, is

10  amended to read:

11         488.01  License to engage in business of operating a

12  driver's school required.--The Department of Highway Safety

13  and Motor Vehicles shall oversee and license all commercial

14  driver's schools except truck driving schools.  All commercial

15  truck driving schools shall be required to be licensed

16  pursuant to chapter 246, and additionally shall be subject to

17  the provisions of ss. 488.04 and 488.05.  No person, group,

18  organization, institution, business entity, or corporate

19  entity may engage in the business of operating a driver's

20  school without first obtaining a license therefor from the

21  Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles pursuant to

22  this chapter or from the State Board of Nonpublic Career

23  Education Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical,

24  Trade, and Business Schools pursuant to chapter 246.

25         Section 39.  Effective July 1, 1999, subsection (1) and

26  paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section 232.246, Florida

27  Statutes, are amended to read:

28         232.246  General requirements for high school

29  graduation.--

30         (1)  Graduation requires successful completion of

31  either a minimum of 24 academic credits in grades 9 through 12

                                  44
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  or an International Baccalaureate curriculum. The 24 credits

 2  shall be distributed as follows:

 3         (a)  Four credits in English, with major concentration

 4  in composition and literature.

 5         (b)  Three credits in mathematics.  Effective for

 6  students entering the 9th grade in the 1997-1998 school year

 7  and thereafter, one of these credits must be Algebra I, a

 8  series of courses equivalent to Algebra I, or a higher-level

 9  mathematics course.

10         (c)  Three credits in science, two of which must have a

11  laboratory component. The State Board of Education may grant

12  an annual waiver of the laboratory requirement to a school

13  district that certifies that its laboratory facilities are

14  inadequate, provided the district submits a capital outlay

15  plan to provide adequate facilities and makes the funding of

16  this plan a priority of the school board.

17         (d)  One credit in American history.

18         (e)  One credit in world history, including a

19  comparative study of the history, doctrines, and objectives of

20  all major political systems.

21         (f)  One-half credit in economics, including a

22  comparative study of the history, doctrines, and objectives of

23  all major economic systems.  The Florida Council on Economic

24  Education shall provide technical assistance to the department

25  and local school boards in developing curriculum materials for

26  the study of economics.

27         (g)  One-half credit in American government, including

28  study of the Constitution of the United States.  For students

29  entering the 9th grade in the 1997-1998 school year and

30  thereafter, the study of Florida government, including study

31  of the State Constitution, the three branches of state

                                  45
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  government, and municipal and county government, shall be

 2  included as part of the required study of American government.

 3         (h)1.  One credit in practical arts career education or

 4  exploratory career education.  Any vocational course as

 5  defined in s. 228.041(22) may be taken to satisfy the high

 6  school graduation requirement for one credit in practical arts

 7  or exploratory career education provided in this subparagraph;

 8         2.  One credit in performing fine arts to be selected

 9  from music, dance, drama, painting, or sculpture.  A course in

10  any art form, in addition to painting or sculpture, that

11  requires manual dexterity, or a course in speech and debate,

12  may be taken to satisfy the high school graduation requirement

13  for one credit in performing arts pursuant to this

14  subparagraph; or

15         3.  One-half credit each in practical arts career

16  education or exploratory career education and performing fine

17  arts, as defined in this paragraph.

18

19  Such credit for practical arts career education or exploratory

20  career education or for performing fine arts shall be made

21  available in the 9th grade, and students shall be scheduled

22  into a 9th grade course as a priority.

23         (i)  One-half credit in life management skills to

24  include consumer education, positive emotional development,

25  nutrition, prevention of human immunodeficiency virus

26  infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome and other

27  sexually transmissible diseases, benefits of sexual abstinence

28  and consequences of teenage pregnancy, information and

29  instruction on breast cancer detection and breast

30  self-examination, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, drug

31  education, and the hazards of smoking.  Such credit shall be

                                  46
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  given for a course to be taken by all students in either the

 2  9th or 10th grade.

 3         (j)  One One-half credit in physical education to

 4  include assessment, improvement, and maintenance of personal

 5  fitness.  Participation in an interscholastic sport, whether

 6  at the freshman, junior varsity, or varsity level, for two a

 7  full seasons season, shall satisfy the one-credit one-half

 8  credit requirement in physical education if the student passes

 9  a competency test on personal fitness with a score of "C" or

10  better. The competency test on personal fitness must be

11  developed by the Department of Education. A school board may

12  not require that the one credit in physical education be taken

13  during the 9th grade year.

14         (k)  Eight and one-half Nine elective credits.

15

16  School boards may award a maximum of one-half credit in social

17  studies and one-half elective credit for student completion of

18  nonpaid voluntary community or school service work.  Students

19  choosing this option must complete a minimum of 75 hours of

20  service in order to earn the one-half credit in either

21  category of instruction.  Credit may not be earned for service

22  provided as a result of court action.  School boards that

23  approve the award of credit for student volunteer service

24  shall develop guidelines regarding the award of the credit,

25  and school principals are responsible for approving specific

26  volunteer activities. A course designated in the Course Code

27  Directory as grade 9 through grade 12 which is taken below the

28  9th grade may be used to satisfy high school graduation

29  requirements or Florida Academic Scholars award Scholar's

30  Certificate Program requirements as specified in a district's

31  pupil progression plan.

                                  47
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         (6)  The Legislature recognizes that adult learners are

 2  unique in situation and needs.  The following graduation

 3  requirements are therefore instituted for students enrolled in

 4  adult general education in accordance with s. 239.301 in

 5  pursuit of a high school diploma:

 6         (a)  The one one-half credit in physical education

 7  required for graduation, pursuant to subsection (1), is not

 8  required for graduation and shall be substituted with elective

 9  credit keeping the total credits needed for graduation

10  consistent with subsection (1).

11         Section 40.  Section 233.0616, Florida Statutes, is

12  created to read:

13         233.0616  Personal fitness programs.--Each elementary

14  school and middle school is encouraged to implement a personal

15  fitness program, approved by the Department of Education, that

16  complies with American Heart Association guidelines for

17  elementary school and middle school personal fitness courses.

18  From incentive funds provided in the General Appropriations

19  Act, the Department of Education shall allocate funds to

20  schools implementing personal fitness programs pursuant to

21  this section.

22         Section 41.  From funds provided in the General

23  Appropriations Act, the Department of Education shall allocate

24  funds to provide for an additional one-fourth-time position to

25  upgrade the physical education specialist position in the

26  department from a three-fourths-time position to a full-time

27  position.

28         Section 42.  Subsections (3) and (13) of section

29  240.61, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

30         240.61  College reach-out program.--

31         (3)  To participate in the college reach-out program, a

                                  48
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  community college, a public university, or an independent

 2  postsecondary institution that is participating in a special

 3  program for students from disadvantaged backgrounds pursuant

 4  to 20 U.S.C., ss. 1070d et seq. may submit a proposal to the

 5  Department of Education. The State Board of Education shall

 6  consider the proposals and determine which proposals to

 7  implement as programs that will strengthen the educational

 8  motivation and preparation of low-income educationally

 9  disadvantaged students.

10         (13)  By February 15 January 15 of each year, the

11  Postsecondary Education Planning Commission shall submit to

12  the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of

13  Representatives, the Commissioner of Education, and the

14  Governor a report that evaluates the effectiveness of the

15  college reach-out program. The report must be based upon

16  information provided by participating institutions, the

17  Division of Universities, the Division of Community Colleges,

18  and the Division of Workforce Development pursuant to

19  subsections (7) and (12). The evaluation must include

20  longitudinal cohort assessments of college reach-out program

21  participants from their entry into the program to their

22  graduation from postsecondary institutions. To the extent

23  feasible, the performance of college reach-out program

24  participants must be compared to the performance of comparable

25  cohorts of students in public school and postsecondary

26  education.

27         Section 43.  Sections 240.154, 240.278, 240.521,

28  240.522, 240.523, and 240.525, Florida Statutes, are repealed.

29         Section 44.  Subsection (4) of section 216.136, Florida

30  Statutes, is amended to read:

31         216.136  Consensus estimating conferences; duties and

                                  49
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  principals.--

 2         (4)  EDUCATION ESTIMATING CONFERENCE.--

 3         (a)  Duties.--The Education Estimating Conference shall

 4  develop such official information relating to the state public

 5  educational system, including forecasts of student

 6  enrollments, the number of students qualified for state

 7  financial aid programs and the appropriation required to fund

 8  the full award amounts for each program, fixed capital outlay

 9  needs, and Florida Education Finance Program formula needs, as

10  the conference determines is needed for the state planning and

11  budgeting system.  The conference's initial projections of

12  enrollments in public schools shall be forwarded by the

13  conference to each school district no later than 2 months

14  prior to the start of the regular session of the Legislature.

15  Each school district may, in writing, request adjustments to

16  the initial projections.  Any adjustment request shall be

17  submitted to the conference no later than 1 month prior to the

18  start of the regular session of the Legislature and shall be

19  considered by the principals of the conference.  A school

20  district may amend its adjustment request, in writing, during

21  the first 3 weeks of the legislative session, and such amended

22  adjustment request shall be considered by the principals of

23  the conference.  For any adjustment so requested, the district

24  shall indicate and explain, using definitions adopted by the

25  conference, the components of anticipated enrollment changes

26  that correspond to continuation of current programs with

27  workload changes; program improvement; program reduction or

28  elimination; initiation of new programs; and any other

29  information that may be needed by the Legislature.  For public

30  schools, the conference shall submit its full-time equivalent

31  student consensus estimate to the Legislature no later than 1

                                  50
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  month after the start of the regular session of the

 2  Legislature. No conference estimate may be changed without the

 3  agreement of the full conference.

 4         (b)  Adjustments.--No later than 2 months prior to the

 5  start of the regular session of the Legislature, the

 6  conference shall forward to each eligible postsecondary

 7  education institution its initial projections of the number of

 8  students qualified for state financial aid programs and the

 9  appropriation required to fund those students at the full

10  award amount. Each postsecondary education institution may

11  request, in writing, adjustments to the initial projection.

12  Any adjustment request must be submitted to the conference no

13  later than 1 month prior to the start of the regular session

14  of the Legislature and shall be considered by the principals

15  of the conference. For any adjustment so requested, the

16  postsecondary education institution shall indicate and

17  explain, using definitions adopted by the conference, the

18  components of anticipated changes that correspond to

19  continuation of current programs with enrollment changes,

20  program reduction or elimination, initiation of new programs,

21  award amount increases or decreases, and any other information

22  that is considered by the conference. The conference shall

23  submit its consensus estimate to the Legislature no later than

24  1 month after the start of the regular session of the

25  Legislature. No conference estimate may be changed without the

26  agreement of the full conference.

27         (c)(b)  Principals.--The Associate Deputy Commissioner

28  for Educational Management, the Executive Office of the

29  Governor, the director of the Division of Economic and

30  Demographic Research of the Joint Legislative Management

31  Committee, and professional staff of the Senate and House of

                                  51
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  Representatives who have forecasting expertise, or their

 2  designees, are the principals of the Education Estimating

 3  Conference.  The Associate Deputy Commissioner for Educational

 4  Management or his or her designee shall preside over sessions

 5  of the conference.

 6         Section 45.  Effective July January 1, 1999, section

 7  240.409, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

 8         240.409  Florida Public Student Assistance Grant

 9  Program; eligibility for grants.--

10         (1)  There is hereby created a Florida Public Student

11  Assistance Grant Program. The program shall to be administered

12  by the participating institutions Department of Education in

13  accordance with rules of the state board.

14         (2)(a)  State student assistance grants through the

15  program may be made only to full-time degree-seeking students

16  who meet the general requirements for student eligibility as

17  provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise provided in this

18  section.  Such grants shall be awarded annually for the amount

19  of demonstrated unmet need for the cost of education and may

20  not exceed an amount equal to the average prior academic year

21  cost of tuition and matriculation fees and other registration

22  fees for 30 credit hours at state universities or such other

23  amount as specified in the General Appropriations Act, to any

24  recipient.  A demonstrated unmet need of less than $200 shall

25  render the applicant ineligible for a state student assistance

26  grant. Recipients of such grants must have been accepted at a

27  state university or community college authorized by Florida

28  law.  No student may receive an award for more than the

29  equivalent of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time

30  enrollment in a period of not more than 6 consecutive years,

31  except as otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3).

                                  52
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         (b)  A student applying for a Florida public student

 2  assistance grant shall be required to apply for the Pell

 3  Grant. The Pell Grant entitlement shall be considered by the

 4  department when conducting an assessment of the financial

 5  resources available to each student.

 6         (c)  The criteria and procedure for establishing

 7  standards of eligibility shall be determined by the

 8  department.  The department is directed to establish a rating

 9  system upon which to base the approval of grants, and such

10  system shall include a certification of acceptability by the

11  state university or community college of the applicant's

12  choice and the use of a nationally recognized system of need

13  analysis.  Priority in the distribution of grant moneys shall

14  be given to students with the lowest total family resources,

15  in accordance with a nationally recognized system of need

16  analysis as determined pursuant to this subsection, taking

17  into consideration the receipt of Pell Grants and student

18  contributions to educational costs. Using the system of need

19  analysis, the department shall establish a maximum expected

20  family contribution. An institution may not make a grant from

21  this program to a student whose expected family contribution

22  exceeds the level established by the department.

23         (d)  Each participating institution shall report, to

24  the department by the established date, the eligible students

25  to whom grant moneys are disbursed each academic term. Each

26  institution shall also report to the department necessary

27  demographic and eligibility data for such students. The

28  department is directed to establish, for fall enrollment, an

29  initial application deadline for students attending all

30  eligible institutions and an additional application deadline

31  for community college applicants who apply after the initial

                                  53
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  application deadline.  The second community college deadline

 2  shall be at the close of each institution's drop-add period.

 3  The department shall reserve an amount to be designated

 4  annually in the General Appropriations Act for the purpose of

 5  providing awards to community college students who apply for a

 6  student assistance grant after the initial application

 7  deadline.  Community college applicants who apply during the

 8  initial application period and are eligible to receive an

 9  award, but do not receive an award because of insufficient

10  funds, shall have their applications reconsidered with those

11  community college applicants who apply after the initial

12  application deadline.  The provisions of this paragraph shall

13  take effect beginning with the 1990-1991 academic year.

14         (3)  Based on the unmet financial need of an eligible

15  applicant, the full amount of a Florida public student

16  assistance grant must be between $200 and the weighted average

17  of the cost of matriculation and other registration fees for

18  30 credit hours at state universities $1,500 per academic year

19  or the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act.

20  When funds are not sufficient to make full awards to all

21  eligible applicants, the department shall reduce the amount of

22  each recipient's grant award pro rata.  For any year in which

23  a pro rata grant reduction is necessary, such adjustment shall

24  be made by reducing the second semester or the second and

25  third quarter award disbursements to grant recipients.  In

26  each such instance, institutions shall notify students of

27  award adjustments.

28         (4)  In the event that a Florida public student

29  assistance grant recipient transfers from one institution

30  eligible under this section, s. 240.4095, or s. 240.4097 to

31  another, his or her eligibility shall be transferable upon

                                  54
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  approval of the department. When approved by the department,

 2  the amount of the unmet need shall be recalculated for the new

 3  institution and shall be adjusted accordingly.

 4         (4)(5)(a)  The funds appropriated for the Florida

 5  Public Student Assistance Grant shall be distributed to

 6  eligible institutions in accordance with a formula recommended

 7  by the Department of Education's Florida Council of Student

 8  Financial Aid Advisors and reviewed by the Postsecondary

 9  Education Planning Commission, the State Board of Community

10  Colleges, and the Board of Regents. The formula shall consider

11  at least the prior year's distribution of funds, the number of

12  full-time eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the

13  standardization of the expected family contribution, and

14  provisions for unused funds.

15         (b)  Payment of Florida public student assistance

16  grants shall may be transmitted to the president of the state

17  university or community college which the recipient is

18  attending, or to his or her representative, in advance of the

19  registration period. Institutions shall notify students of the

20  amount of their awards.

21         (c)(b)  Institutions shall certify to the department,

22  within 30 days of the end of regular registration, the

23  eligibility status of each awarded student.  The eligibility

24  status of each student to receive a disbursement shall be

25  determined by each institution as of the end of its regular

26  registration period, inclusive of a drop-add period.

27  Institutions shall not be required to reevaluate a student's

28  eligibility status after this date for purposes of changing

29  amending eligibility determinations previously made.  However,

30  an institution shall be required to make refunds for students

31  who receive award disbursements and terminate enrollment for

                                  55
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  any reason during the academic term when an institution's

 2  refund policies permit a student to receive a refund under

 3  these circumstances.

 4         (d)(c)  Institutions shall certify to the department

 5  the amount of funds disbursed to each student and shall remit

 6  to the department any undisbursed advances by June 1 of each

 7  year within 60 days of the end of regular registration.

 8         (5)(6)  Funds appropriated by the Legislature for state

 9  student assistance grants shall be deposited in the State

10  Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding the

11  provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any

12  balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year that

13  has been allocated to the Florida Public Student Assistance

14  Grant Program shall remain therein and shall be available for

15  carrying out the purposes of this section.

16         (6)(7)  The State Board of Education shall establish

17  rules necessary to implement this section.

18         Section 46.  Effective July 1, 1999, section 240.4095,

19  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

20         240.4095  Florida Private Student Assistance Grant

21  Program; eligibility for grants.--

22         (1)  There is hereby created a Florida Private Student

23  Assistance Grant Program. The program shall to be administered

24  by the participating institutions Department of Education in

25  accordance with rules of the state board.

26         (2)(a)  Florida private student assistance grants from

27  the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may be made

28  only to full-time degree-seeking students who meet the general

29  requirements for student eligibility as provided in s.

30  240.404, except as otherwise provided in this section.  Such

31  grants shall be awarded for the amount of demonstrated unmet

                                  56
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  need for tuition and fees and may not exceed an amount equal

 2  to the average matriculation and other registration fees for

 3  30 credit hours at state universities plus $1,000 a total of

 4  $1,500 per academic year, or as specified in the General

 5  Appropriations Act, to any applicant.  A demonstrated unmet

 6  need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible

 7  for a Florida private student assistance grant.  Recipients of

 8  such grants must have been accepted at a

 9  baccalaureate-degree-granting independent nonprofit college or

10  university, which is accredited by the Commission on Colleges

11  of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and which

12  has a secular purpose, and which is located in and chartered

13  as a domestic corporation by the state.  No student may

14  receive an award for more than the equivalent of 9 semesters

15  or 14 quarters of full-time enrollment in a period of not more

16  than 6 consecutive years, except as otherwise provided in s.

17  240.404(3).

18         (b)  A student applying for a Florida private student

19  assistance grant shall be required to apply for the Pell

20  Grant. The Pell Grant entitlement shall be considered by the

21  department when conducting an assessment of the financial

22  resources available to each student.

23         (c)  The criteria and procedure for establishing

24  standards of eligibility shall be determined by the

25  department. The department is directed to establish a rating

26  system upon which to base the approval of grants, including

27  the use of a nationally recognized system of need analysis.

28  The system shall include a certification of acceptability by

29  the independent nonprofit college or university of the

30  applicant's choice.  Priority in the distribution of grant

31  moneys shall be given to students with the lowest total family

                                  57
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  resources, in accordance with a nationally recognized system

 2  of need analysis as determined pursuant to this subsection,

 3  taking into consideration the receipt of Pell Grants and

 4  student contributions to educational costs. Using the system

 5  of need analysis, the department shall establish a maximum

 6  expected family contribution. An institution may not make a

 7  grant from this program to a student whose expected family

 8  contribution exceeds the level established by the department.

 9         (d)  Each participating institution shall report, to

10  the department by the established date, the eligible students

11  to whom grant moneys are disbursed each academic term. Each

12  institution shall also report to the department necessary

13  demographic and eligibility data for such students.

14         (3)  Based on the unmet financial need of an eligible

15  applicant, the full amount of a Florida private student

16  assistance grant must be between $200 and the average cost of

17  matriculation and other registration fees for 30 credit hours

18  at state universities plus $1,000 $1,500 per academic year or

19  the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act. When

20  funds are not sufficient to make full awards to all eligible

21  applicants, the department shall reduce the amount of each

22  recipient's grant award pro rata.  For any year in which a pro

23  rata grant reduction is necessary, such adjustment shall be

24  made by reducing the second semester or the second and third

25  quarter award disbursements to grant recipients.  In each such

26  instance, institutions shall notify students of award

27  adjustments.

28         (4)  In the event that a Florida private student

29  assistance grant recipient transfers from one institution

30  eligible under this section, s. 240.409, or s. 240.4097 to

31  another, his or her eligibility shall be transferable upon

                                  58
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  approval of the department. When approved by the department,

 2  the amount of the unmet need shall be recalculated for the new

 3  institution and shall be adjusted accordingly.

 4         (4)(5)(a)  The funds appropriated for the Florida

 5  Private Student Assistance Grant shall be distributed to

 6  eligible institutions in accordance with a formula recommended

 7  by the Department of Education's Florida Council of Student

 8  Financial Aid Advisors and reviewed by the Postsecondary

 9  Education Planning Commission and the Independent Colleges and

10  Universities of Florida. The formula shall consider at least

11  the prior year's distribution of funds, the number of

12  full-time eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the

13  standardization of the expected family contribution, and

14  provisions for unused funds.

15         (b)  Payment of Florida private student assistance

16  grants shall may be transmitted to the president of the

17  college or university which the recipient is attending, or to

18  his or her representative, in advance of the registration

19  period. Institutions shall notify students of the amount of

20  their awards.

21         (c)(b)  Institutions shall certify to the department,

22  within 30 days of the end of regular registration, the

23  eligibility status of each awarded student. The eligibility

24  status of each student to receive a disbursement shall be

25  determined by each institution as of the end of its regular

26  registration period, inclusive of a drop-add period.

27  Institutions shall not be required to reevaluate a student's

28  eligibility status after this date for purposes of changing

29  amending eligibility determinations previously made. However,

30  an institution shall be required to make refunds for students

31  who receive award disbursements and terminate enrollment for

                                  59
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  any reason during the academic term when an institution's

 2  refund policies permit a student to receive a refund under

 3  these circumstances.

 4         (d)(c)  Institutions shall certify to the department

 5  the amount of funds disbursed to each student and shall remit

 6  to the department any undisbursed advances by June 1 of each

 7  year within 60 days of the end of regular registration.

 8         (e)(d)  Each institution that receives moneys through

 9  the Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program shall

10  cause to be prepared a biennial report that includes an

11  independent external audit of the institution's administration

12  of the program and a complete accounting of moneys in the

13  State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund allocated to the

14  institution for the program. Such report shall be submitted to

15  the department on or before March 1 every other year.  The

16  department may conduct its own annual or biennial audit of an

17  institution's administration of the program and its allocated

18  funds in lieu of the required biennial report and independent

19  external audit.  The department may suspend or revoke an

20  institution's eligibility to receive future moneys from the

21  trust fund for the program or request a refund of any moneys

22  overpaid to the institution through the trust fund for the

23  program if the department finds that an institution has not

24  complied with the provisions of this section. Any refund

25  requested pursuant to this paragraph shall be remitted within

26  60 days.

27         (5)(6)  Funds appropriated by the Legislature for

28  Florida private student assistance grants shall be deposited

29  in the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund.

30  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to

31  s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any

                                  60
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  fiscal year that has been allocated to the Florida Private

 2  Student Assistance Grant Program shall remain therein and

 3  shall be available for carrying out the purposes of this

 4  section and as otherwise provided by law.

 5         (6)(7)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules

 6  necessary to implement this section.

 7         Section 47.  Effective July 1, 1999, section 240.4097,

 8  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

 9         240.4097  Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance

10  Grant Program; eligibility for grants.--

11         (1)  There is hereby created a Florida Postsecondary

12  Student Assistance Grant Program. The program shall to be

13  administered by the participating institutions Department of

14  Education in accordance with rules of the state board.

15         (2)(a)  Florida postsecondary student assistance grants

16  through the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may

17  be made only to full-time degree-seeking students who meet the

18  general requirements for student eligibility as provided in s.

19  240.404, except as otherwise provided in this section.  Such

20  grants shall be awarded for the amount of demonstrated unmet

21  need for tuition and fees and may not exceed an amount equal

22  to the average prior-academic-year cost of matriculation and

23  other registration fees for 30 credit hours at state

24  universities plus $1,000 a total of $1,500 per academic year,

25  or as specified in the General Appropriations Act, to any

26  applicant.  A demonstrated unmet need of less than $200 shall

27  render the applicant ineligible for a Florida postsecondary

28  student assistance grant.  Recipients of such grants must have

29  been accepted at a postsecondary institution that is located

30  in and chartered as a domestic corporation by the state and

31  that is:

                                  61
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         1.  A private nursing diploma school approved by the

 2  Florida Board of Nursing; or

 3         2.  An institution either licensed by the State Board

 4  of Independent Colleges and Universities or exempt from

 5  licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(a), excluding those

 6  institutions the students of which are eligible to receive a

 7  Florida private student assistance grant pursuant to s.

 8  240.4095.

 9

10  No student may receive an award for more than the equivalent

11  of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time enrollment in a

12  period of not more than 6 consecutive years, except as

13  otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3).

14         (b)  A student applying for a Florida postsecondary

15  student assistance grant shall be required to apply for the

16  Pell Grant. The Pell Grant entitlement shall be considered by

17  the department when conducting an assessment of the financial

18  resources available to each student.

19         (c)  The criteria and procedure for establishing

20  standards of eligibility shall be determined by the

21  department.  The department is directed to establish a rating

22  system upon which to base the approval of grants, including

23  the use of a nationally recognized system of need analysis.

24  The system shall include a certification of acceptability by

25  the school of the applicant's choice.  Priority in the

26  distribution of grant moneys shall be given to students with

27  the lowest total family resources, in accordance with a

28  nationally recognized system of need analysis as determined

29  pursuant to this subsection, taking into consideration the

30  receipt of Pell Grants and student contributions to

31  educational costs. Using the system of need analysis, the

                                  62
    8:14 AM   04/29/98                                h4259c-32m0c




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  department shall establish a maximum expected family

 2  contribution. An institution may not make a grant from this

 3  program to a student whose expected family contribution

 4  exceeds the level established by the department.

 5         (d)  Each participating institution shall report, to

 6  the department by the established date, the eligible students

 7  to whom grant moneys are disbursed each academic term. Each

 8  institution shall also report to the department necessary

 9  demographic and eligibility data for such students.

10         (3)  Based on the unmet financial need of an eligible

11  applicant, the full amount of a Florida postsecondary student

12  assistance grant must be between $200 and the average cost of

13  matriculation and other registration fees for 30 credit hours

14  at state universities plus $1,000 $1,500 per academic year or

15  the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act. When

16  funds are not sufficient to make full awards to all eligible

17  applicants, the department shall reduce the amount of each

18  recipient's grant award pro rata.  For any year in which a pro

19  rata grant reduction is necessary, such adjustment shall be

20  made by reducing the second semester or the second and third

21  quarter award disbursements to grant recipients.  In each such

22  instance, institutions shall notify students of award

23  adjustments.

24         (4)  In the event that a student assistance grant

25  recipient transfers from one institution eligible under this

26  section, s. 240.409, or s. 240.4095 to another, his or her

27  eligibility shall be transferable upon approval of the

28  department.  When approved by the department, the amount of

29  the unmet need shall be recalculated for the new institution

30  and shall be adjusted accordingly.

31         (4)(5)(a)  The funds appropriated for the Florida

                                  63
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant shall be distributed to

 2  eligible institutions in accordance with a formula recommended

 3  by the Department of Education's Florida Council of Student

 4  Financial Aid Advisors and reviewed by the Postsecondary

 5  Education Planning Commission and the Florida Association of

 6  Postsecondary Schools and Colleges. The formula shall consider

 7  at least the prior year's distribution of funds, the number of

 8  full-time eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the

 9  standardization of the expected family contribution, and

10  provisions for unused funds.

11         (b)  Payment of Florida postsecondary student

12  assistance grants shall may be transmitted to the president of

13  the eligible institution which the recipient is attending, or

14  to his or her representative, in advance of the registration

15  period. Institutions shall notify students of the amount of

16  their awards.

17         (c)(b)  Institutions shall certify to the department,

18  within 30 days of the end of regular registration, the

19  eligibility status of each awarded student.  The eligibility

20  status of each student to receive a disbursement shall be

21  determined by each institution as of the end of its regular

22  registration period, inclusive of a drop-add period.

23  Institutions shall not be required to reevaluate a student's

24  eligibility status after this date for purposes of changing

25  amending eligibility determinations previously made.  However,

26  an institution shall be required to make refunds for students

27  who receive award disbursements and terminate enrollment for

28  any reason during the academic term when an institution's

29  refund policies permit a student to receive a refund under

30  these circumstances.

31         (d)(c)  Institutions shall certify to the department

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  the amount of funds disbursed to each student and shall remit

 2  to the department any undisbursed advances by June 1 of each

 3  year within 60 days of the end of regular registration.

 4         (e)(d)  Each institution that receives moneys through

 5  the Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program

 6  shall cause to be prepared a biennial report that includes an

 7  independent external audit of the institution's administration

 8  of the program and a complete accounting of moneys in the

 9  State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund allocated to the

10  institution for the program.  Such report shall be submitted

11  to the department on or before March 1 every other year.  The

12  department may conduct its own annual or biennial audit of an

13  institution's administration of the program and its allocated

14  funds in lieu of the required biennial report and independent

15  external audit. The department may suspend or revoke an

16  institution's eligibility to receive future moneys from the

17  trust fund for the program or request a refund of any moneys

18  overpaid to the institution through the trust fund for the

19  program if the department finds that an institution has not

20  complied with the provisions of this section.  Any refund

21  requested pursuant to this paragraph shall be remitted within

22  60 days.

23         (5)(6)  Any institution that was eligible to receive

24  state student assistance grants on January 1, 1989, and that

25  is not eligible to receive grants pursuant to s. 240.4095 is

26  eligible to receive grants pursuant to this section.

27         (6)(7)  Funds appropriated by the Legislature for

28  Florida postsecondary student assistance grants shall be

29  deposited in the State Student Financial Assistance Trust

30  Fund. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and

31  pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  end of any fiscal year that has been allocated to the Florida

 2  Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program shall remain

 3  therein and shall be available for carrying out the purposes

 4  of this section and as otherwise provided by law.

 5         (7)(8)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules

 6  necessary to implement this section.

 7         Section 48.  Except as otherwise provided in this act,

 8  this act shall take effect July 1, 1998.

 9

10

11  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

12  And the title is amended as follows:

13         Delete everything before the enacting clause

14

15  and insert:

16                      A bill to be entitled

17         An act relating to postsecondary education;

18         amending s. 232.2466, F.S.; revising

19         requirements for the college-ready diploma

20         program; amending s. 239.117, F.S.; exempting

21         specified students from postsecondary fees;

22         amending s. 239.225, F.S.; revising provisions

23         relating to the Vocational Improvement Program;

24         amending s. 240.1163, F.S.; revising dual

25         enrollment provisions; amending s. 240.235,

26         F.S.; exempting specified university students

27         from fees; amending s. 240.311, F.S., relating

28         to powers and duties of the State Board of

29         Community Colleges; amending s. 240.321, F.S.,

30         relating to duties of community college

31         district boards of trustees; requiring

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         notification of alternative remedial options;

 2         amending s. 240.324, F.S., relating to the

 3         community college accountability process;

 4         providing for coinciding reporting deadlines;

 5         clarifying language; amending s. 240.35, F.S.;

 6         exempting specified community college students

 7         from fees; amending s. 240.36, F.S.; revising

 8         provisions relating to the uses of a trust fund

 9         for community colleges; amending s. 240.382,

10         F.S.; correcting a cross-reference; amending s.

11         240.4097, F.S., relating to the Florida

12         Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program;

13         requiring the establishment of application

14         deadlines; amending s. 246.201, F.S.; revising

15         legislative intent; amending s. 246.203, F.S.;

16         renaming the State Board of Independent

17         Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and

18         Business Schools the State Board of Nonpublic

19         Career Education; revising definition of

20         schools regulated by the board; amending s.

21         246.205, F.S.; conforming provisions; amending

22         s. 246.207, F.S.; revising powers and duties of

23         the board; amending s. 246.213, F.S.;

24         conforming provisions; amending s. 246.215,

25         F.S.; requiring licensing of specified programs

26         by the board; creating s. 246.216, F.S.;

27         providing for exemption from licensure for

28         specified entities; providing for statements of

29         exemption; providing for revocation of

30         statements of exemption; providing for

31         remedies; amending ss. 246.219, 246.220,

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         246.2265, 246.227, and 246.31, F.S.; conforming

 2         provisions; amending ss. 20.15, 240.40204,

 3         246.011, 246.081, 246.085, 246.091, 246.111,

 4         246.50, 455.2125, 455.554, 467.009, 476.178,

 5         477.023, and 488.01, F.S.; conforming

 6         provisions; amending s. 232.246, F.S.; revising

 7         credit requirements for high school graduation;

 8         creating s. 233.0616, F.S.; encouraging

 9         elementary schools and middle schools to

10         implement personal fitness programs and

11         providing for the allocation of funds;

12         providing for the allocation of funds for

13         upgrading a physical education specialist

14         position in the Department of Education;

15         amending s. 240.61, F.S.; revising criteria for

16         participating in the college reach-out program;

17         revising the due date for a report on the

18         college reach-out program; removing the

19         requirement for including longitudinal cohort

20         assessment; repealing s. 240.154, F.S., which

21         provides for undergraduate enhancement;

22         repealing s. 240.278, F.S., which provides for

23         the establishment and use of the Quality

24         Assurance Fund; repealing s. 240.521, F.S.,

25         which provides for the establishment of a state

26         university or a branch of an existing state

27         university to be located in East Central

28         Florida; repealing s. 240.522, F.S., which

29         provides for the establishment of a university

30         in Southwest Florida; repealing s. 240.523,

31         F.S., which provides for the establishment of a

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. HB 4259, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         4-year college in Dade County; repealing s.

 2         240.525, F.S., which provides for the

 3         establishment of a state university or branch

 4         of an existing state university or state

 5         college in Duval County; amending s. 216.136,

 6         F.S.; providing duties of the Education

 7         Estimating Conference; amending s. 240.409,

 8         F.S.; authorizing eligibility determination and

 9         grant distribution for the Florida Public

10         Student Assistance Grant Program to be

11         conducted by the receiving institution;

12         specifying a dollar value range for grant

13         awards; amending s. 240.4095, F.S.; authorizing

14         eligibility determination and grant

15         distribution for the Florida Private Student

16         Assistance Grant Program to be conducted by the

17         receiving institution; specifying a dollar

18         value range for grant awards; amending s.

19         240.4097, F.S.; authorizing eligibility

20         determination and grant distribution for the

21         Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant

22         Program to be conducted by the receiving

23         institution; specifying a dollar value range

24         for grant awards; providing effective dates.

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

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