CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.House Bill 0543
Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 543
By Representative K. Pruitt
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; amending s.
3 24.121, F.S.; providing for the funding of
4 specified postsecondary scholarship programs
5 from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund;
6 amending s. 232.2465, F.S., relating to Florida
7 Academic Scholars; conforming provisions
8 relating to award of scholarships; amending s.
9 239.217, F.S., relating to the Florida Gold
10 Seal Vocational Endorsement Program; revising
11 provisions relating to eligibility
12 requirements; amending s. 240.402, F.S.,
13 relating to the Florida Undergraduate Scholars'
14 Program; revising eligibility requirements;
15 revising the amount of awards and reinstatement
16 requirements; revising funding source; amending
17 s. 240.4021, F.S., relating to the Vocational
18 Gold Seal Endorsement Scholarship Program;
19 revising eligibility, renewal, and
20 reinstatement requirements; revising the amount
21 of awards; amending s. 240.4024, F.S., relating
22 to the Florida Postsecondary Tuition Program;
23 revising eligible postsecondary institutions;
24 revising provisions relating to the amount of
25 awards; revising eligibility and renewal
26 requirements; revising administrative
27 procedures; requiring annual reports and
28 audits; authorizing penalties for certain
29 noncompliance; amending s. 240.404, F.S.,
30 relating to requirement for student eligibility
31
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1 for state financial aid; conforming provisions;
2 providing an effective date.
3
4 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
5
6 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
7 24.121, Florida Statutes, 1996 Supplement, is amended,
8 paragraph (e) is redesignated as paragraph (f), and a new
9 paragraph (e) is added to said subsection, to read:
10 24.121 Allocation of revenues and expenditure of funds
11 for public education.--
12 (5)
13 (b) Except as provided in paragraphs (c), and (d), and
14 (e), the Legislature shall equitably apportion moneys in the
15 trust fund among public schools, community colleges, and
16 universities.
17 (e) The Florida Postsecondary Tuition Program created
18 under s. 240.4024, the Florida Undergraduate Scholars' Program
19 created under s. 240.402, and the Vocational Gold Seal
20 Endorsement Scholarship Program created under s. 240.4021
21 shall be funded annually from the Educational Enhancement
22 Trust Fund. Funds shall be allocated to these programs prior
23 to application of the formula for equitable distribution to
24 public schools, community colleges, and state universities.
25 Section 2. Subsection (4) of section 232.2465, Florida
26 Statutes, is amended to read:
27 232.2465 Florida Academic Scholars' Certificate
28 Program.--For the purpose of recognizing and rewarding
29 outstanding performance and academic achievement on the part
30 of public school students and nonpublic school students, the
31 Commissioner of Education shall award to each high school
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1 graduate who meets the requirements specified herein, and as
2 further specified by the State Board of Education, a special
3 certificate recognizing and designating the graduate as a
4 Florida Academic Scholar.
5 (4) Each Florida Academic Scholar who demonstrates
6 advanced proficiency, as defined by the State Board of
7 Education, through performance on the combined verbal and
8 quantitative portions of an approved standardized test and who
9 enrolls full time in a postsecondary institution under s.
10 240.402(1)(e) state university, a public community college, a
11 nursing diploma school approved by the Board of Nursing, or a
12 private institution of higher education which is accredited by
13 a member of the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary
14 Accreditation or the credits of which are acceptable for
15 transfer to state universities is eligible for a scholarship
16 from the Florida Undergraduate Scholars' Program, as provided
17 by s. 240.402.
18 Section 3. Paragraphs (b) and (d) of subsection (2) of
19 section 239.217, Florida Statutes, are amended to read
20 239.217 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Endorsement
21 Program.--
22 (2) Each school district may award the Florida gold
23 seal vocational endorsement to a high school student who meets
24 the requirements of this section. To be eligible for award of
25 the Florida gold seal vocational endorsement, a student must:
26 (b) Complete three vocational credits in a sequential
27 program of studies in a vocational job-preparatory or
28 technology-education program. On-the-job training credit may
29 not be substituted for the three vocational credits. Beginning
30 in the 1997-1998 school year, a student must complete the
31 secondary school portion of a sequential program of studies
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1 which requires at least three secondary school vocational
2 credits, taken over at least 2 school years, and is continued
3 in a planned, related postsecondary education program. If the
4 student's school does not offer such a two-plus-two program,
5 the student is eligible for a vocational endorsement if the
6 student completes a job-preparatory vocational education
7 program selected by the Occupational Forecasting Conference or
8 the Jobs and Education Partnership of Enterprise Florida for
9 its ability to provide high-wage employment in an occupation
10 with high potential for employment opportunities.
11 (d) Earn a minimum cumulative unweighted grade point
12 average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on all subjects, other than
13 Level I courses, required for a standard high school diploma.
14
15 If a student does not meet the requirements of this subsection
16 as a result of inaccurate or incomplete information provided
17 by a high school guidance counselor, teacher, or school
18 district personnel, the student may, nevertheless, be eligible
19 for the Florida gold seal vocational endorsement if the
20 principal of the school or the district superintendent
21 verifies that such inaccuracies or misinformation caused the
22 deficiencies. The school district must provide a means for
23 the student to correct deficiencies resulting from such
24 misinformation. The student must correct the deficiencies no
25 later than December 31 immediately following high school
26 graduation, either by completing comparable work at the
27 postsecondary institution or by completing a directed
28 individualized study program that is developed and
29 administered by the school district. If the student does not
30 complete the requirements necessary to correct the
31 deficiencies by December 31 immediately following high school
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1 graduation, the student is ineligible to participate in the
2 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Endorsement Program.
3 Section 4. Subsections (1), (4), and (7), paragraph
4 (b) of subsection (2), and paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of
5 section 240.402, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
6 240.402 Florida Undergraduate Scholars' Program.--
7 (1) There is created a Florida Undergraduate Scholars'
8 Program, to be administered by the Department of Education.
9 The department shall award scholarships to each Florida
10 student who:
11 (a)1. Is recognized by the merit or achievement
12 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
13 scholar or finalist;
14 2. By the end of the first semester of the senior
15 year, has obtained a 3.5 unweighted grade point average on a
16 4.0 scale, or the equivalent, in high school subjects, other
17 than Level I courses, acceptable for credit toward a diploma
18 and has attained at least the minimum score as determined by
19 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
20 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
21 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
22 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination or an
23 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program;
24 3. Has completed attended a home education program
25 during grade levels 9 through 12 according to the provisions
26 of s. 232.02(4) and has attained at least the minimum score as
27 determined by rules of the Department of Education on the
28 combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
29 Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the
30 recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance
31
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1 Examination or an equivalent score on the American College
2 Testing Program;
3 4. Has been designated by the State Board of Education
4 as a Florida Academic Scholar, pursuant to the provisions of
5 s. 232.2465; or
6 5. Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate
7 Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office.
8 (b) Meets the general requirements for student
9 eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise
10 provided in this section.
11 (c) Receives a standard Florida high school diploma,
12 or its equivalent as described in s. 229.814. Any student who
13 is enrolled on a full-time basis in the early admission
14 program of an eligible postsecondary institution or has
15 completed attended a home education program during grade
16 levels 9 through 12 according to the provisions of s.
17 232.02(4) shall be exempt from this requirement. Also
18 exempted shall be the dependents of Florida residents who are
19 on military or public service assignments away from Florida
20 when such dependents live with such Florida residents and
21 receive high school diplomas from non-Florida schools.
22 (d) Files an application for an award during his or
23 her last year in high school within established time limits.
24 (e) Attends, on a full-time basis, a Florida state
25 university, or community college, or technical institute or
26 any eligible Florida independent college, university, or
27 vocational-technical school. An independent college,
28 university, or vocational-technical school is eligible to
29 participate if it meets the following criteria:
30 1. Is located in and charted as a domestic corporation
31 by the state.
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1 2. Has a program completion and placement rate at the
2 minimum rate established under the current Florida Statutes or
3 the Florida Administrative Code which governs the institution,
4 or as established by the department.
5 3. Shows evidence of sound financial condition.
6 4.a. Is accredited at the institutional level by an
7 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
8 of Education and has operated in the state for 3 years under
9 the same ownership during which time there have been no
10 complaints for which probable cause has been found; or
11 b. Is licensed by the state and has operated in the
12 state for 5 years under the same ownership during which time
13 there have been no complaints for which probable cause has
14 been found. authorized by Florida law; a nursing diploma
15 school approved by the Board of Nursing; or any Florida
16 college, university, or community college which is accredited
17 by a member of the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary
18 Accreditation the credits of which are acceptable for transfer
19 without qualification to state universities.
20 (f) Enrolls as a first-time-in-college student. Any
21 student who earns postsecondary academic credit prior to or
22 during the summer immediately subsequent to receiving a high
23 school diploma, who is dually enrolled in secondary and
24 postsecondary educational institutions, or who is enrolled in
25 the early admission program of a postsecondary institution
26 shall be exempt from this requirement.
27 (g) At the time an application is submitted, has not
28 been convicted of a felony.
29
30 Prior to graduation, a student may be notified of eligibility
31 of award pending award of a high school diploma.
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1 (2)
2 (b) Students who apply for awards no later than April
3 1 during their last year in high school may later reapply to
4 receive awards during subsequent application periods when they
5 do not accept their initial awards. Similarly, students who
6 receive initial awards and who later do not accept renewal
7 awards may reapply to receive awards during subsequent
8 application periods. Students who apply under this paragraph
9 must submit reinstatement applications within 3 years of
10 filing their initial applications. The department shall accept
11 reinstatement applications postmarked between February 15 and
12 June 1 of each year and shall determine the eligibility of
13 such applicants in the same manner as first-time applicants,
14 except that students who apply pursuant to this paragraph
15 shall be exempt from the provisions of paragraph (1)(f) and
16 shall be required to have maintained the equivalent of a 3.0
17 3.2 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale for all
18 college work attempted. The department shall not make awards
19 to reinstatement applicants who submit applications that are
20 postmarked after June 1.
21 (3)(a) The annual and subsequent renewal award to a
22 student shall be an amount sufficient to pay for tuition and
23 mandatory fees and $500 for books and college-related expenses
24 $2,500; however, the highest-ranked, eligible, initial
25 applicant from each county shall be designated as a Challenger
26 Astronauts Memorial Award recipient and shall receive an
27 annual and subsequent renewal award of $4,000. The department
28 shall rank eligible initial applicants for purposes of
29 designating the Challenger Astronauts Memorial Award
30 recipients on the basis of unweighted grade point averages on
31 a 4.0 scale and test scores achieved on the combined verbal
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1 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test of the
2 College Entrance Examination. Renewal awards shall be $4,000
3 annually for eligible Challenger Astronauts Memorial Award
4 recipients and $2,500 annually for all other eligible
5 applicants. Payment of an award shall be transmitted, on
6 behalf of the student, to the president of the college,
7 university, community college, or nursing diploma school which
8 the recipient is attending or to his or her representative in
9 advance of the registration period. If funds are insufficient
10 to provide the full amount of scholarship authorized in this
11 section to each eligible applicant, the department may prorate
12 available funds and make a partial award to each eligible
13 applicant.
14 (4) A recipient shall maintain the equivalent of a 3.0
15 3.2 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale, or shall
16 maintain an approved equivalent student progress evaluation
17 plan, on at least 12 hours per quarter, trimester, or semester
18 in order to be eligible for a continuation of the award. A
19 recipient who fails to meet the grade point requirement may be
20 eligible for the Florida Postsecondary Tuition Program if
21 continuation or reinstatement requirements for that program
22 are met. No student may receive a Florida Undergraduate
23 Scholars' Program award for more than the equivalent of 8
24 semesters or 12 quarters. However, a student enrolled in a
25 5-year undergraduate degree program may receive an award for
26 the equivalent of 10 semesters or 15 quarters. The award may
27 be renewed annually upon documentation by the recipient that
28 he or she meets the necessary qualifications. If any
29 recipient transfers from one accredited Florida college,
30 university, community college, or nursing diploma school to
31 another eligible institution, his or her award will be
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1 transferable, provided he or she is otherwise eligible for the
2 award.
3 (7) The Legislature shall appropriate, from the
4 Educational Enhancement Trust Fund general revenue and from
5 the Challenger Astronauts Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
6 Trust Fund, funds to be deposited into the State Student
7 Financial Assistance Trust Fund for the purpose of funding
8 this act. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and
9 pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund that has
10 been allocated to the Florida Undergraduate Scholars' Program
11 at the end of any fiscal year shall remain therein and shall
12 be available for carrying out the purposes of this section.
13 Section 5. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3), subsection
14 (5), paragraph (b) of subsection (6), and paragraph (a) of
15 subsection (7) of section 240.4021, Florida Statutes, are
16 amended to read:
17 240.4021 Vocational Gold Seal Endorsement Scholarship
18 Program.--
19 (3) The department is authorized to make awards to a
20 student who:
21 (c) Enrolls as a full-time or part-time
22 certificate-seeking or degree-seeking student at:
23 1. A public state university, community college, or
24 area vocational-technical school authorized by law; or
25 2. A nonpublic postsecondary school or college under
26 the jurisdiction of the State Board of Independent
27 Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and Business
28 Schools or the State Board of Independent Colleges and
29 Universities. To be eligible, a licensed school or college
30 must have been in continuous operation for at least 5 years
31 and must have held a biennial or regular license for at least
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1 2 years, must not have been the subject of a finding of
2 probable cause and subsequent disciplinary action by either
3 board, must not be required by the Federal Government to apply
4 for reimbursement for Title IV funding, and must be located in
5 and chartered by the state. A licensed school or college or a
6 school or college exempt from licensure must be accredited by
7 the Career College Association, the Accrediting Bureau of
8 Health Education Schools, or the Southern Association of
9 Colleges and Schools and must never have had its accreditation
10 removed; and
11 (5) To be eligible for the renewal of an award, an
12 applicant each academic year must:
13 (a) Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average
14 of 2.5 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent; and
15 (b) Earn the equivalent of 6 12 semester credits for
16 each term of the academic year for which he or she received
17 the award.
18
19 A student who fails to attain a 2.5 cumulative grade point
20 average at any time while attending a postsecondary
21 institution may have eligibility restored upon attaining a
22 cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above during the
23 eligibility period. No student shall be eligible for more
24 than one reinstatement of eligibility.
25 (6)
26 (b) Students who apply for awards no later than April
27 1 during their last year in high school and who meet all other
28 eligibility requirements to receive awards may later reapply
29 to receive awards during subsequent application periods when
30 they do not accept their initial awards. Similarly, students
31 who receive initial awards and who later do not accept renewal
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1 awards may reapply to receive awards during subsequent
2 application periods. Students who apply under this paragraph
3 must submit reinstatement applications within 3 years after
4 filing their initial applications. The department shall
5 accept reinstatement applications postmarked between January 1
6 and June 1 of each year and shall determine the eligibility of
7 such applicants in the same manner as first-time applicants,
8 except that students shall not be eligible for reinstatement
9 awards unless they have maintained the equivalent of a 2.5 3.0
10 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale for all college
11 work attempted. The department shall not make awards to
12 reinstatement applicants who submit applications that are
13 postmarked after June 1.
14 (7)(a) The annual award to each recipient shall equal
15 the amount of tuition of the postsecondary institution in
16 which the student is enrolled, not to exceed the average
17 tuition per credit hour calculated by the department for the
18 state universities be a maximum of $2,000. Payment of an award
19 shall be transmitted in advance of the registration period
20 each semester on behalf of the student to the president of the
21 university or community college, or his or her representative,
22 or to the director of the area vocational-technical school
23 which the recipient is attending, or his or her
24 representative, except that the department may withhold
25 payment if the receiving institution fails to report or to
26 make refunds to the department as required in paragraphs (b)
27 and (c).
28 Section 6. Section 240.4024, Florida Statutes, 1996
29 Supplement, is amended to read:
30 240.4024 Florida Postsecondary Tuition Program.--
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1 (1) The Florida Postsecondary Tuition Program is
2 hereby created to reward outstanding high school students with
3 financial assistance in undergraduate degree, diploma, or
4 certificate programs at any Florida public university,
5 community college, or technical institute or at any eligible
6 Florida independent college, university, or vocational-
7 technical school. An independent college, university, or
8 vocational-technical school is eligible to participate if it
9 meets the following criteria:
10 (a) Is located in and chartered as a domestic
11 corporation by the state.
12 (b) Has a program completion and placement rate at the
13 minimum rate established under the current Florida Statutes or
14 the Florida Administrative Code which governs the institution,
15 or as established by the department.
16 (c) Shows evidence of sound financial condition.
17 (d)1. Is accredited at the institutional level by an
18 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
19 of Education and has operated in the state for 3 years under
20 the same ownership during which time there have been no
21 complaints for which probable cause has been found; or
22 2. Is licensed by the state and has operated in the
23 state for 5 years under the same ownership during which time
24 there have been no complaints for which probable cause has
25 been found.
26
27 This financial assistance shall be in the form of scholarships
28 and may be used to assist with any educational costs the cost
29 of education, not to exceed the cost of tuition, mandatory
30 fees, and books. Except as otherwise provided in this section,
31 the scholarship shall cover the full cost of tuition subject
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1 to the availability of funds and may not exceed the cost of
2 tuition. The scholarship may not be used for remedial courses.
3 (2) In order to be eligible to receive a scholarship
4 under the Florida Postsecondary Tuition Program, an
5 initial-year applicant must:
6 (a) Be a Florida resident.
7 (b) Receive a standard Florida high school diploma, or
8 its equivalent as described in s. 229.814, in or after 1997
9 1996. Any student who is enrolled on a full-time basis in the
10 early admission program of an eligible postsecondary
11 institution or has completed attended a home education program
12 during grade levels 9 through 12 according to the provisions
13 of s. 232.02(4) shall be exempt from this requirement. Also
14 exempt shall be the dependents of Florida residents who are on
15 military or public service assignments away from Florida when
16 such dependents live with such Florida residents and receive
17 high school diplomas from non-Florida schools.
18 (c) At the time an application is submitted, have not
19 been convicted of a felony.
20 (d)1. At the end of the first semester of the senior
21 year of high school time of application or by the end of the
22 senior year, have been enrolled in, and intend to complete, a
23 college preparatory curriculum, have an unweighted grade point
24 average of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale in courses, other than
25 Level I courses, as identified by the Department of Education,
26 and by the time of graduation have attained at least the
27 minimum score established by the Department of Education on
28 the American College Test or the Scholastic Assessment Test;
29 or
30 2. At the time of application or by the end of the
31 senior year, have been enrolled in a curriculum other than a
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1 college preparatory curriculum, have an unweighted grade point
2 average of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale, and have attained at
3 least the minimum score established by the department on the
4 American College Test or the Scholastic Assessment Test;
5 2.3. At the time of application, be a home education
6 program student, or a high school equivalency diploma
7 recipient, who has attained at least the minimum score
8 established by the department on the American College Test or
9 the Scholastic Assessment Test.
10 (e) Utilize the an initial scholarship within 7 years
11 of the date of high school graduation by the date established
12 by the department.
13
14 Prior to graduation, a student may be notified of eligibility
15 of award pending award of a high school diploma.
16 (3) Students may receive annual awards for the first
17 year of either full-time or part-time enrollment 30 semester
18 credit hours attempted at any eligible Florida postsecondary
19 educational institution as defined in subsection (1). As used
20 in this section, the term "eligible Florida postsecondary
21 institution" means an institution within the State University
22 System, the community college system, or a public
23 vocational-technical institution. The maximum amount of the
24 award shall include tuition, mandatory fees, and a book
25 allowance of up to $300, except that students who receive a
26 grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, or above, in a
27 college preparatory curriculum may receive a higher award as
28 determined by the department. The maximum award for tuition
29 for students in the independent institutions shall not exceed
30 the average tuition per credit hour calculated by the
31 department for the state universities. Awards shall be
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1 disbursed in equal installments each academic term. Full-time
2 enrollment shall not be required. Awards through this program
3 may be made to degree-seeking students enrolled for a minimum
4 of 6 credit hours who meet the general requirements for
5 student eligibility as provided in this section. Students
6 enrolled for 6 to 8 credit hours may receive up to one-half of
7 the maximum award; students enrolled for 9 to 11 credit hours
8 may receive up to three-fourths of the maximum award; and
9 students enrolled for 12 or more credit hours may receive up
10 to the full award.
11 (a) A scholarship shall be awarded prior to the
12 certification or award of a federal family education loan or
13 federal direct loan and shall be considered in the
14 certification or calculation of the student's loan
15 eligibility.
16 (b) Students attending a Florida public technical
17 institute or independent vocational-technical school in order
18 to earn a certificate or diploma may qualify for tuition
19 scholarships for the cost of tuition, not to exceed the
20 average tuition per credit hour calculated by the department
21 for the state universities. Students pursuing certificates or
22 diplomas at Florida public or private technical institutes or
23 schools must enroll in programs of study which are at least
24 900 clock hours in length mandatory fees, and up to $150 per
25 semester for a book allowance. Awards through this program may
26 be made to students enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours,
27 or the equivalent in clock hours, in a job preparatory
28 vocational program who meet the general requirements for
29 student eligibility as provided in this section. Students
30 enrolled for 6 to 8 credit hours, or the equivalent in clock
31 hours, may receive up to one-half of the maximum award;
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1 students enrolled for 9 to 11 credit hours, or the equivalent
2 in clock hours, may receive up to three-fourths of the maximum
3 award; and students enrolled for 12 or more credit hours, or
4 the equivalent in clock hours, may receive up to the full
5 award.
6 (4) Students may renew a scholarship for their
7 sophomore, junior, and senior years of undergraduate study. To
8 do so, the student must:
9 (a) Maintain at least a 2.5 3.0 cumulative grade point
10 average on a 4.0 scale in courses attempted.
11 (b) Be making satisfactory academic progress if
12 classified as a certificate-seeking or diploma-seeking
13 student.
14 (c) Have used, within a maximum period of 7 5 years
15 from the date of high school graduation, less than the maximum
16 number of semesters of eligibility as determined by the
17 department. The department may waive this paragraph for
18 students who demonstrate that compliance would entail
19 extraordinary hardship.
20
21 Renewal eligibility shall be determined at the end of the
22 second semester or third quarter of each subsequent regular
23 academic year of postsecondary participation. A student who
24 fails to attain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average at any
25 time while attending a postsecondary institution may have
26 eligibility restored upon attaining a cumulative grade point
27 average of 2.5 or above during the eligibility period. No
28 student shall be eligible for more than one reinstatement of
29 eligibility.
30 (5) A student planning to attend an eligible
31 postsecondary institution must comply with any application
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1 requirements established by the department institution. Upon
2 verifying that the student meets eligibility criteria
3 established in this section, the eligible institution shall
4 submit to the department a request for the appropriate level
5 of payment; however, the department may transmit a portion of
6 the funds to the institution prior to registration. The
7 department shall establish the necessary data to be reported
8 and a date by which such requests for payment are due each
9 semester. Late requests shall be honored by the department to
10 the extent that funds are available after all timely requests
11 have been funded.
12 (6) The department shall adopt rules as necessary to
13 implement and administer the Florida Postsecondary Tuition
14 Program.
15 (7) Each institution that receives moneys through this
16 program shall cause to be prepared an annual report that
17 includes an independent external audit or an audit prepared by
18 the Office of the Auditor General. The report must include an
19 audit of the institution's administration of the program and a
20 complete accounting of the moneys for the program. This
21 report must be submitted to the Department of Education
22 annually on or before March 1. The department may conduct its
23 own annual audit of an institution's administration of the
24 program and may request a refund of any moneys overpaid to the
25 institution for the program. The department may suspend or
26 revoke an institution's eligibility to receive future moneys
27 for the program if the department finds that an institution
28 has not complied with this section. An institution must remit
29 within 60 days any refund requested in accordance with this
30 subsection.
31
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1 (8)(7) The program shall be implemented to the extent
2 authorized annually in the General Appropriations Act. If
3 funds are insufficient to provide the full amount of
4 scholarships authorized in this section to each eligible
5 applicant, the department may prorate available funds and make
6 a partial award to each eligible applicant.
7 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
8 240.404, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
9 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
10 for state financial aid.--
11 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of
12 students for state financial aid awards consist of the
13 following:
14 1. Acceptance at a state university or community
15 college; a nursing diploma school approved by the Florida
16 Board of Nursing; a Florida college, university, or community
17 college which is accredited by a member of the Commission on
18 Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; any Florida
19 institution the credits of which are acceptable for transfer
20 to state universities; any area technical center; or any
21 private vocational-technical institution accredited by a
22 member of the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary
23 Accreditation.
24 2. Participation in the college-level communication
25 and computation skills testing program. This requirement is
26 limited to students seeking associate's or bachelor's degrees.
27 3. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
28 preceding the award of aid for a program established pursuant
29 to s. 240.402, s. 240.4021, s. 240.4024, s. 240.4085, s.
30 240.409, s. 240.4093, s. 240.4095, s. 240.4097, s. 240.412, s.
31 240.4125, s. 240.413, s. 240.4987, s. 240.605, or s. 240.606.
19
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 543
286-192-97
1 Residency in this state must be for purposes other than to
2 obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of receiving
3 state financial aid awards shall be determined in the same
4 manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s.
5 240.1201 and rules of the State Board of Education.
6 4. Compliance with Selective Service System
7 registration requirements pursuant to s. 240.4045.
8 5. Submission of certification attesting to the
9 accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information
10 provided to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive
11 state financial aid awards. Falsification of such information
12 shall result in the denial of any pending application and
13 revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no
14 further payments shall be made. Additionally, students who
15 knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
16 financial aid awards shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
17 second degree subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall
18 be required to return all state financial aid awards
19 wrongfully obtained.
20 Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 1997.
21
22 *****************************************
23 HOUSE SUMMARY
24
Provides for funding of the Florida Postsecondary Tuition
25 Program, the Florida Undergraduate Scholars' Program, and
the Vocational Gold Seal Endorsement Scholarship Program
26 from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. With
respect to the scholarship programs, revises eligibility,
27 renewal, and reinstatement requirements. Revises
provisions relating to amount of awards. Revises
28 provisions relating to eligibility for award of the
Florida gold seal vocational endorsement.
29
30
31
20