House Bill 1631
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Florida House of Representatives - 2000 HB 1631
By the Committee on Colleges & Universities and
Representatives Casey, Betancourt, Waters and J. Miller
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student financial aid;
3 amending s. 231.621, F.S.; deleting the
4 requirement that repayment of a Critical
5 Teacher Shortage Student Loan be made directly
6 to the holder of the loan; amending s.
7 240.40201, F.S.; revising general student
8 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright
9 Futures Scholarship; amending s. 240.40202,
10 F.S.; revising student eligibility provisions
11 for initial award of a Florida Bright Futures
12 Scholarship; amending s. 240.40203, F.S.;
13 providing for renewal, reinstatement, and
14 restoration of an award; amending s. 240.40204,
15 F.S.; revising accreditation requirements for
16 postsecondary education institution
17 participation in the Florida Bright Futures
18 Scholarship Program; amending s. 240.40205,
19 F.S., relating to the Florida Academic Scholars
20 award; requiring the Department of Education to
21 define matriculation and fees for purposes of
22 the award; clarifying provisions relating to
23 renewal and reinstatement of an award;
24 providing a cross reference; amending s.
25 240.40206, F.S., relating to the Florida Merit
26 Scholars award; authorizing the participation
27 of students who have been recognized by the
28 merit or achievement programs of the National
29 Merit Scholarship Corporation as a scholar or
30 finalist, but have not completed a program of
31 community service; requiring the Department of
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1 Education to define matriculation and fees for
2 purposes of the award; clarifying provisions
3 relating to renewal and reinstatement of an
4 award; providing a cross reference; amending s.
5 240.40207, F.S., relating to the Florida Gold
6 Seal Vocational Scholars award; revising
7 student eligibility requirements; requiring the
8 Department of Education to define matriculation
9 and fees for purposes of the award; clarifying
10 provisions relating to renewal and
11 reinstatement of an award; providing a cross
12 reference; revising provisions relating to
13 transfer to the Florida Merit Scholars award
14 program; providing for determination of the
15 credit hour limitation; amending s. 240.40209,
16 F.S., relating to the calculation of awards of
17 Bright Futures Scholarship recipients attending
18 nonpublic institutions; requiring the
19 Department of Education to define matriculation
20 and fees for purposes of the award; amending s.
21 240.404, F.S., relating to general requirements
22 for student eligibility for state financial
23 aid; revising accreditation requirements for
24 postsecondary education institution
25 participation; requiring that to remain
26 eligible, a student not have a break in
27 enrollment greater than 12 months; amending s.
28 240.4064, F.S., relating to the critical
29 teacher shortage tuition reimbursement program;
30 increasing the rate of tuition reimbursement;
31 amending s. 240.412, F.S., relating to the Jose
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1 Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant Program;
2 revising accreditation requirements for
3 postsecondary education institution
4 participation; deleting the requirement that an
5 applicant who applies as a graduate student
6 have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point
7 average for undergraduate college-level
8 courses; deleting a limitation on the number of
9 semesters or quarters a graduate student may
10 receive the award; amending s. 240.413, F.S.,
11 relating to the Seminole and Miccosukee Indian
12 Scholarships; revising accreditation
13 requirements for postsecondary education
14 institution participation; amending s. 240.437,
15 F.S., relating to student financial aid
16 planning and development; deleting obsolete
17 language; clarifying provisions relating to the
18 repeal of unfunded financial assistance
19 programs; amending s. 240.465, F.S.; deleting a
20 provision which prohibits an individual
21 borrower who is in default in making student
22 financial assistance repayments from being
23 furnished with his or her academic transcripts
24 or other student records until such time as the
25 loan is paid in full or the default status has
26 been removed; amending s. 240.472, F.S.;
27 revising the definition of the term
28 "institution" to reflect revised accreditation
29 requirements; amending s. 295.01, F.S.,
30 relating to the education of children of
31 deceased or disabled veterans; clarifying
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1 student eligibility requirements; amending s.
2 295.02, F.S., relating to use of funds for the
3 education of children of deceased or disabled
4 veterans; requiring the Department of Education
5 to define tuition and registration fees for
6 purposes of award of funds; clarifying student
7 eligibility requirements; providing for the
8 award of funds for attendance at an eligible
9 nonpublic postsecondary institution; repealing
10 s. 228.502, F.S., relating to the Education
11 Success Incentive Program, s. 240.40242, F.S.,
12 relating to use of certain scholarship funds by
13 children of deceased or disabled veterans, and
14 s. 240.6055, F.S., relating to access grants
15 for community college graduates; amending s.
16 246.041, F.S., relating to the powers and
17 duties of the State Board of Independent
18 Colleges and Universities; removing an obsolete
19 cross reference; amending s. 240.409, F.S.;
20 deleting the requirement that a student attend
21 full-time to be eligible for a state student
22 assistance grant; requiring the student to
23 enroll in at least 6 semester hours, or the
24 equivalent, per semester; amending s. 240.4095,
25 F.S.; deleting the requirement that a student
26 attend full-time to be eligible for a Florida
27 private student assistance grant; requiring a
28 student to enroll in at least 6 semester hours,
29 or the equivalent, per semester; amending s.
30 240.4097, F.S.; deleting the requirement that a
31 student attend full-time to be eligible for a
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1 Florida postsecondary student assistance grant;
2 requiring a student to enroll in at least 6
3 semester hours, or the equivalent, per
4 semester; amending s. 240.404, F.S.; revising
5 the maximum amount of time an undergraduate
6 student can receive financial aid; providing an
7 effective date.
8
9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11 Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
12 231.621, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
13 231.621 Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan
14 Forgiveness Program.--
15 (2) From the funds available, the Department of
16 Education is authorized to make loan principal repayments as
17 follows:
18 (c) All repayments shall be contingent on continued
19 proof of employment in the designated subject areas in this
20 state and shall be made directly to the holder of the loan.
21 The state shall not bear responsibility for the collection of
22 any interest charges or other remaining balance. In the event
23 that designated critical teacher shortage subject areas are
24 changed by the State Board of Education, a teacher shall
25 continue to be eligible for loan forgiveness as long as he or
26 she continues to teach in the subject area for which the
27 original loan repayment was made and otherwise meets all
28 conditions of eligibility.
29 Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 240.40201,
30 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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1 240.40201 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
2 Program.--
3 (1) The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is
4 created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to
5 reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition
6 of high academic achievement and who enrolls in a degree
7 program, certificate program, or applied technology diploma
8 program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary
9 education institution within 7 3 years of graduation from high
10 school. Regardless of the year in which the student first
11 receives scholarship funding, all eligibility will end 7 years
12 after high school graduation.
13 Section 3. Paragraphs (b), (e), and (f) of subsection
14 (1) and subsection (2) of section 240.40202, Florida Statutes,
15 are amended to read:
16 240.40202 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
17 student eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
18 (1) To be eligible for an initial award from any of
19 the three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright
20 Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:
21 (b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
22 equivalent as described in s. 232.246 or s. 229.814 unless:
23 1. The student is enrolled full time in the early
24 admission program of an eligible postsecondary education
25 institution or completes a home education program according to
26 s. 232.0201; or
27 2. The student earns a high school diploma from a
28 non-Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who
29 is on military or public service assignment away from Florida.
30 "Public service assignment," as used in this subparagraph,
31 means the occupational assignment outside of Florida of a
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1 person who is a permanent resident of Florida and who is
2 employed by the United States Government or the State of
3 Florida, a condition of which employment is assignment outside
4 of Florida.
5 (e) Not have been found guilty of, had adjudication
6 withheld for, or pled plead nolo contendere or guilty to, a
7 felony charge, unless the student has been granted clemency by
8 the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the Executive Office of
9 Clemency.
10 (f) Apply for a scholarship from the program by
11 December 31 after April 1 of the last semester before high
12 school graduation. There is no application deadline for a
13 student graduating from a non-Florida school, pursuant to
14 subparagraph (1)(b)2.
15 (2) A student is eligible to accept an initial award
16 for 3 years following high school graduation and to accept a
17 renewal award for 7 years following high school graduation. A
18 student who applies for an award by April 1 and who meets all
19 other eligibility requirements, but who does not accept his or
20 her award during the first year of eligibility after high
21 school graduation, may apply for reinstatement of the award
22 for use within 7 reapply during subsequent application periods
23 up to 3 years after high school graduation. Reinstatement
24 applications must be received by the deadline established by
25 the Department of Education.
26 Section 4. Section 240.40203, Florida Statutes, is
27 amended to read:
28 240.40203 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
29 student eligibility requirements for renewal, reinstatement,
30 and restoration awards.--
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1 (1) To be eligible to receive renew a scholarship from
2 any of the three types of scholarships under the Florida
3 Bright Futures Scholarship Program after the first year of
4 eligibility, a student must meet the following requirements
5 for either renewal, reinstatement, or restoration:
6 (a) Renewal applies to students who receive an award
7 for at least one term during the academic year. For renewal, a
8 student must complete at least 12 semester credit hours or the
9 equivalent in the last academic year in which the student
10 earned a scholarship.
11 (b) and maintain the cumulative grade point average
12 required by the scholarship program, except that:
13 1. If a recipient's grades fall beneath the average
14 required to renew a Florida Academic Scholarship, but are
15 sufficient to renew a Florida Merit Scholarship or a Florida
16 Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship, the Department of Education
17 may grant a renewal from one of those other scholarship
18 programs, if the student meets the renewal eligibility
19 requirements.; or
20 2. If, upon renewal evaluation at any time during the
21 eligibility period, a student's grades or hours, or both, are
22 not sufficient insufficient to renew the scholarship, the
23 student may use grades or hours, or both, earned during the
24 following summer to renew the scholarship restore eligibility
25 by improving the grade point average to the required level. A
26 student is eligible for such a reinstatement only once. The
27 Legislature encourages education institutions to assist
28 students to calculate whether or not it is possible to raise
29 the grade point average during the summer term. If the
30 institution determines that it is possible, the education
31 institution may so inform the department, which may reserve
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1 the student's award if funds are available. The renewal,
2 however, must not be granted until the student achieves the
3 required cumulative grade point average and earns the required
4 number of hours. If, during the summer term, a student does
5 not earn is not sufficient hours or to raise the grade point
6 average to the required renewal level, the student will not be
7 eligible for an award student's next opportunity for renewal
8 is the fall semester of the following academic year.
9 (b) Reinstatement applies to students who were
10 eligible but did not receive an award during the previous
11 academic year or years, and who may apply to reestablish use
12 of the scholarship. For reinstatement, a student must have
13 been eligible at the time of the student's most recent Bright
14 Futures eligibility determination. The student must apply for
15 reinstatement by submitting a reinstatement application by the
16 deadline established by the Department of Education.
17 (c) Restoration applies to students who lost
18 scholarship eligibility due to a low renewal grade point
19 average, but earned the required grade point average in a
20 subsequent academic year, and who may apply to receive awards
21 in the future. For restoration, a student who did not meet
22 renewal requirements during a prior evaluation period may
23 restore eligibility by meeting the required grade point
24 average during a subsequent renewal evaluation period. A
25 student is eligible to receive such restoration only once.
26 The student must submit an application for restoration by the
27 deadline established by the Department of Education.
28 (2) A student who is enrolled in a program that
29 terminates in an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree
30 may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent of the
31 number of credit hours required to complete the program. A
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1 student who is enrolled in an undergraduate program that
2 terminates in the award of a postbaccalaureate degree, or the
3 simultaneous award of baccalaureate and postbaccalaureate
4 degrees, may receive an award for a maximum of 132 semester
5 hours, or the equivalent, at the undergraduate rate. A student
6 who is enrolled in a program that terminates in a technical
7 certificate may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent
8 of the credit hours or clock hours required to complete the
9 program up to 90 credit hours. A student who transfers from
10 one of these program levels to another becomes eligible for
11 the higher of the two credit hour limits.
12 Section 5. Subsection (2) of section 240.40204,
13 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
14 240.40204 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
15 eligible postsecondary education institutions.--A student is
16 eligible for an award or the renewal of an award from the
17 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program if the student
18 meets the requirements for the program as described in this
19 act and is enrolled in a postsecondary education institution
20 that meets the description in any one of the following
21 subsections:
22 (2) An independent Florida college or university that
23 is accredited by a member of the Commission on Recognition of
24 Postsecondary Accreditation and which has operated in the
25 state for at least 3 years and is accredited by an accrediting
26 agency recognized by the United States Department of
27 Education.
28 Section 6. Subsections (2) and (3) of section
29 240.40205, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
30 240.40205 Florida Academic Scholars award.--
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1 (2) A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a
2 public postsecondary education institution is eligible for an
3 award equal to the amount required to pay matriculation and,
4 fees, as defined by the department, and $600 for
5 college-related expenses annually. A student who is enrolled
6 in a nonpublic postsecondary education institution is eligible
7 for an award equal to the amount that would be required to pay
8 for the average matriculation and fees of a public
9 postsecondary education institution at the comparable level,
10 plus the annual $600.
11 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
12 as a Florida Academic Scholar, a student must meet the
13 requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the equivalent
14 of a grade point average requirement of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or
15 the equivalent, for all postsecondary education work
16 attempted. A student may have, with an opportunity for one
17 restoration reinstatement as provided in this act.
18 Section 7. Section 240.40206, Florida Statutes, is
19 amended to read:
20 240.40206 Florida Merit Scholars award.--
21 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Merit Scholars
22 award if the student meets the general eligibility
23 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
24 Program and the student:
25 (a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0
26 as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or the equivalent, in
27 high school courses that are adopted by the Board of Regents
28 and recommended by the State Board of Community Colleges as
29 college-preparatory academic courses; and
30 (b) Has attained at least the score identified by
31 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
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1 and 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) Has attended a home education program according to
6 s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
7 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
8 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
9 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
10 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
11 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
12 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
13 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
14 College Testing Program; or.
15 (d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
16 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
17 scholar or finalist, but has not completed a program of
18 community service as provided by s. 240.40205.
19 (2) A Florida Merit Scholar is eligible for an award
20 equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of
21 matriculation and fees, as defined by the department, if the
22 student is enrolled in a public postsecondary education
23 institution. A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
24 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
25 equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent
26 of the matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary
27 education institution at the comparable level.
28 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
29 as a Florida Merit Scholar, a student must meet the
30 requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the equivalent
31 of a grade point average requirement of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale,
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1 or the equivalent, for all postsecondary education work
2 attempted. A student may have, with an opportunity for
3 reinstatement one restoration time as provided in this act.
4 Section 8. Section 240.40207, Florida Statutes, is
5 amended to read:
6 240.40207 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
7 award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is
8 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
9 to recognize and reward academic achievement and vocational
10 preparation by high school students who wish to continue their
11 education. Beginning with the fall term of 2002, a Florida
12 Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award may not be used at a
13 baccalaureate degree-granting institution unless the award is
14 a renewal of an initial award issued prior to the fall term of
15 2002.
16 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
17 Vocational Scholars award if the student meets the general
18 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
19 Scholarship Program and the student:
20 (a) Completes the secondary school portion of a
21 sequential program of studies that requires at least three
22 secondary school vocational credits in a program of study
23 identified by the Department of Education taken over at least
24 2 academic years, and is continued in a planned, related
25 postsecondary education program. If the student's school does
26 not offer such a two-plus-two or tech-prep program, the
27 student must complete a job-preparatory career education
28 program selected by the Occupational Forecasting Conference or
29 the Workforce Development Board of Enterprise Florida for its
30 ability to provide high-wage employment in an occupation with
31 high potential for employment opportunities. A minimum of
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1 three of these credits must be successfully completed in the
2 same program. On-the-job training may not be substituted for
3 any of the three required vocational credits.
4 (b) Demonstrates readiness for postsecondary education
5 by earning a passing score on the Florida College Entry Level
6 Placement Test or its equivalent as identified by the
7 Department of Education.
8 (c) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point
9 average of 3.0, as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, on all
10 subjects required for a standard high school diploma,
11 excluding elective courses.
12 (d) Earns a minimum unweighted grade point average of
13 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for secondary vocational courses comprising
14 the vocational program.
15 (e) Completes the requirements of a vocational-ready
16 diploma program, as defined by rules of the State Board of
17 Education.
18 (2) A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar is eligible
19 for an award equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of
20 matriculation and fees, as defined by the department, if the
21 student is enrolled in a public postsecondary education
22 institution. A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
23 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
24 equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent
25 of the matriculation and mandatory fees of a public
26 postsecondary education institution at the comparable level.
27 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
28 as a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar, a student must meet
29 the requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the
30 equivalent of a grade point average requirement of 2.75 on a
31 4.0 scale, or the equivalent, for all postsecondary education
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1 work attempted. A student may have, with an opportunity for
2 reinstatement one restoration time as provided in this act.
3 (4) A student may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
4 Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
5 required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the
6 equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Scholar who has a cumulative
7 grade point average of 2.75 in all postsecondary education
8 work attempted may apply for a Florida Merit Scholars award at
9 any renewal period. All other provisions of that program
10 apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be calculated by
11 subtracting from the student's total eligibility the number of
12 credit hours the student attempted while earning the Gold Seal
13 Vocational Scholarship.
14 (5) Upon successful completion of an associate degree
15 program, an award recipient who meets the renewal criteria in
16 subsection (3) and enrolls in a baccalaureate degree program
17 at an eligible postsecondary education institution is eligible
18 to transfer to the Florida Merit Scholars award component of
19 the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. All other requirements
20 of the Florida Merit Scholars award shall apply to a student
21 who transfers to that program under this section. The
22 department is authorized to adjust the award type following
23 receipt of a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award
24 during the fall term, should a student receive an associate
25 degree in the fall and enroll in a baccalaureate degree
26 program during a subsequent term of the same academic year.
27 The credit hour limitation must be calculated by subtracting
28 from the student's total eligibility the number of credit
29 hours the student attempted while receiving the Florida Gold
30 Seal Vocational Scholars award.
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1 Section 9. Section 240.40209, Florida Statutes, is
2 amended to read:
3 240.40209 Bright Futures Scholarship recipients
4 attending nonpublic institutions; calculation of
5 awards.--Notwithstanding ss. 240.40201, 240.40205, 240.40206,
6 and 240.40207, a student who receives any award under the
7 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, who is enrolled in
8 a nonpublic postsecondary education institution, and who is
9 assessed tuition and fees that are the same as those of a
10 full-time student at that institution, shall receive a fixed
11 award calculated by using the average matriculation and fee
12 calculation, as defined by the Department of Education, for
13 full-time attendance at a public postsecondary educational
14 education institution at the comparable level. If the student
15 is enrolled part-time and is assessed tuition and fees at a
16 reduced level, the award shall be either one-half of the
17 maximum award or three-fourths of the maximum award, depending
18 on the level of fees assessed.
19 Section 10. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
20 240.404, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
21 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
22 for state financial aid.--
23 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of
24 students for state financial aid awards consist of the
25 following:
26 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
27 acceptance at a state university or community college; a
28 nursing diploma school approved by the Florida Board of
29 Nursing; a Florida college, university, or community college
30 which is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the
31 United States Department of Education a member of the
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1 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; any
2 Florida institution the credits of which are acceptable for
3 transfer to state universities; any area technical center; or
4 any private vocational-technical institution accredited by an
5 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
6 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
7 Postsecondary Accreditation.
8 2.a. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
9 preceding the award of aid for a program established pursuant
10 to s. 240.409, s. 240.4095, s. 240.4097, s. 240.412, s.
11 240.4125, s. 240.413, s. 240.4987, s. 240.605, or s. 240.606.
12 Residency in this state must be for purposes other than to
13 obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of receiving
14 state financial aid awards shall be determined in the same
15 manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s.
16 240.1201 and rules of the State Board of Education.
17 b. A person who has been properly classified as a
18 resident by a postsecondary institution for initial receipt of
19 state-funded student financial assistance and has been
20 determined eligible to participate in a financial assistance
21 program may continue to qualify as a resident for state-funded
22 financial aid programs if he or she maintains continuous
23 enrollment at the postsecondary institution, with no break in
24 enrollment greater than 12 consecutive months.
25 3. Submission of certification attesting to the
26 accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information
27 provided to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive
28 state financial aid awards. Falsification of such information
29 shall result in the denial of any pending application and
30 revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no
31 further payments shall be made. Additionally, students who
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1 knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
2 financial aid awards shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
3 second degree subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall
4 be required to return all state financial aid awards
5 wrongfully obtained.
6 Section 11. Subsection (3) of section 240.4064,
7 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
8 240.4064 Critical teacher shortage tuition
9 reimbursement program.--
10 (3) Participants may receive tuition reimbursement
11 payments for up to 9 semester hours, or the equivalent in
12 quarter hours, per year, at a rate not to exceed $115 $78 per
13 semester hour, up to a total of 36 semester hours. All
14 tuition reimbursements shall be contingent on passing an
15 approved course with a minimum grade of 3.0 or its equivalent.
16 Section 12. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) and
17 subsection (6) of section 240.412, Florida Statutes, are
18 amended to read:
19 240.412 Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant
20 Program.--
21 (5)(a) In order to be eligible to receive a
22 scholarship pursuant to this section, an applicant shall:
23 1. Be a Hispanic-American, or a person of Spanish
24 culture with origins in Mexico, South America, Central
25 America, or the Caribbean, regardless of race.
26 2. Be a citizen of the United States and meet the
27 general requirements for student eligibility as provided in s.
28 240.404, except as otherwise provided in this section.
29 3. Be accepted at a state university or community
30 college or any Florida college or university accredited by an
31 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
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1 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
2 Postsecondary Accreditation the credits of which are
3 acceptable without qualification for transfer to state
4 universities.
5 4. Enroll as a full-time undergraduate or graduate
6 student.
7 5. Earn a 3.0 unweighted grade point average on a 4.0
8 scale, or the equivalent for high school subjects creditable
9 toward a diploma. If an applicant applies as a graduate
10 student, he or she shall have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade
11 point average for undergraduate college-level courses.
12 (6) The annual scholarship to each recipient shall be
13 $2,000. Priority in the distribution of scholarships shall be
14 given to students with the lowest total family resources.
15 Renewal scholarships shall take precedence over new awards in
16 any year in which funds are not sufficient to meet the total
17 need. No undergraduate student shall receive an award for
18 more than the equivalent of 8 semesters or 12 quarters over a
19 period of no more than 6 consecutive years, except as
20 otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3). No graduate student shall
21 receive an award for more than the equivalent of 4 semesters
22 or 6 quarters.
23 Section 13. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
24 240.413, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
25 240.413 Seminole and Miccosukee Indian Scholarships.--
26 (2) Scholarships shall be awarded by the department to
27 students who:
28 (b) Are enrolled at a state university or community
29 college authorized by Florida law; a nursing diploma school
30 approved by the Board of Nursing; any Florida college,
31 university, or community college which is accredited by an
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1 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
2 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
3 Postsecondary Accreditation; or any Florida institution the
4 credits of which are acceptable for transfer to state
5 universities;
6 Section 14. Subsection (6) of section 240.437, Florida
7 Statutes, is amended to read:
8 240.437 Student financial aid planning and
9 development.--
10 (6) Any Effective July 1, 1992, all new and existing
11 financial assistance programs authorized by state law that are
12 administered by the Bureau of Student Financial Assistance of
13 the Department of Education, and that under this part which
14 are not funded for 3 consecutive years after enactment shall
15 stand repealed. Financial aid programs provided under this
16 part on July 1, 1992, which lose funding for 3 consecutive
17 years shall stand repealed. The Bureau Office of Student
18 Financial Assistance of the Department of Education shall
19 annually review the legislative appropriation of financial aid
20 to identify such programs.
21 Section 15. Subsection (5) of section 240.465, Florida
22 Statutes, is amended, and subsections (6) and (7) of said
23 section are renumbered as subsections (5) and (6),
24 respectively, to read:
25 240.465 Delinquent accounts.--
26 (5) No individual borrower who has been determined to
27 be in default in making legally required scholarship loan,
28 student loan, or guaranteed loan repayments shall be furnished
29 with his or her academic transcripts or other student records
30 until such time as the loan is paid in full or the default
31 status has been removed.
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1 Section 16. Subsection (13) of section 240.472,
2 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3 240.472 Definitions.--As used in this act:
4 (13) "Institution" means any college or university
5 which, by virtue of law or charter, is accredited by an
6 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
7 of Education and holds membership in the Commission on
8 Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; which grants
9 baccalaureate or associate degrees; which is not a pervasively
10 sectarian institution; and which does not discriminate in the
11 admission of students on the basis of race, color, religion,
12 sex, or creed.
13 Section 17. Subsection (1) of section 295.01, Florida
14 Statutes, is amended to read:
15 295.01 Children of deceased or disabled veterans;
16 education.--
17 (1) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
18 state to provide educational opportunity at state expense for
19 dependent children either of whose parents was a resident of
20 the state at the time such parent entered the Armed Forces,
21 had been a bona fide resident of the state for 5 years
22 preceding the child's application for benefits under this
23 section, and who:
24 (a) Died in that service or from injuries sustained or
25 disease contracted during a period of wartime service as
26 defined in s. 1.01(14) or has died since or may hereafter die
27 from diseases or disability resulting from such war service,
28 or
29 (b) Participated during a period of wartime service,
30 as provided for in this chapter, and has been:
31
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1 1. Determined by the United States Department of
2 Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a
3 service-connected 100-percent total and permanent disability
4 rating for compensation,
5 2. Determined to have a service-connected total and
6 permanent disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt
7 of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United
8 States Armed Services, or
9 3. Issued a valid identification card by the
10 Department of Veterans' Affairs in accordance with s. 295.17,
11
12 when the parents of such children have been bona fide
13 residents of the state for 5 years next preceding their
14 application for the benefits hereof, and subject to the rules,
15 restrictions, and limitations hereof.
16 Section 18. Section 295.02, Florida Statutes, is
17 amended to read:
18 295.02 Use of funds; age, etc.--
19 (1) All sums appropriated and expended under this
20 chapter shall be used to pay tuition and registration fees, as
21 defined by the Department of Education; board;, and room rent
22 and to buy books and supplies for the children of:
23 (a) Deceased or disabled veterans or service members,
24 as defined and limited in s. 295.01, s. 295.016, s. 295.017,
25 s. 295.018, or s. 295.0195., or of
26 (b) Parents classified as prisoners of war or missing
27 in action, as defined and limited in s. 295.015.,
28 (2) Such children must be who are between the ages of
29 16 and 22 years, and who are in attendance at:
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1 (a) A state-supported institution of higher learning,
2 including a community college or vocational-technical school,
3 or
4 (b) Any postsecondary institution eligible to
5 participate in the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program.
6
7 A student attending an eligible private postsecondary
8 institution may receive an award equivalent to the average
9 matriculation and fees calculated for full-time attendance at
10 a public postsecondary institution at the comparable level.
11 Any child having entered upon a course of training or
12 education under the provisions of this chapter, consisting of
13 a course of not more than 4 years, and arriving at the age of
14 22 years before the completion of such course may continue the
15 course and receive all benefits of the provisions of this
16 chapter until the course is completed. The Department of
17 Education shall administer this educational program subject to
18 regulations of the department.
19 Section 19. Sections 228.502, 240.40242, and 240.6055,
20 Florida Statutes, are repealed.
21 Section 20. Paragraph (r) of subsection (1) of section
22 246.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
23 246.041 Powers and duties of board.--
24 (1) The board shall:
25 (r) Provide information and documentation on an annual
26 basis to the Office of Student Financial Assistance of the
27 Department of Education regarding the requirements set forth
28 for nonpublic colleges in s. 240.605, relating to William L.
29 Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grants, s. 240.6055,
30 relating to access grants for community college graduates, and
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1 s. 240.609, relating to Florida postsecondary endowment
2 grants.
3 Section 21. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
4 240.409, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
5 240.409 Florida Public Student Assistance Grant
6 Program; eligibility for grants.--
7 (2)(a) State student assistance grants through the
8 program may be made only to full-time degree-seeking students
9 who enroll in at least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent,
10 per semester and who meet the general requirements for student
11 eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise
12 provided in this section. Such grants shall be awarded
13 annually for the amount of demonstrated unmet need for the
14 cost of education and may not exceed an amount equal to the
15 average prior academic year cost of matriculation fees and
16 other registration fees for 30 credit hours at state
17 universities or such other amount as specified in the General
18 Appropriations Act, to any recipient. A demonstrated unmet
19 need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible
20 for a state student assistance grant. Recipients of such
21 grants must have been accepted at a state university or
22 community college authorized by Florida law. No student may
23 receive an award for more than the equivalent of 9 semesters
24 or 14 quarters of full-time enrollment, except as otherwise
25 provided in s. 240.404(3).
26 Section 22. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
27 240.4095, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
28 240.4095 Florida Private Student Assistance Grant
29 Program; eligibility for grants.--
30 (2)(a) Florida private student assistance grants from
31 the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may be made
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1 only to full-time degree-seeking students who enroll in at
2 least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent, per semester and
3 who meet the general requirements for student eligibility as
4 provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise provided in this
5 section. Such grants shall be awarded for the amount of
6 demonstrated unmet need for tuition and fees and may not
7 exceed an amount equal to the average matriculation and other
8 registration fees for 30 credit hours at state universities
9 plus $1,000 per academic year, or as specified in the General
10 Appropriations Act, to any applicant. A demonstrated unmet
11 need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible
12 for a Florida private student assistance grant. Recipients of
13 such grants must have been accepted at a
14 baccalaureate-degree-granting independent nonprofit college or
15 university, which is accredited by the Commission on Colleges
16 of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and which
17 is located in and chartered as a domestic corporation by the
18 state. No student may receive an award for more than the
19 equivalent of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time
20 enrollment, except as otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3).
21 Section 23. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
22 240.4097, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
23 240.4097 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance
24 Grant Program; eligibility for grants.--
25 (2)(a) Florida postsecondary student assistance grants
26 through the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may
27 be made only to full-time degree-seeking students who enroll
28 in at least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent, per semester
29 and who meet the general requirements for student eligibility
30 as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise provided in
31 this section. Such grants shall be awarded for the amount of
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1 demonstrated unmet need for tuition and fees and may not
2 exceed an amount equal to the average prior academic year cost
3 of matriculation and other registration fees for 30 credit
4 hours at state universities plus $1,000 per academic year, or
5 as specified in the General Appropriations Act, to any
6 applicant. A demonstrated unmet need of less than $200 shall
7 render the applicant ineligible for a Florida postsecondary
8 student assistance grant. Recipients of such grants must have
9 been accepted at a postsecondary institution that is located
10 in the state and that is:
11 1. A private nursing diploma school approved by the
12 Florida Board of Nursing; or
13 2. An institution either licensed by the State Board
14 of Independent Colleges and Universities or exempt from
15 licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(a), excluding those
16 institutions the students of which are eligible to receive a
17 Florida private student assistance grant pursuant to s.
18 240.4095.
19
20 No student may receive an award for more than the equivalent
21 of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time enrollment, except
22 as otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3).
23 Section 24. Subsection (3) of section 240.404, Florida
24 Statutes, is amended to read:
25 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
26 for state financial aid.--
27 (3) Undergraduate students shall be eligible to
28 receive financial aid for a maximum of 110 percent of the
29 number of credit hours required to complete the program, up to
30 a maximum of 132 credit hours, or the equivalent 8 semesters
31 or 12 quarters. However, undergraduate students participating
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1 in college-preparatory instruction, students requiring
2 additional time to complete the college-level communication
3 and computation skills testing programs, or students enrolled
4 in a 5-year undergraduate degree program shall be eligible to
5 receive financial aid for a maximum of 10 semesters or 15
6 quarters.
7 Section 25. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.
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1 *****************************************
2 HOUSE SUMMARY
3
Deletes the requirement that repayment of a Critical
4 Teacher Shortage Student Loan be made directly to the
holder of the loan. Revises student eligibility
5 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship.
Provides for renewal, reinstatement, and restoration of
6 an award. Revises accreditation requirements for the
following: for postsecondary education institution
7 participation in the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
Program, the Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant
8 Program, and the Seminole and Miccosukee Indian
Scholarships, and for a definition of the term
9 "institution." Requires the Department of Education to
define matriculation and fees for purposes of the Florida
10 Academic Scholars award, the Florida Merit Scholars
award, the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award,
11 for the calculation of awards of Bright Futures
Scholarship recipients attending nonpublic institutions,
12 and for the use of funds for the education of children of
deceased or disabled veterans. Clarifies provisions
13 relating to renewal and reinstatement of a Florida
Academic Scholars award, a Florida Merit Scholars award,
14 and a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award.
Authorizes the participation of students who have been
15 recognized by the merit or achievement programs of the
National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a scholar or
16 finalist, but have not completed a program of community
service in the Florida Merit Scholars award program.
17 Revises student eligibility requirements for the Florida
Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award. Revises provisions
18 relating to transfer to the Florida Merit Scholars award
program. Provides for determination of the credit hour
19 limitation. Revises general requirements for student
eligibility for state financial aid to reflect revised
20 accreditation requirements for postsecondary education
institution participation. Requires that to remain
21 eligible for student financial assistance, a student not
have a break in enrollment greater than 12 months.
22 Increases the rate of tuition reimbursement for the
critical teacher shortage tuition reimbursement program.
23 Deletes the requirement that an applicant for a Jose
Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant who applies as a
24 graduate student have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point
average for undergraduate college-level courses. Deletes
25 a limitation on the number of semesters or quarters a
graduate student may receive the award. Revises
26 provisions relating to student financial aid planning and
development, deleting obsolete language and clarifying
27 provisions relating to the repeal of unfunded financial
assistance programs. Deletes a provision which prohibits
28 an individual borrower who is in default in making
student financial assistance repayments from being
29 furnished with his or her academic transcripts or other
student records until such time as the loan is paid in
30 full or the default status has been removed. Revises
provisions relating to the education of children of
31 deceased or disabled veterans, clarifying student
eligibility requirements. Provides for the award of funds
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1 for attendance at an eligible nonpublic postsecondary
institution. Repeals s. 228.502, F.S., relating to the
2 Education Success Incentive Program, s. 240.40242, F.S.,
relating to use of certain scholarship funds by children
3 of deceased or disabled veterans, and s. 240.6055, F.S.,
relating to access grants for community college
4 graduates. Deletes the requirement that a student attend
full-time to be eligible for a state student assistance
5 grant. Requires a student to enroll in at least 6
semester hours, or the equivalent, per semester. Deletes
6 the requirement that a student attend full-time to be
eligible for a Florida private student assistance grant.
7 Requires a student to enroll in at least 6 semester
hours, or the equivalent, per semester. Deletes the
8 requirement that a student attend full-time to be
eligible for a Florida postsecondary student assistance
9 grant. Requires a student to enroll in at least 6
semester hours, or the equivalent, per semester. Revises
10 the maximum time an undergraduate student can receive
financial aid.
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