House Bill 1931
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Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HB 1931
By the Committee on Colleges & Universities and
Representatives Betancourt, J. Miller, Waters and Bense
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to scholarship programs;
3 amending s. 240.40202, F.S.; modifying student
4 eligibility requirements for initial awards;
5 amending s. 240.40203, F.S.; revising student
6 eligibility requirements for renewal awards;
7 amending s. 240.40205, F.S.; revising initial
8 eligibility requirements for the Florida
9 Academic Scholars award; amending s. 240.40206,
10 F.S.; revising initial eligibility requirements
11 for the Florida Merit Scholars award; amending
12 s. 240.40207, F.S.; revising provisions
13 relating to the Florida Gold Seal Vocational
14 Scholars award; amending s. 240.40208, F.S.;
15 correcting a cross reference; providing an
16 effective date.
17
18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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20 Section 1. Paragraph (g) is added to subsection (1) of
21 section 240.40202, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, and
22 subsection (5) is added to said section to read:
23 240.40202 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
24 student eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
25 (1) To be eligible for an initial award from any of
26 the three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright
27 Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:
28 (g) Submit to the United States Department of
29 Education a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid
30 and permit release of the information to the state.
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1 (5) A student who is determined to be ineligible for
2 an initial award for failure to meet the high school grade
3 point average requirement may appeal the determination to the
4 department and request a recalculation of the grade point
5 average to include the grades earned in up to three credits of
6 advanced fine arts courses. The department shall make a
7 description of the appeals process available to individuals
8 upon request. The department shall recalculate the student's
9 grade point average using the additional courses and advise
10 the student of any changes in the student's eligibility
11 status. For purposes of this section, fine arts courses
12 include courses in music, drama, painting, sculpture, speech,
13 debate, or a course in any art form that requires manual
14 dexterity. "Advanced level fine arts courses" include fine
15 arts courses identified in the course code directory as
16 Advanced Placement, pre-International Baccalaureate or
17 International Baccalaureate, and fine arts courses taken in
18 the third or fourth year of a fine arts curriculum.
19 Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 240.40203,
20 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
21 240.40203 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
22 student eligibility requirements for renewal awards.--
23 (2) A student who is enrolled in a program that
24 terminates in an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree
25 may receive an award for a maximum of 132 semester credit
26 hours or the equivalent 110 percent of the number of credit
27 hours required to complete the program. A student who is
28 enrolled in a program that terminates in a technical
29 certificate may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent
30 of the credit hours or clock hours required to complete the
31 program up to 90 credit hours. A student who transfers from
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Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HB 1931
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1 one of these program levels to another becomes eligible for
2 the higher of the two credit hour limits.
3 Section 3. Subsections (1) and (2) of section
4 240.40205, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, are amended to
5 read:
6 240.40205 Florida Academic Scholars award.--
7 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic
8 Scholars award if the student meets the general eligibility
9 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
10 Program and the student:
11 (a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
12 calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or its equivalent, in
13 high school courses that are required as a condition of
14 admission to a State University System institution as set
15 forth in rules of the Board of Regents adopted by the Board of
16 Regents and recommended by the State Board of Community
17 Colleges as college-preparatory academic courses; and
18 (b) has attained at least a score of 1270 the score
19 identified by rules of the Department of Education on the
20 combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
21 Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the
22 recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance
23 Examination, or an equivalent score on the American College
24 Testing Program, or its equivalent as determined by the
25 Department of Education; or
26 (b)(c) Has attended a home education program according
27 to s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
28 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
29 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
30 a score of 1270 the score identified by rules of the
31 Department of Education on the combined verbal and
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1 quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
2 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
3 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
4 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or
5 (c)(d) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate
6 Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office; or
7 (d)(e) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
8 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
9 scholar or finalist.
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11 Effective with the 1998-1999 school year, a student must
12 complete a program of community service work, as approved by
13 the district school board or the administrators of a nonpublic
14 school, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours of service
15 work and require the student to identify a social problem that
16 interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal
17 involvement in addressing the problem, and, through papers or
18 other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her
19 experience.
20 (2) A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a
21 public university postsecondary education institution is
22 eligible for an award equal to the amount required to pay
23 matriculation and, fees as assessed at the undergraduate rate,
24 plus, and $600 for college-related expenses annually. A
25 student who attends a public community college is eligible for
26 an award equal to the amount required to pay matriculation and
27 fees, plus $600 for college-related expenses. A student who is
28 enrolled in a nonpublic postsecondary education institution is
29 eligible for an award equal to the amount that would be
30 required to pay for the average matriculation and fees of a
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1 public postsecondary education institution at the comparable
2 level, plus the annual $600.
3 Section 4. Section 240.40206, Florida Statutes, 1998
4 Supplement, is amended to read:
5 (Substantial rewording of section. See
6 s. 240.40206, F.S., 1998 Supp., for present
7 text.)
8 240.40206 Florida Merit Scholars award.--
9 (1) A student who graduates from high school by the
10 end of the 2001-2002 school year is eligible for a Florida
11 Merit Scholars award if the student meets the general
12 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
13 Scholarship Program and the student:
14 (a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0
15 as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or the equivalent, in
16 high school courses that are required as a condition of
17 admission to a State University System institution, as set
18 forth in rules of the Board of Regents, and has attained a
19 score of at least 970 on the recentered Scholastic Assessment
20 Test, an equivalent score on the American College Testing
21 Program, or its equivalent as determined by the Department of
22 Education; or
23 (b) Has completed the International Baccalaureate
24 curriculum but failed to earn the International Baccalaureate
25 Diploma and has attained a score of at least 970 on the
26 combined verbal and quantitative parts of the recentered
27 Scholastic Assessment Test, an equivalent score on the
28 American College Testing Program, or its equivalent as
29 determined by the Department of Education; or
30 (c) Has completed a college-preparatory curriculum
31 through a registered home education program and has attained a
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1 score of at least 970 on the combined verbal and quantitative
2 parts of the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test, an
3 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program, or
4 its equivalent as determined by the Department of Education.
5 Eligibility shall be determined in the same manner as for
6 public school students. For students whose parents do not
7 document a college-preparatory curriculum, a score of at least
8 1070 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
9 recentered Scholastic Assessment Test, an equivalent score on
10 the American College Testing Program, or its equivalent as
11 determined by the Department of Education, shall be required
12 for award eligibility.
13 (2) A student who graduates from high school in the
14 2002-2003 school year or thereafter is eligible for a Florida
15 Merit Scholars award if the student meets the general
16 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
17 Scholarship Program and the student:
18 (a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0
19 as calculated pursuant to s.240.40202, or its equivalent, in
20 high school courses that are required as a condition of
21 admission to a State University System institution and has
22 attained a score of at least 1020 on the recentered Scholastic
23 Assessment Test, an equivalent score on the American College
24 Testing Program, or its equivalent as determined by the
25 Department of Education; or
26 (b) Has completed the International Baccalaureate
27 curriculum but failed to earn the International Baccalaureate
28 Diploma and has attained a score of at least 1020 on the
29 combined verbal and quantitative parts of the recentered
30 Scholastic Assessment Test, an equivalent score on the
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1 American College Testing Program, or its equivalent as
2 determined by the Department of Education; or
3 (c) Has completed a college-preparatory curriculum
4 through a registered home education program and has attained a
5 score of at least 1020 on the combined verbal and quantitative
6 parts of the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test, an
7 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program, or
8 its equivalent as determined by the Department of Education.
9 Eligibility shall be determined in the same manner as for
10 public school students. For students whose parents do not
11 document a college-preparatory curriculum, a score of at least
12 1120 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
13 recentered Scholastic Assessment Test, an equivalent score on
14 the American College Testing Program, or its equivalent as
15 determined by the Department of Education, shall be required
16 for award eligibility.
17 (3) A Florida Merit Scholar who is enrolled in a
18 public university is eligible for an award equal to the amount
19 required to pay 75 percent of matriculation and fees, as
20 assessed at the undergraduate rate. A student who attends a
21 public community college is eligible for an award equal to the
22 amount required to pay 75 percent of matriculation and fees. A
23 student who is enrolled in a nonpublic postsecondary education
24 institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount that
25 would be required to pay 75 percent of the matriculation and
26 fees of a public postsecondary education institution at the
27 comparable level.
28 (4) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida
29 Merit Scholar, a student must maintain the equivalent of a
30 grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for all
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1 postsecondary education work attempted, with an opportunity
2 for reinstatement one time as provided in this act.
3 Section 5. Section 240.40207, Florida Statutes, 1998
4 Supplement, is amended to read:
5 240.40207 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
6 award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is
7 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
8 to recognize and reward academic achievement and vocational
9 preparation by high school students who wish to continue their
10 education. Beginning fall semester 2000, a Florida Gold Seal
11 Vocational Scholars award may not be used at a baccalaureate
12 degree-granting institution unless the award is a renewal of
13 an initial award issued prior to fall semester 2000.
14 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
15 Vocational Scholars award if the student meets the general
16 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
17 Scholarship Program and the student:
18 (a) Completes the secondary school portion of a
19 sequential program of studies that requires at least three
20 secondary school vocational credits taken over at least 2
21 academic years, and is continued in a planned, related
22 postsecondary education program. If the student's school does
23 not offer such a two-plus-two or tech-prep program, the
24 student must complete a job-preparatory career education
25 program selected by the Occupational Forecasting Conference or
26 the Workforce Development Board of Enterprise Florida for its
27 ability to provide high-wage employment in an occupation with
28 high potential for employment opportunities. On-the-job
29 training may not be substituted for any of the three required
30 vocational credits.
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1 (b) Demonstrates readiness for postsecondary education
2 by earning a passing score on the Florida College Entry Level
3 Placement Test or its equivalent as identified by the
4 Department of Education.
5 (c) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point
6 average of 3.0, as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, on all
7 subjects required for a standard high school diploma,
8 excluding elective courses.
9 (d) Earns a minimum unweighted grade point average of
10 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for secondary vocational courses comprising
11 the vocational program.
12 (e) Completes the requirements of a vocational-ready
13 diploma program, as defined by rules of the State Board of
14 Education.
15 (2) A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar is eligible
16 for an award equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of
17 matriculation and fees, if the student is enrolled in a public
18 postsecondary education institution. A student who is enrolled
19 in a nonpublic postsecondary education institution is eligible
20 for an award equal to the amount that would be required to pay
21 75 percent of the matriculation and mandatory fees of a public
22 postsecondary education institution at the comparable level.
23 (3) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida
24 Gold Seal Vocational Scholar, a student must maintain the
25 equivalent of a grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for
26 all postsecondary education work attempted, with an
27 opportunity for reinstatement one time as provided in this
28 act.
29 (4) A student may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
30 Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
31 required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the
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1 equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Scholar who has a cumulative
2 grade point average of 2.75 in all postsecondary education
3 work attempted may apply for a Florida Merit Scholars award at
4 any renewal period. All other provisions of that program
5 apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be calculated by
6 subtracting from the student's total eligibility the number of
7 credit hours the student attempted while earning the Gold Seal
8 Vocational Scholarship.
9 (5) Upon successful completion of an associate degree
10 program, an award recipient who meets the renewal criteria in
11 subsection (3) and enrolls in an associate or baccalaureate
12 degree program at an eligible postsecondary education
13 institution is eligible to transfer to the Florida Merit
14 Scholars award component of the Bright Futures Scholarship
15 Program. Other than initial eligibility criteria, all other
16 provisions of that component apply.
17 Section 6. Subsection (1) of section 240.40208,
18 Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to read:
19 240.40208 Eligibility for the Florida Bright Futures
20 Scholarship Program; transition.--
21 (1) A student who graduates from high school in 1997
22 or earlier and who is eligible for the Florida Undergraduate
23 Scholar's Program pursuant to s. 240.402 is eligible for the
24 Florida Academic Scholars award as provided in this act. A
25 student who graduates from high school in 1998 or 1999 is
26 eligible for the Florida Academic Scholars award if the
27 student meets the criteria in s. 240.40205. However, in lieu
28 of satisfying the requirements set forth in s. 240.40205(1)(a)
29 and (b), a student may meet the following criteria:
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1 (a) Complete a program of at least 24 credits in
2 advanced-level studies as prescribed by the State Board of
3 Education, including as a minimum:
4 1. Four years of progressively advanced instruction in
5 language arts, including courses in English composition and
6 literature.
7 2. Four years of progressively advanced instruction in
8 science, including laboratory courses in biology, chemistry,
9 and physics where laboratory facilities are available.
10 3. Four years of progressively advanced instruction in
11 mathematics, including courses in algebra, geometry, and
12 calculus or trigonometry.
13 4. Two years of sequential foreign language.
14 5. One year of instruction in art and music or in
15 either art or music.
16 6. Three years of instruction in social studies,
17 including courses in American history and government, world
18 history, and comparative political and economic systems.
19 7. One year of instruction in health and physical
20 education to include assessment, improvement, and maintenance
21 of personal fitness.
22 (b) Obtain at least the equivalent of an unweighted
23 grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all courses
24 taken for which high school credit may be granted.
25 (c) Achieve a score of 1180 on the combined verbal and
26 quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
27 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
28 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
29 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program or an
30 equivalent program.
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1 (d) Complete a program of community service work, as
2 approved by the district school board or the administrators of
3 a nonpublic school, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours
4 of service work and require the student to identify a social
5 problem that interests him or her, develop a plan for his or
6 her personal involvement in addressing the problem, and,
7 through papers or other presentations, evaluate and reflect
8 upon his or her experience.
9
10 Students who graduate from high school after 1999 must meet
11 the eligibility criteria pursuant to s. 240.40205.
12 Section 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 1999.
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15 HOUSE SUMMARY
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Revises student eligibility requirements for the initial
17 award and renewal of Florida Bright Futures Scholarships.
Revises eligibility requirements for the Florida Academic
18 Scholars award. Revises initial eligibility requirements
for the Florida Merit Scholars award. Revises provisions
19 relating to the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
award. Corrects a cross reference.
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