House Bill 1631c1
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Florida House of Representatives - 2000 CS/HB 1631
By the Committees on Education Appropriations, 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; revising scholarship disbursement
23 requirements; clarifying provisions relating to
24 renewal and reinstatement of an award;
25 providing a cross reference; amending s.
26 240.40206, F.S., relating to the Florida Merit
27 Scholars award; authorizing the participation
28 of students who have been recognized by the
29 merit or achievement programs of the National
30 Merit Scholarship Corporation as a scholar or
31 finalist, but have not completed a program of
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1 community service; requiring the Department of
2 Education to define matriculation and fees for
3 purposes of the award; clarifying provisions
4 relating to renewal and reinstatement of an
5 award; providing a cross reference; amending s.
6 240.40207, F.S., relating to the Florida Gold
7 Seal Vocational Scholars award; revising
8 student eligibility requirements; requiring the
9 Department of Education to define matriculation
10 and fees for purposes of the award; clarifying
11 provisions relating to renewal and
12 reinstatement of an award; providing a cross
13 reference; revising provisions relating to
14 transfer to the Florida Merit Scholars award
15 program; providing for determination of the
16 credit hour limitation; amending s. 240.40209,
17 F.S., relating to the calculation of awards of
18 Bright Futures Scholarship recipients attending
19 nonpublic institutions; requiring the
20 Department of Education to define matriculation
21 and fees for purposes of the award; amending s.
22 240.404, F.S., relating to general requirements
23 for student eligibility for state financial
24 aid; revising accreditation requirements for
25 postsecondary education institution
26 participation; requiring that to remain
27 eligible, a student not have a break in
28 enrollment greater than 12 months; revising the
29 maximum amount of time an undergraduate student
30 can receive financial aid; amending s.
31 240.4064, F.S., relating to the critical
2
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1 teacher shortage tuition reimbursement program;
2 increasing the rate of tuition reimbursement;
3 amending s. 240.412, F.S., relating to the Jose
4 Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant Program;
5 revising accreditation requirements for
6 postsecondary education institution
7 participation; deleting the requirement that an
8 applicant who applies as a graduate student
9 have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point
10 average for undergraduate college-level
11 courses; deleting a limitation on the number of
12 semesters or quarters a graduate student may
13 receive the award; amending s. 240.413, F.S.,
14 relating to the Seminole and Miccosukee Indian
15 Scholarships; revising accreditation
16 requirements for postsecondary education
17 institution participation; amending s. 240.437,
18 F.S., relating to student financial aid
19 planning and development; deleting obsolete
20 language; clarifying provisions relating to the
21 repeal of unfunded financial assistance
22 programs; amending s. 240.465, F.S.; deleting a
23 provision which prohibits an individual
24 borrower who is in default in making student
25 financial assistance repayments from being
26 furnished with his or her academic transcripts
27 or other student records until such time as the
28 loan is paid in full or the default status has
29 been removed; amending s. 240.472, F.S.;
30 revising the definition of the term
31 "institution" to reflect revised accreditation
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1 requirements; amending s. 295.01, F.S.,
2 relating to the education of children of
3 deceased or disabled veterans; clarifying
4 student eligibility requirements; amending s.
5 295.02, F.S., relating to use of funds for the
6 education of children of deceased or disabled
7 veterans; requiring the Department of Education
8 to define tuition and registration fees for
9 purposes of award of funds; clarifying student
10 eligibility requirements; providing for the
11 award of funds for attendance at an eligible
12 nonpublic postsecondary institution;
13 authorizing the State Board of Education to
14 adopt rules; repealing s. 228.502, F.S.,
15 relating to the Education Success Incentive
16 Program, s. 240.40242, F.S., relating to use of
17 certain scholarship funds by children of
18 deceased or disabled veterans, and s. 240.6055,
19 F.S., relating to access grants for community
20 college graduates; amending s. 246.041, F.S.,
21 relating to the powers and duties of the State
22 Board of Independent Colleges and Universities;
23 removing an obsolete cross reference; amending
24 s. 240.409, F.S.; requiring the Department of
25 Education to establish application deadlines;
26 deleting the requirement that a student attend
27 full-time to be eligible for a state student
28 assistance grant; requiring the student to
29 enroll in at least 6 semester hours, or the
30 equivalent, per semester; amending s. 240.4095,
31 F.S.; requiring the Department of Education to
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1 establish an initial application deadline;
2 deleting the requirement that a student attend
3 full-time to be eligible for a Florida private
4 student assistance grant; requiring a student
5 to enroll in at least 6 semester hours, or the
6 equivalent, per semester; amending s. 240.4097,
7 F.S.; requiring the Department of Education to
8 establish an initial application deadline;
9 deleting the requirement that a student attend
10 full-time to be eligible for a Florida
11 postsecondary student assistance grant;
12 requiring a student to enroll in at least 6
13 semester hours, or the equivalent, per
14 semester; creating s. 240.4099, F.S.;
15 establishing priorities for the distribution of
16 Florida student assistance grant program funds;
17 providing an effective date.
18
19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21 Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
22 231.621, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
23 231.621 Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan
24 Forgiveness Program.--
25 (2) From the funds available, the Department of
26 Education is authorized to make loan principal repayments as
27 follows:
28 (c) All repayments shall be contingent on continued
29 proof of employment in the designated subject areas in this
30 state and shall be made directly to the holder of the loan.
31 The state shall not bear responsibility for the collection of
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1 any interest charges or other remaining balance. In the event
2 that designated critical teacher shortage subject areas are
3 changed by the State Board of Education, a teacher shall
4 continue to be eligible for loan forgiveness as long as he or
5 she continues to teach in the subject area for which the
6 original loan repayment was made and otherwise meets all
7 conditions of eligibility.
8 Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 240.40201,
9 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
10 240.40201 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
11 Program.--
12 (1) The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is
13 created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to
14 reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition
15 of high academic achievement and who enrolls in a degree
16 program, certificate program, or applied technology diploma
17 program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary
18 education institution within 7 3 years of graduation from high
19 school. Regardless of the year in which the student first
20 receives scholarship funding, all eligibility will end 7 years
21 after high school graduation.
22 Section 3. Paragraphs (b), (e), and (f) of subsection
23 (1) and subsection (2) of section 240.40202, Florida Statutes,
24 are amended to read:
25 240.40202 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
26 student eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
27 (1) To be eligible for an initial award from any of
28 the three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright
29 Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:
30 (b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
31 equivalent as described in s. 232.246 or s. 229.814 unless:
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1 1. The student is enrolled full time in the early
2 admission program of an eligible postsecondary education
3 institution or completes a home education program according to
4 s. 232.0201; or
5 2. The student earns a high school diploma from a
6 non-Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who
7 is on military or public service assignment away from Florida.
8 "Public service assignment," as used in this subparagraph,
9 means the occupational assignment outside of Florida of a
10 person who is a permanent resident of Florida and who is
11 employed by the United States Government or the State of
12 Florida, a condition of which employment is assignment outside
13 of Florida.
14 (e) Not have been found guilty of, had adjudication
15 withheld for, or pled plead nolo contendere or guilty to, a
16 felony charge, unless the student has been granted clemency by
17 the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the Executive Office of
18 Clemency.
19 (f) Apply for a scholarship from the program by
20 December 31 after April 1 of the last semester before high
21 school graduation. There is no application deadline for a
22 student graduating from a non-Florida school, pursuant to
23 subparagraph (1)(b)2.
24 (2) A student is eligible to accept an initial award
25 for 3 years following high school graduation and to accept a
26 renewal award for 7 years following high school graduation. A
27 student who applies for an award by April 1 and who meets all
28 other eligibility requirements, but who does not accept his or
29 her award during the first year of eligibility after high
30 school graduation, may apply for reinstatement of the award
31 for use within 7 reapply during subsequent application periods
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1 up to 3 years after high school graduation. Reinstatement
2 applications must be received by the deadline established by
3 the Department of Education.
4 Section 4. Section 240.40203, Florida Statutes, is
5 amended to read:
6 240.40203 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
7 student eligibility requirements for renewal, reinstatement,
8 and restoration awards.--
9 (1) To be eligible to receive renew a scholarship from
10 any of the three types of scholarships under the Florida
11 Bright Futures Scholarship Program after the first year of
12 eligibility, a student must meet the following requirements
13 for either renewal, reinstatement, or restoration:
14 (a) Renewal applies to students who receive an award
15 for at least one term during the academic year. For renewal, a
16 student must complete at least 12 semester credit hours or the
17 equivalent in the last academic year in which the student
18 earned a scholarship.
19 (b) and maintain the cumulative grade point average
20 required by the scholarship program, except that:
21 1. If a recipient's grades fall beneath the average
22 required to renew a Florida Academic Scholarship, but are
23 sufficient to renew a Florida Merit Scholarship or a Florida
24 Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship, the Department of Education
25 may grant a renewal from one of those other scholarship
26 programs, if the student meets the renewal eligibility
27 requirements.; or
28 2. If, upon renewal evaluation at any time during the
29 eligibility period, a student's grades or hours, or both, are
30 not sufficient insufficient to renew the scholarship, the
31 student may use grades or hours, or both, earned during the
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1 following summer to renew the scholarship restore eligibility
2 by improving the grade point average to the required level. A
3 student is eligible for such a reinstatement only once. The
4 Legislature encourages education institutions to assist
5 students to calculate whether or not it is possible to raise
6 the grade point average during the summer term. If the
7 institution determines that it is possible, the education
8 institution may so inform the department, which may reserve
9 the student's award if funds are available. The renewal,
10 however, must not be granted until the student achieves the
11 required cumulative grade point average and earns the required
12 number of hours. If, during the summer term, a student does
13 not earn is not sufficient hours or to raise the grade point
14 average to the required renewal level, the student will not be
15 eligible for an award student's next opportunity for renewal
16 is the fall semester of the following academic year.
17 (b) Reinstatement applies to students who were
18 eligible but did not receive an award during the previous
19 academic year or years, and who may apply to reestablish use
20 of the scholarship. For reinstatement, a student must have
21 been eligible at the time of the student's most recent Bright
22 Futures eligibility determination. The student must apply for
23 reinstatement by submitting a reinstatement application by the
24 deadline established by the Department of Education.
25 (c) Restoration applies to students who lost
26 scholarship eligibility due to a low renewal grade point
27 average, but earned the required grade point average in a
28 subsequent academic year, and who may apply to receive awards
29 in the future. For restoration, a student who did not meet
30 renewal requirements during a prior evaluation period may
31 restore eligibility by meeting the required grade point
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1 average during a subsequent renewal evaluation period. A
2 student is eligible to receive such restoration only once.
3 The student must submit an application for restoration by the
4 deadline established by the Department of Education.
5 (2) A student who is enrolled in a program that
6 terminates in an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree
7 may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent of the
8 number of credit hours required to complete the program. A
9 student who is enrolled in an undergraduate program that
10 terminates in the award of a postbaccalaureate degree, or the
11 simultaneous award of baccalaureate and postbaccalaureate
12 degrees, may receive an award for a maximum of 132 semester
13 hours, or the equivalent, at the undergraduate rate. A student
14 who is enrolled in a program that terminates in a technical
15 certificate may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent
16 of the credit hours or clock hours required to complete the
17 program up to 90 credit hours. A student who transfers from
18 one of these program levels to another becomes eligible for
19 the higher of the two credit hour limits.
20 Section 5. Subsection (2) of section 240.40204,
21 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
22 240.40204 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
23 eligible postsecondary education institutions.--A student is
24 eligible for an award or the renewal of an award from the
25 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program if the student
26 meets the requirements for the program as described in this
27 act and is enrolled in a postsecondary education institution
28 that meets the description in any one of the following
29 subsections:
30 (2) An independent Florida college or university that
31 is accredited by a member of the Commission on Recognition of
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1 Postsecondary Accreditation and which has operated in the
2 state for at least 3 years and is accredited by an accrediting
3 agency recognized by the United States Department of
4 Education.
5 Section 6. Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section
6 240.40205, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
7 240.40205 Florida Academic Scholars award.--
8 (2) A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a
9 public postsecondary education institution is eligible for an
10 award equal to the amount required to pay matriculation and,
11 fees, as defined by the department, and $300 per semester, or
12 the equivalent, $600 for college-related expenses annually. A
13 student who is enrolled in a nonpublic postsecondary education
14 institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount that
15 would be required to pay for the average matriculation and
16 fees of a public postsecondary education institution at the
17 comparable level, plus $300 per semester, or the equivalent,
18 for college-related expenses the annual $600.
19 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
20 as a Florida Academic Scholar, a student must meet the
21 requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the equivalent
22 of a grade point average requirement of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or
23 the equivalent, for all postsecondary education work
24 attempted. A student may have, with an opportunity for one
25 restoration reinstatement as provided in this act.
26 (4) In each school district, the Florida Academic
27 Scholar with the highest academic ranking shall receive an
28 additional award of $750 per semester, or the equivalent,
29 $1,500 for college-related expenses. This award must be funded
30 from the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
31
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1 Section 7. Section 240.40206, Florida Statutes, is
2 amended to read:
3 240.40206 Florida Merit Scholars award.--
4 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Merit Scholars
5 award if the student meets the general eligibility
6 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
7 Program and the student:
8 (a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0
9 as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or the equivalent, in
10 high school courses that are adopted by the Board of Regents
11 and recommended by the State Board of Community Colleges as
12 college-preparatory academic courses; and
13 (b) Has attained at least the score identified by
14 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
15 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
16 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
17 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
18 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or
19 (c) Has attended a home education program according to
20 s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
21 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
22 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
23 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
24 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
25 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
26 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
27 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
28 College Testing Program; or.
29 (d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
30 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
31
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1 scholar or finalist, but has not completed a program of
2 community service as provided by s. 240.40205.
3 (2) A Florida Merit Scholar is eligible for an award
4 equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of
5 matriculation and fees, as defined by the department, if the
6 student is enrolled in a public postsecondary education
7 institution. A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
8 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
9 equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent
10 of the matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary
11 education institution at the comparable level.
12 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
13 as a Florida Merit Scholar, a student must meet the
14 requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the equivalent
15 of a grade point average requirement of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale,
16 or the equivalent, for all postsecondary education work
17 attempted. A student may have, with an opportunity for
18 reinstatement one restoration time as provided in this act.
19 Section 8. Paragraphs (a) and (e) of subsection (1),
20 and subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section 240.40207,
21 Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsections (5), (6), and
22 (7) are added to said section, to read:
23 240.40207 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
24 award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is
25 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
26 to recognize and reward academic achievement and vocational
27 preparation by high school students who wish to continue their
28 education.
29 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
30 Vocational Scholars award if the student meets the general
31
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1 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
2 Scholarship Program and the student:
3 (a) Successfully completes the secondary school
4 portion of a sequential program of studies that requires at
5 least three secondary school vocational credits in one program
6 of study, as identified by the Department of Education taken
7 over at least 2 academic years, and is continued in a planned,
8 related postsecondary education program. If the student's
9 school does not offer such a two-plus-two or tech-prep
10 program, the student must complete a job-preparatory career
11 education program selected by the Occupational Forecasting
12 Conference or the Workforce Development Board of Enterprise
13 Florida for its ability to provide high-wage employment in an
14 occupation with high potential for employment opportunities.
15 On-the-job training may not be substituted for any of the
16 three required vocational credits.
17 (e) Completes the requirements of a vocational-ready
18 diploma program, as defined by rules of the State Board of
19 Education.
20 (2) A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar is eligible
21 for an award equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of
22 matriculation and fees, as defined by the department, if the
23 student is enrolled in a public postsecondary education
24 institution. A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
25 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
26 equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent
27 of the matriculation and mandatory fees of a public
28 postsecondary education institution at the comparable level.
29 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
30 as a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar, a student must meet
31 the requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the
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1 equivalent of a grade point average requirement of 2.75 on a
2 4.0 scale, or the equivalent, for all postsecondary education
3 work attempted. A student may have, with an opportunity for
4 reinstatement one restoration time as provided in this act.
5 (4) A student may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
6 Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
7 required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours, or
8 the equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Scholar who has a
9 cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all postsecondary
10 education work attempted may apply for a Florida Merit
11 Scholars award at any renewal period. All other provisions of
12 that program apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be
13 calculated by subtracting from the student's total eligibility
14 the number of credit hours the student attempted while earning
15 the Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
16 (5) Beginning with the fall term of 2002, a Florida
17 Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award may not be used at a
18 baccalaureate degree-granting institution, unless the award is
19 a renewal of an initial award issued prior to the fall term of
20 2002 or as otherwise provided for in this section.
21 (6) Upon successful completion of an associate degree
22 program, an award recipient who meets the renewal criteria in
23 subsection (3) and enrolls in a baccalaureate degree program
24 at an eligible postsecondary education institution is eligible
25 to transfer to the Florida Merit Scholars award component of
26 the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Should the
27 student receive an associate degree prior to the end of an
28 academic year and enroll in the baccalaureate degree program
29 during a subsequent term of the same academic year, the
30 student is eligible to continue to receive the Florida Gold
31 Seal Vocational Scholars award for the duration of that
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1 academic year. If necessary, the department is authorized to
2 provide an exception to the 90 semester hour limit, or the
3 equivalent, through the end of that academic year. Other than
4 initial eligibility criteria, all other requirements of the
5 Florida Merit Scholars award shall apply to a student who
6 transfers to that program pursuant to the provisions of this
7 section. The credit hour limitation must be calculated by
8 subtracting from the student's total eligibility the number of
9 credit hours for which the student has already received
10 funding under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
11 (7) If a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar received
12 an initial award prior to the fall term of 2002, and has a
13 cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all postsecondary
14 education work attempted, the Department of Education may
15 transfer the student to the Florida Merit Scholars award
16 component of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program at
17 any renewal period. All other provisions of that program
18 apply, and the credit hour limitation must be calculated by
19 subtracting from the student's total eligibility the number of
20 credit hours for which the student has already received
21 funding under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
22 Section 9. Section 240.40209, Florida Statutes, is
23 amended to read:
24 240.40209 Bright Futures Scholarship recipients
25 attending nonpublic institutions; calculation of
26 awards.--Notwithstanding ss. 240.40201, 240.40205, 240.40206,
27 and 240.40207, a student who receives any award under the
28 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, who is enrolled in
29 a nonpublic postsecondary education institution, and who is
30 assessed tuition and fees that are the same as those of a
31 full-time student at that institution, shall receive a fixed
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1 award calculated by using the average matriculation and fee
2 calculation, as defined by the Department of Education, for
3 full-time attendance at a public postsecondary educational
4 education institution at the comparable level. If the student
5 is enrolled part-time and is assessed tuition and fees at a
6 reduced level, the award shall be either one-half of the
7 maximum award or three-fourths of the maximum award, depending
8 on the level of fees assessed.
9 Section 10. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and
10 subsection (3) of section 240.404, Florida Statutes, are
11 amended to read:
12 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
13 for state financial aid.--
14 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of
15 students for state financial aid awards consist of the
16 following:
17 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
18 acceptance at a state university or community college; a
19 nursing diploma school approved by the Florida Board of
20 Nursing; a Florida college, university, or community college
21 which is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the
22 United States Department of Education a member of the
23 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; any
24 Florida institution the credits of which are acceptable for
25 transfer to state universities; any area technical center; or
26 any private vocational-technical institution accredited by an
27 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
28 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
29 Postsecondary Accreditation.
30 2.a. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
31 preceding the award of aid for a program established pursuant
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1 to s. 240.409, s. 240.4095, s. 240.4097, s. 240.412, s.
2 240.4125, s. 240.413, s. 240.4987, s. 240.605, or s. 240.606.
3 Residency in this state must be for purposes other than to
4 obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of receiving
5 state financial aid awards shall be determined in the same
6 manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s.
7 240.1201 and rules of the State Board of Education.
8 b. A person who has been properly classified as a
9 resident by a postsecondary institution for initial receipt of
10 state-funded student financial assistance and has been
11 determined eligible to participate in a financial assistance
12 program may continue to qualify as a resident for state-funded
13 financial aid programs if he or she maintains continuous
14 enrollment at the postsecondary institution, with no break in
15 enrollment greater than 12 consecutive months.
16 3. Submission of certification attesting to the
17 accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information
18 provided to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive
19 state financial aid awards. Falsification of such information
20 shall result in the denial of any pending application and
21 revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no
22 further payments shall be made. Additionally, students who
23 knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
24 financial aid awards shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
25 second degree subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall
26 be required to return all state financial aid awards
27 wrongfully obtained.
28 (3) Undergraduate students shall be eligible to
29 receive financial aid for a maximum of 110 percent of the
30 number of credit hours required to complete the program, up to
31 a maximum of 132 credit hours, or the equivalent 8 semesters
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1 or 12 quarters. However, undergraduate students participating
2 in college-preparatory instruction, students requiring
3 additional time to complete the college-level communication
4 and computation skills testing programs, or students enrolled
5 in a 5-year undergraduate degree program shall be eligible to
6 receive financial aid for a maximum of 10 semesters or 15
7 quarters.
8 Section 11. Subsection (3) of section 240.4064,
9 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
10 240.4064 Critical teacher shortage tuition
11 reimbursement program.--
12 (3) Participants may receive tuition reimbursement
13 payments for up to 9 semester hours, or the equivalent in
14 quarter hours, per year, at a rate not to exceed $115 $78 per
15 semester hour, up to a total of 36 semester hours. All
16 tuition reimbursements shall be contingent on passing an
17 approved course with a minimum grade of 3.0 or its equivalent.
18 Section 12. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) and
19 subsection (6) of section 240.412, Florida Statutes, are
20 amended to read:
21 240.412 Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant
22 Program.--
23 (5)(a) In order to be eligible to receive a
24 scholarship pursuant to this section, an applicant shall:
25 1. Be a Hispanic-American, or a person of Spanish
26 culture with origins in Mexico, South America, Central
27 America, or the Caribbean, regardless of race.
28 2. Be a citizen of the United States and meet the
29 general requirements for student eligibility as provided in s.
30 240.404, except as otherwise provided in this section.
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1 3. Be accepted at a state university or community
2 college or any Florida college or university accredited by an
3 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
4 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
5 Postsecondary Accreditation the credits of which are
6 acceptable without qualification for transfer to state
7 universities.
8 4. Enroll as a full-time undergraduate or graduate
9 student.
10 5. Earn a 3.0 unweighted grade point average on a 4.0
11 scale, or the equivalent for high school subjects creditable
12 toward a diploma. If an applicant applies as a graduate
13 student, he or she shall have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade
14 point average for undergraduate college-level courses.
15 (6) The annual scholarship to each recipient shall be
16 $2,000. Priority in the distribution of scholarships shall be
17 given to students with the lowest total family resources.
18 Renewal scholarships shall take precedence over new awards in
19 any year in which funds are not sufficient to meet the total
20 need. No undergraduate student shall receive an award for
21 more than the equivalent of 8 semesters or 12 quarters over a
22 period of no more than 6 consecutive years, except as
23 otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3). No graduate student shall
24 receive an award for more than the equivalent of 4 semesters
25 or 6 quarters.
26 Section 13. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
27 240.413, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
28 240.413 Seminole and Miccosukee Indian Scholarships.--
29 (2) Scholarships shall be awarded by the department to
30 students who:
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1 (b) Are enrolled at a state university or community
2 college authorized by Florida law; a nursing diploma school
3 approved by the Board of Nursing; any Florida college,
4 university, or community college which is 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; or any Florida institution the
8 credits of which are acceptable for transfer to state
9 universities;
10 Section 14. Subsection (6) of section 240.437, Florida
11 Statutes, is amended to read:
12 240.437 Student financial aid planning and
13 development.--
14 (6) Any Effective July 1, 1992, all new and existing
15 financial assistance programs authorized by state law that are
16 administered by the Bureau of Student Financial Assistance of
17 the Department of Education, and that under this part which
18 are not funded for 3 consecutive years after enactment shall
19 stand repealed. Financial aid programs provided under this
20 part on July 1, 1992, which lose funding for 3 consecutive
21 years shall stand repealed. The Bureau Office of Student
22 Financial Assistance of the Department of Education shall
23 annually review the legislative appropriation of financial aid
24 to identify such programs.
25 Section 15. Subsection (5) of section 240.465, Florida
26 Statutes, is amended, and subsections (6) and (7) of said
27 section are renumbered as subsections (5) and (6),
28 respectively, to read:
29 240.465 Delinquent accounts.--
30 (5) No individual borrower who has been determined to
31 be in default in making legally required scholarship loan,
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1 student loan, or guaranteed loan repayments shall be furnished
2 with his or her academic transcripts or other student records
3 until such time as the loan is paid in full or the default
4 status has been removed.
5 Section 16. Subsection (13) of section 240.472,
6 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
7 240.472 Definitions.--As used in this act:
8 (13) "Institution" means any college or university
9 which, by virtue of law or charter, is accredited by an
10 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
11 of Education and holds membership in the Commission on
12 Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; which grants
13 baccalaureate or associate degrees; which is not a pervasively
14 sectarian institution; and which does not discriminate in the
15 admission of students on the basis of race, color, religion,
16 sex, or creed.
17 Section 17. Subsection (1) of section 295.01, Florida
18 Statutes, is amended to read:
19 295.01 Children of deceased or disabled veterans;
20 education.--
21 (1) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
22 state to provide educational opportunity at state expense for
23 dependent children either of whose parents was a resident of
24 the state at the time such parent entered the Armed Forces,
25 had been a bona fide resident of the state for 5 years
26 preceding the child's application for benefits under this
27 section, and who:
28 (a) Died in that service or from injuries sustained or
29 disease contracted during a period of wartime service as
30 defined in s. 1.01(14) or has died since or may hereafter die
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1 from diseases or disability resulting from such war service,
2 or
3 (b) Participated during a period of wartime service,
4 as provided for in this chapter, and has been:
5 1. Determined by the United States Department of
6 Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a
7 service-connected 100-percent total and permanent disability
8 rating for compensation,
9 2. Determined to have a service-connected total and
10 permanent disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt
11 of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United
12 States Armed Services, or
13 3. Issued a valid identification card by the
14 Department of Veterans' Affairs in accordance with s. 295.17,
15
16 when the parents of such children have been bona fide
17 residents of the state for 5 years next preceding their
18 application for the benefits hereof, and subject to the rules,
19 restrictions, and limitations hereof.
20 Section 18. Section 295.02, Florida Statutes, is
21 amended to read:
22 295.02 Use of funds; age, etc.--
23 (1) All sums appropriated and expended under this
24 chapter shall be used to pay tuition and registration fees, as
25 defined by the Department of Education; board;, and room rent
26 and to buy books and supplies for the children of:
27 (a) Deceased or disabled veterans or service members,
28 as defined and limited in s. 295.01, s. 295.016, s. 295.017,
29 s. 295.018, or s. 295.0195., or of
30 (b) Parents classified as prisoners of war or missing
31 in action, as defined and limited in s. 295.015.,
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1 (2) Such children must be who are between the ages of
2 16 and 22 years, and who are in attendance at:
3 (a) A state-supported institution of higher learning,
4 including a community college or vocational-technical school,
5 or
6 (b) Any postsecondary institution eligible to
7 participate in the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program.
8
9 A student attending an eligible private postsecondary
10 institution may receive an award equivalent to the average
11 matriculation and fees calculated for full-time attendance at
12 a public postsecondary institution at the comparable level.
13 Any child having entered upon a course of training or
14 education under the provisions of this chapter, consisting of
15 a course of not more than 4 years, and arriving at the age of
16 22 years before the completion of such course may continue the
17 course and receive all benefits of the provisions of this
18 chapter until the course is completed.
19 (3) The Department of Education shall administer this
20 educational program, subject to rules of the State Board of
21 Education regulations of the department. The State Board of
22 Education is authorized to adopt rules to implement the
23 provisions of this program.
24 Section 19. Sections 228.502, 240.40242, and 240.6055,
25 Florida Statutes, are repealed.
26 Section 20. Paragraph (r) of subsection (1) of section
27 246.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
28 246.041 Powers and duties of board.--
29 (1) The board shall:
30 (r) Provide information and documentation on an annual
31 basis to the Office of Student Financial Assistance of the
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1 Department of Education regarding the requirements set forth
2 for nonpublic colleges in s. 240.605, relating to William L.
3 Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grants, s. 240.6055,
4 relating to access grants for community college graduates, and
5 s. 240.609, relating to Florida postsecondary endowment
6 grants.
7 Section 21. Subsections (3) through (6) of section
8 240.409, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (4)
9 through (7), respectively, present subsection (2) is
10 renumbered and amended, and a new subsection (2) is added to
11 said section, to read:
12 240.409 Florida Public Student Assistance Grant
13 Program; eligibility for grants.--
14 (2) The department is directed to establish, for fall
15 enrollment, an initial application deadline for students
16 attending all eligible institutions and an additional
17 application deadline for community college applicants who
18 apply after the initial application deadline. The second
19 community college deadline shall be at the close of each
20 institution's drop-add period. The department shall reserve
21 an amount to be designated annually in the General
22 Appropriations Act for the purpose of providing awards to
23 community college students who apply for a student assistance
24 grant after the initial application deadline. Community
25 college applicants who apply during the initial application
26 period and are eligible to receive an award, but do not
27 receive an award because of insufficient funds, shall have
28 their applications reconsidered with those community college
29 applicants who apply after the initial application deadline.
30 (3)(2)(a) State student assistance grants through the
31 program may be made only to full-time degree-seeking students
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1 who enroll in at least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent,
2 per semester and who meet the general requirements for student
3 eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise
4 provided in this section. Such grants shall be awarded
5 annually for the amount of demonstrated unmet need for the
6 cost of education and may not exceed an amount equal to the
7 average prior academic year cost of matriculation fees and
8 other registration fees for 30 credit hours at state
9 universities or such other amount as specified in the General
10 Appropriations Act, to any recipient. A demonstrated unmet
11 need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible
12 for a state student assistance grant. Recipients of such
13 grants must have been accepted at a state university or
14 community college authorized by Florida law. No student may
15 receive an award for more than the equivalent of 9 semesters
16 or 14 quarters of full-time enrollment, except as otherwise
17 provided in s. 240.404(3).
18 (b) A student applying for a Florida public student
19 assistance grant shall be required to apply for the Pell
20 Grant. The Pell Grant entitlement shall be considered when
21 conducting an assessment of the financial resources available
22 to each student.
23 (c) Priority in the distribution of grant moneys shall
24 be given to students with the lowest total family resources,
25 in accordance with a nationally recognized system of need
26 analysis. Using the system of need analysis, the department
27 shall establish a maximum expected family contribution. An
28 institution may not make a grant from this program to a
29 student whose expected family contribution exceeds the level
30 established by the department. An institution may not impose
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1 additional criteria to determine a student's eligibility to
2 receive a grant award.
3 (d) Each participating institution shall report, to
4 the department by the established date, the eligible students
5 to whom grant moneys are disbursed each academic term. Each
6 institution shall also report to the department necessary
7 demographic and eligibility data for such students.
8 Section 22. Subsections (3) through (6) of section
9 240.4095, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (4)
10 through (7), respectively, present subsection (2) is
11 renumbered and amended, and a new subsection (2) is added to
12 said section, to read:
13 240.4095 Florida Private Student Assistance Grant
14 Program; eligibility for grants.--
15 (2) The department is directed to establish, for fall
16 enrollment, an initial application deadline.
17 (3)(2)(a) Florida private student assistance grants
18 from the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may be
19 made only to full-time degree-seeking students who enroll in
20 at least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent, per semester and
21 who meet the general requirements for student eligibility as
22 provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise provided in this
23 section. Such grants shall be awarded for the amount of
24 demonstrated unmet need for tuition and fees and may not
25 exceed an amount equal to the average matriculation and other
26 registration fees for 30 credit hours at state universities
27 plus $1,000 per academic year, or as specified in the General
28 Appropriations Act, to any applicant. A demonstrated unmet
29 need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible
30 for a Florida private student assistance grant. Recipients of
31 such grants must have been accepted at a
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1 baccalaureate-degree-granting independent nonprofit college or
2 university, which is accredited by the Commission on Colleges
3 of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and which
4 is located in and chartered as a domestic corporation by the
5 state. No student may receive an award for more than the
6 equivalent of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time
7 enrollment, except as otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3).
8 (b) A student applying for a Florida private student
9 assistance grant shall be required to apply for the Pell
10 Grant. The Pell Grant entitlement shall be considered when
11 conducting an assessment of the financial resources available
12 to each student.
13 (c) Priority in the distribution of grant moneys shall
14 be given to students with the lowest total family resources,
15 in accordance with a nationally recognized system of need
16 analysis. Using the system of need analysis, the department
17 shall establish a maximum expected family contribution. An
18 institution may not make a grant from this program to a
19 student whose expected family contribution exceeds the level
20 established by the department. An institution may not impose
21 additional criteria to determine a student's eligibility to
22 receive a grant award.
23 (d) Each participating institution shall report, to
24 the department by the established date, the eligible students
25 to whom grant moneys are disbursed each academic term. Each
26 institution shall also report to the department necessary
27 demographic and eligibility data for such students.
28 Section 23. Subsections (3) through (7) of section
29 240.4097, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (4)
30 through (8), respectively, present subsection (2) is
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1 renumbered and amended, and a new subsection (2) is added to
2 said section, to read:
3 240.4097 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance
4 Grant Program; eligibility for grants.--
5 (2) The department is directed to establish, for fall
6 enrollment, an initial application deadline.
7 (3)(2)(a) Florida postsecondary student assistance
8 grants through the State Student Financial Assistance Trust
9 Fund may be made only to full-time degree-seeking students who
10 enroll in at least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent, per
11 semester and who meet the general requirements for student
12 eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise
13 provided in this section. Such grants shall be awarded for
14 the amount of demonstrated unmet need for tuition and fees and
15 may not exceed an amount equal to the average prior academic
16 year cost of matriculation and other registration fees for 30
17 credit hours at state universities plus $1,000 per academic
18 year, or as specified in the General Appropriations Act, to
19 any applicant. A demonstrated unmet need of less than $200
20 shall render the applicant ineligible for a Florida
21 postsecondary student assistance grant. Recipients of such
22 grants must have been accepted at a postsecondary institution
23 that is located in the state and that is:
24 1. A private nursing diploma school approved by the
25 Florida Board of Nursing; or
26 2. An institution either licensed by the State Board
27 of Independent Colleges and Universities or exempt from
28 licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(a), excluding those
29 institutions the students of which are eligible to receive a
30 Florida private student assistance grant pursuant to s.
31 240.4095.
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1
2 No student may receive an award for more than the equivalent
3 of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time enrollment, except
4 as otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3).
5 (b) A student applying for a Florida postsecondary
6 student assistance grant shall be required to apply for the
7 Pell Grant. The Pell Grant entitlement shall be considered
8 when conducting an assessment of the financial resources
9 available to each student.
10 (c) Priority in the distribution of grant moneys shall
11 be given to students with the lowest total family resources,
12 in accordance with a nationally recognized system of need
13 analysis. Using the system of need analysis, the department
14 shall establish a maximum expected family contribution. An
15 institution may not make a grant from this program to a
16 student whose expected family contribution exceeds the level
17 established by the department. An institution may not impose
18 additional criteria to determine a student's eligibility to
19 receive a grant award.
20 (d) Each participating institution shall report, to
21 the department by the established date, the eligible students
22 to whom grant moneys are disbursed each academic term. Each
23 institution shall also report to the department necessary
24 demographic and eligibility data for such students.
25 Section 24. Section 240.4099, Florida Statutes, is
26 created to read:
27 240.4099 Florida student assistance grant programs;
28 priority for receiving grants.--In addition to priorities and
29 criteria for the distribution of Florida student assistance
30 grant program funds established in ss. 240.409, 240.4095, and
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1 240.4097, priority in the distribution of grant money to
2 initial applicants shall be given in the following order:
3 (1) To the full-time students with the most financial
4 need, as determined by the Department of Education.
5 (2) To students with financial need who graduate from
6 public Florida high schools, who have completed the high
7 school courses that are adopted by the Board of Regents and
8 recommended by the State Board of Community Colleges as
9 college-preparatory academic courses, and who rank in the top
10 20 percent of their high school graduating class. Class rank
11 shall be determined by the Department of Education.
12 (3) To other full-time students with financial need.
13 (4) To other part-time students with financial need,
14 if funds are remaining.
15
16 An institution may not impose additional criteria to determine
17 a student's eligibility to receive a grant award.
18 Section 25. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.
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