Senate Bill 1888c1
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Florida Senate - 2000 CS for SB 1888
By the Committee on Education and Senator Kirkpatrick
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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; revising
24 the amount awarded to the Florida Academic
25 Scholar with the highest academic ranking;
26 amending s. 240.40206, F.S., relating to the
27 Florida Merit Scholars award; authorizing the
28 participation of students who have been
29 recognized by the merit or achievement programs
30 of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation
31 as a scholar or finalist, but have not
1
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1 completed a program of community service;
2 requiring the Department of Education to define
3 matriculation and fees for purposes of the
4 award; clarifying provisions relating to
5 renewal and reinstatement of an award;
6 providing a cross-reference; amending s.
7 240.40207, F.S., relating to the Florida Gold
8 Seal Vocational Scholars award; revising
9 student eligibility requirements; requiring the
10 Department of Education to define matriculation
11 and fees for purposes of the award; clarifying
12 provisions relating to renewal and restoration
13 of an award; limiting the use of a Florida Gold
14 Seal Vocational Scholars award at an
15 institution that grants baccalaureate degrees;
16 revising provisions relating to transfer to the
17 Florida Merit Scholars award program; providing
18 for determination of the credit hour
19 limitation; amending s. 240.40209, F.S.,
20 relating to the calculation of awards of Bright
21 Futures Scholarship recipients attending
22 nonpublic institutions; requiring the
23 Department of Education to define matriculation
24 and fees for purposes of the award; amending s.
25 240.404, F.S., relating to general requirements
26 for student eligibility for state financial
27 aid; revising accreditation requirements for
28 postsecondary education institution
29 participation; requiring that to remain
30 eligible, a student not have a break in
31 enrollment greater than 12 months; amending s.
2
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1 240.4064, F.S., relating to the critical
2 teacher shortage tuition reimbursement program;
3 increasing the rate of tuition reimbursement;
4 amending s. 240.412, F.S., relating to the Jose
5 Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant Program;
6 revising accreditation requirements for
7 postsecondary education institution
8 participation; deleting the requirement that an
9 applicant who applies as a graduate student
10 have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point
11 average for undergraduate college-level
12 courses; deleting a limitation on the number of
13 semesters or quarters a graduate student may
14 receive the award; amending s. 240.413, F.S.,
15 relating to the Seminole and Miccosukee Indian
16 Scholarships; revising accreditation
17 requirements for postsecondary education
18 institution participation; amending s. 240.437,
19 F.S., relating to student financial aid
20 planning and development; deleting obsolete
21 provisions; clarifying provisions relating to
22 the repeal of unfunded financial assistance
23 programs; repealing s. 240.465(5), F.S., which
24 prohibits an individual borrower who is in
25 default in making student financial assistance
26 repayments from being furnished with his or her
27 academic transcripts or other student records
28 until such time as the loan is paid in full or
29 the default status has been removed; amending
30 s. 240.472, F.S.; revising the definition of
31 the term "institution" to reflect revised
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1 accreditation requirements; amending s. 295.01,
2 F.S., 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 rules of the State Board of
14 Education; repealing s. 228.502, F.S., relating
15 to the Education Success Incentive Program, s.
16 240.40242, F.S., relating to use of certain
17 scholarship funds by children of deceased or
18 disabled veterans, and s. 240.6055, F.S.,
19 relating to access grants for community college
20 graduates; amending s. 246.041, F.S., relating
21 to the powers and duties of the State Board of
22 Independent Colleges and Universities; removing
23 an obsolete cross-reference; amending s.
24 240.409, F.S.; deleting the requirement that a
25 student attend full-time to be eligible for a
26 state student assistance grant; requiring the
27 student to enroll in at least 6 semester hours,
28 or the equivalent, per semester; requiring
29 priority for students who have need and are in
30 a certain rank as calculated by the high
31 school; amending s. 240.4095, F.S.; deleting
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1 the requirement that a student attend full-time
2 to be eligible for a Florida private student
3 assistance grant; requiring a student to enroll
4 in at least 6 semester hours, or the
5 equivalent, per semester; amending s. 240.4097,
6 F.S.; deleting the requirement that a student
7 attend full-time to be eligible for a Florida
8 postsecondary student assistance grant;
9 requiring a student to enroll in at least 6
10 semester hours, or the equivalent, per
11 semester; amending s. 240.404, F.S.; revising
12 the maximum amount of time an undergraduate
13 student can receive financial aid; providing an
14 effective date.
15
16 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18 Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
19 231.621, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
20 231.621 Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan
21 Forgiveness Program.--
22 (2) From the funds available, the Department of
23 Education is authorized to make loan principal repayments as
24 follows:
25 (c) All repayments shall be contingent on continued
26 proof of employment in the designated subject areas in this
27 state and shall be made directly to the holder of the loan.
28 The state shall not bear responsibility for the collection of
29 any interest charges or other remaining balance. In the event
30 that designated critical teacher shortage subject areas are
31 changed by the State Board of Education, a teacher shall
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1 continue to be eligible for loan forgiveness as long as he or
2 she continues to teach in the subject area for which the
3 original loan repayment was made and otherwise meets all
4 conditions of eligibility.
5 Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 240.40201,
6 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
7 240.40201 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
8 Program.--
9 (1) The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is
10 created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to
11 reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition
12 of high academic achievement and who enrolls in a degree
13 program, certificate program, or applied technology diploma
14 program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary
15 education institution within 7 3 years of graduation from high
16 school. Regardless of the year in which the student first
17 receives scholarship funding, all eligibility will end 7 years
18 after high school graduation. However, an eligible student who
19 enlists in the United States Armed Forces within 6 months of
20 high school graduation maintains eligibility for 4 years
21 following his or her discharge from military service, provided
22 that all other eligibility criteria apply.
23 Section 3. Paragraphs (b), (e), and (f) of subsection
24 (1) and subsection (2) of section 240.40202, Florida Statutes,
25 are amended to read:
26 240.40202 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
27 student eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
28 (1) To be eligible for an initial award from any of
29 the three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright
30 Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:
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1 (b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
2 equivalent as described in s. 232.246 or s. 229.814 unless:
3 1. The student is enrolled full time in the early
4 admission program of an eligible postsecondary education
5 institution or completes a home education program according to
6 s. 232.0201; or
7 2. The student earns a high school diploma from a
8 non-Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who
9 is on military or public service assignment away from Florida.
10 "Public service assignment," as used in this subparagraph,
11 means the occupational assignment outside of Florida of a
12 person who is a permanent resident of Florida and who is
13 employed by the United States Government or the State of
14 Florida, a condition of which employment is assignment outside
15 of Florida.
16 (e) Not have been found guilty of, or pled plead nolo
17 contendere or guilty to, a felony charge, unless the student
18 has been granted clemency by the Governor and Cabinet sitting
19 as the Executive Office of Clemency.
20 (f) Apply for a scholarship from the program by
21 December 31 after April 1 of the last semester before high
22 school graduation. There is no application deadline for a
23 student graduating from a non-Florida school, pursuant to
24 subparagraph (1)(b)2.
25 (2) A student is eligible to accept an initial award
26 for 3 years following high school graduation and to accept a
27 renewal award for 7 years following high school graduation. A
28 student who applies for an award by April 1 and who meets all
29 other eligibility requirements, but who does not accept his or
30 her award during the first year of eligibility after high
31 school graduation, may apply for reinstatement of the award
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1 for use within 7 reapply during subsequent application periods
2 up to 3 years after high school graduation. Reinstatement
3 applications must be received by the deadline established by
4 the Department of Education.
5 Section 4. Section 240.40203, Florida Statutes, is
6 amended to read:
7 240.40203 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
8 student eligibility requirements for renewal, reinstatement,
9 and restoration awards.--
10 (1) To be eligible to receive renew a scholarship from
11 any of the three types of scholarships under the Florida
12 Bright Futures Scholarship Program after the first year of
13 eligibility, a student must meet the following requirements
14 for either renewal, reinstatement, or restoration:
15 (a) Renewal applies to students who receive an award
16 for at least one term during the academic year. For renewal, a
17 student must complete at least 12 semester credit hours or the
18 equivalent in the last academic year in which the student
19 earned a scholarship.
20 (b) and maintain the cumulative grade point average
21 required by the scholarship program, except that:
22 1. If a recipient's grades fall beneath the average
23 required to renew a Florida Academic Scholarship, but are
24 sufficient to renew a Florida Merit Scholarship or a Florida
25 Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship, the Department of Education
26 may grant a renewal from one of those other scholarship
27 programs, if the student meets the renewal eligibility
28 requirements.; or
29 2. If, upon renewal evaluation at any time during the
30 eligibility period, a student's grades or hours, or both, are
31 not sufficient insufficient to renew the scholarship, the
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1 student may use grades or hours, or both, earned during the
2 following summer to renew the scholarship restore eligibility
3 by improving the grade point average to the required level. A
4 student is eligible for such a reinstatement only once. The
5 Legislature encourages education institutions to assist
6 students to calculate whether or not it is possible to raise
7 the grade point average during the summer term. If the
8 institution determines that it is possible, the education
9 institution may so inform the department, which may reserve
10 the student's award if funds are available. The renewal,
11 however, must not be granted until the student achieves the
12 required cumulative grade point average and earns the required
13 number of hours. If, during the summer term, a student does
14 not earn is not sufficient hours or to raise the grade point
15 average to the required renewal level, the student will not be
16 eligible for an award student's next opportunity for renewal
17 is the fall semester of the following academic year.
18 (b) Reinstatement applies to students who were
19 eligible but did not receive an award during the previous
20 academic year or years, and who may apply to reestablish use
21 of the scholarship. For reinstatement, a student must have
22 been eligible at the time of the student's most recent Bright
23 Futures eligibility determination. The student must apply for
24 reinstatement by submitting a reinstatement application by the
25 deadline established by the Department of Education.
26 (c) Restoration applies to students who lost
27 scholarship eligibility due to a low renewal grade point
28 average, but earned the required grade point average in a
29 subsequent academic year, and who may apply to receive awards
30 in the future. For restoration, a student who did not meet
31 renewal requirements during a prior evaluation period may
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1 restore eligibility by meeting the required grade point
2 average during a subsequent renewal evaluation period. A
3 student is eligible to receive such restoration only once.
4 The student must submit an application for restoration by the
5 deadline established by the Department of Education.
6 (2) A student who is enrolled in a program that
7 terminates in an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree
8 may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent of the
9 number of credit hours required to complete the program. A
10 student who is enrolled in an undergraduate program that
11 terminates in the award of a postbaccalaureate degree, or the
12 simultaneous award of baccalaureate and postbaccalaureate
13 degrees, may receive an award for a maximum of 132 semester
14 hours, or the equivalent, at the undergraduate rate. A student
15 who is enrolled in a program that terminates in a technical
16 certificate may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent
17 of the credit hours or clock hours required to complete the
18 program up to 90 credit hours. A student who transfers from
19 one of these program levels to another becomes eligible for
20 the higher of the two credit hour limits.
21 Section 5. Subsection (2) of section 240.40204,
22 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
23 240.40204 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
24 eligible postsecondary education institutions.--A student is
25 eligible for an award or the renewal of an award from the
26 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program if the student
27 meets the requirements for the program as described in this
28 act and is enrolled in a postsecondary education institution
29 that meets the description in any one of the following
30 subsections:
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1 (2) An independent Florida college or university that
2 is accredited by a member of the Commission on Recognition of
3 Postsecondary Accreditation and which has operated in the
4 state for at least 3 years and is accredited by an accrediting
5 agency recognized by the United States Department of
6 Education.
7 Section 6. Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section
8 240.40205, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
9 240.40205 Florida Academic Scholars award.--
10 (2) A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a
11 public postsecondary education institution is eligible for an
12 award equal to the amount required to pay matriculation and,
13 fees, as defined by the Department of Education, and $300 per
14 semester or the equivalent $600 for college-related expenses
15 annually. A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
16 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
17 equal to the amount that would be required to pay for the
18 average matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary
19 education institution at the comparable level, plus the amount
20 provided for college-related expenses annual $600.
21 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
22 as a Florida Academic Scholar, a student must meet the
23 requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the equivalent
24 of a grade point average requirement of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or
25 the equivalent, for all postsecondary education work
26 attempted. A student may have, with an opportunity for one
27 restoration reinstatement as provided in this act.
28 (4) In each school district, the Florida Academic
29 Scholar with the highest academic ranking shall receive an
30 additional award of $750 per semester or the equivalent $1,500
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1 for college-related expenses. This award must be funded from
2 the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
3 Section 7. Section 240.40206, Florida Statutes, is
4 amended to read:
5 240.40206 Florida Merit Scholars award.--
6 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Merit Scholars
7 award if the student meets the general eligibility
8 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
9 Program and the student:
10 (a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0
11 as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or the equivalent, in
12 high school courses that are adopted by the Board of Regents
13 and recommended by the State Board of Community Colleges as
14 college-preparatory academic courses; and
15 (b) Has attained at least the score identified by
16 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
17 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
18 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
19 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
20 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or
21 (c) Has attended a home education program according to
22 s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
23 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
24 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
25 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
26 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
27 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
28 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
29 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
30 College Testing Program; or.
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1 (d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
2 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
3 scholar or finalist, but has not completed a program of
4 community service as provided by s. 240.40205.
5 (2) A Florida Merit Scholar is eligible for an award
6 equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of
7 matriculation and fees, as defined by the department, if the
8 student is enrolled in a public postsecondary education
9 institution. A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
10 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
11 equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent
12 of the matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary
13 education institution at the comparable level.
14 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
15 as a Florida Merit Scholar, a student must meet the
16 requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the equivalent
17 of a grade point average requirement of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale,
18 or the equivalent, for all postsecondary education work
19 attempted. A student may have, with an opportunity for
20 reinstatement one restoration time as provided in this act.
21 Section 8. Section 240.40207, Florida Statutes, is
22 amended 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
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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 identified by the Department of Education taken over
7 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 (b) Demonstrates readiness for postsecondary education
18 by earning a passing score on the Florida College Entry Level
19 Placement Test or its equivalent as identified by the
20 Department of Education.
21 (c) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point
22 average of 3.0, as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, on all
23 subjects required for a standard high school diploma,
24 excluding elective courses.
25 (d) Earns a minimum unweighted grade point average of
26 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for secondary vocational courses comprising
27 the vocational program.
28 (e) Completes the requirements of a vocational-ready
29 diploma program, as defined by rules of the State Board of
30 Education.
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1 (2) A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar is eligible
2 for an award equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of
3 matriculation and fees, as defined by the Department of
4 Education, if the student is enrolled in a public
5 postsecondary education institution. 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 75 percent of the matriculation and mandatory fees of a public
9 postsecondary education institution at the comparable level.
10 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
11 as a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar, a student must meet
12 the requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the
13 equivalent of a grade point average requirement of 2.75 on a
14 4.0 scale, or the equivalent, for all postsecondary education
15 work attempted. A student may have, with an opportunity for
16 reinstatement one restoration time as provided in this act.
17 (4) A student may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
18 Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
19 required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the
20 equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Scholar who has a cumulative
21 grade point average of 2.75 in all postsecondary education
22 work attempted may apply for a Florida Merit Scholars award at
23 any renewal period. All other provisions of that program
24 apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be calculated by
25 subtracting from the student's total eligibility the number of
26 credit hours the student attempted while earning the Gold Seal
27 Vocational Scholarship.
28 (5) Beginning with the fall term of 2002, a Florida
29 Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award may not be used at an
30 institution that grants baccalaureate degrees unless the award
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1 is a renewal of an initial award issued prior to the fall term
2 of 2002, or as otherwise provided for in this section.
3 (6) Upon successful completion of an an associate
4 degree program, an award recipient who meets the renewal
5 criteria in subsection (3) and enrolls in a baccalaureate
6 degree program at an eligible postsecondary education
7 institution is eligible to transfer to the Florida Merit
8 Scholars award component of the Bright Futures Scholarship
9 Program. If the student receives an associate degree prior to
10 the end of an academic year and enrolls in the baccalaureate
11 degree program during a subsequent term of the same academic
12 year, the student may continue to receive the Gold Seal
13 Scholars award for the duration of that academic year. If
14 necessary, the department may provide an exception to the
15 90-semester-hour limit, or the equivalent, through the end of
16 that academic year. Other than initial eligibility criteria,
17 all other requirements of the Florida Merit Scholars award
18 apply to a student who transfers to that program under this
19 section. The credit-hour limitation must be calculated by
20 subtracting from the student's total eligibility the number of
21 credit hours for which the student has already received
22 funding under the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
23 (7) If a Florida Gold Seal Scholar received an initial
24 Gold Seal Scholars award prior to the fall term of 2002 and
25 has a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all
26 postsecondary education work attempted, the Department of
27 Education may transfer the student to the Florida Merit
28 Scholars award component of the Bright Futures Scholarship
29 Program during any renewal period. All other provisions of
30 that program apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be
31 calculated by subtracting from the student's total eligibility
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1 the number of credit hours for which the student has already
2 received funding under the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
3 Section 9. Section 240.40209, Florida Statutes, is
4 amended to read:
5 240.40209 Bright Futures Scholarship recipients
6 attending nonpublic institutions; calculation of
7 awards.--Notwithstanding ss. 240.40201, 240.40205, 240.40206,
8 and 240.40207, a student who receives any award under the
9 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, who is enrolled in
10 a nonpublic postsecondary education institution, and who is
11 assessed tuition and fees that are the same as those of a
12 full-time student at that institution, shall receive a fixed
13 award calculated by using the average matriculation and fee
14 calculation, as defined by the Department of Education, for
15 full-time attendance at a public postsecondary educational
16 education institution at the comparable level. If the student
17 is enrolled part-time and is assessed tuition and fees at a
18 reduced level, the award shall be either one-half of the
19 maximum award or three-fourths of the maximum award, depending
20 on the level of fees assessed.
21 Section 10. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
22 240.404, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
23 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
24 for state financial aid.--
25 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of
26 students for state financial aid awards consist of the
27 following:
28 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
29 acceptance at a state university or community college; a
30 nursing diploma school approved by the Florida Board of
31 Nursing; a Florida college, university, or community college
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1 which is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the
2 United States Department of Education a member of the
3 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; any
4 Florida institution the credits of which are acceptable for
5 transfer to state universities; any area technical center; or
6 any private vocational-technical institution accredited by an
7 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
8 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
9 Postsecondary Accreditation.
10 2.a. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
11 preceding the award of aid for a program established pursuant
12 to s. 240.409, s. 240.4095, s. 240.4097, s. 240.412, s.
13 240.4125, s. 240.413, s. 240.4987, s. 240.605, or s. 240.606.
14 Residency in this state must be for purposes other than to
15 obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of receiving
16 state financial aid awards shall be determined in the same
17 manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s.
18 240.1201 and rules of the State Board of Education.
19 b. A person who has been properly classified as a
20 resident by a postsecondary institution for initial receipt of
21 state-funded student financial assistance and has been
22 determined eligible to participate in a financial assistance
23 program may continue to qualify as a resident for state-funded
24 financial aid programs if he or she maintains continuous
25 enrollment at the postsecondary institution, with no break in
26 enrollment greater than 12 consecutive months.
27 3. Submission of certification attesting to the
28 accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information
29 provided to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive
30 state financial aid awards. Falsification of such information
31 shall result in the denial of any pending application and
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1 revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no
2 further payments shall be made. Additionally, students who
3 knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
4 financial aid awards shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
5 second degree subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall
6 be required to return all state financial aid awards
7 wrongfully obtained.
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. Subsection (2) of section 240.413, Florida
27 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 (a) Have graduated from high school, have earned an
2 equivalency diploma issued by the Department of Education
3 pursuant to s. 229.814, have earned an equivalency diploma
4 issued by the United States Armed Forces Institute, or have
5 been accepted through an early admission program;
6 (b) Are enrolled at a state university or community
7 college authorized by Florida law; a nursing diploma school
8 approved by the Board of Nursing; any Florida college,
9 university, or community college which is accredited by an
10 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
11 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
12 Postsecondary Accreditation; or any Florida institution the
13 credits of which are acceptable for transfer to state
14 universities;
15 (c) Are enrolled as either full-time or part-time
16 undergraduate or graduate students and make satisfactory
17 academic progress as defined by the college or university;
18 (d) Have been recommended by the Seminole Tribe of
19 Florida or the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; and
20 (e) Meet the general requirements for student
21 eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise
22 provided in this section.
23 Section 14. Subsection (6) of section 240.437, Florida
24 Statutes, is amended to read:
25 240.437 Student financial aid planning and
26 development.--
27 (6) Any Effective July 1, 1992, all new and existing
28 financial assistance programs authorized by state law that are
29 administered by the Bureau of Student Financial Assistance of
30 the Department of Education, and that under this part which
31 are not funded for 3 consecutive years after enactment shall
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1 stand repealed. Financial aid programs provided under this
2 part on July 1, 1992, which lose funding for 3 consecutive
3 years shall stand repealed. The Bureau Office of Student
4 Financial Assistance of the Department of Education shall
5 annually review the legislative appropriation of financial aid
6 to identify such programs.
7 Section 15. Subsection (5) of section 240.465, Florida
8 Statutes, is repealed.
9 Section 16. Subsection (13) of section 240.472,
10 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
11 240.472 Definitions.--As used in this act:
12 (13) "Institution" means any college or university
13 which, by virtue of law or charter, is accredited by an
14 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
15 of Education and holds membership in the Commission on
16 Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; which grants
17 baccalaureate or associate degrees; which is not a pervasively
18 sectarian institution; and which does not discriminate in the
19 admission of students on the basis of race, color, religion,
20 sex, or creed.
21 Section 17. Subsection (1) of section 295.01, Florida
22 Statutes, is amended to read:
23 295.01 Children of deceased or disabled veterans;
24 education.--
25 (1) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
26 state to provide educational opportunity at state expense for
27 dependent children either of whose parents was a resident of
28 the state at the time such parent entered the Armed Forces,
29 had been a bona fide resident of the state for 5 years
30 preceding the child's application for benefits under this
31 section, and who:
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1 (a) Died in that service or from injuries sustained or
2 disease contracted during a period of wartime service as
3 defined in s. 1.01(14) or has died since or may hereafter die
4 from diseases or disability resulting from such war service,
5 or
6 (b) Participated during a period of wartime service,
7 as provided for in this chapter, and has been:
8 1. Determined by the United States Department of
9 Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a
10 service-connected 100-percent total and permanent disability
11 rating for compensation,
12 2. Determined to have a service-connected total and
13 permanent disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt
14 of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United
15 States Armed Services, or
16 3. Issued a valid identification card by the
17 Department of Veterans' Affairs in accordance with s. 295.17,
18
19 when the parents of such children have been bona fide
20 residents of the state for 5 years next preceding their
21 application for the benefits hereof, and subject to the rules,
22 restrictions, and limitations hereof.
23 Section 18. Section 295.02, Florida Statutes, is
24 amended to read:
25 295.02 Use of funds; age, etc.--
26 (1) All sums appropriated and expended under this
27 chapter shall be used to pay tuition and registration fees, as
28 defined by the Department of Education; board;, and room rent
29 and to buy books and supplies for the children of:
30
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1 (a) Deceased or disabled veterans or service members,
2 as defined and limited in s. 295.01, s. 295.016, s. 295.017,
3 s. 295.018, or s. 295.0195., or of
4 (b) Parents classified as prisoners of war or missing
5 in action, as defined and limited in s. 295.015.,
6 (2) Such children must be who are between the ages of
7 16 and 22 years, and who are in attendance at:
8 (a) A state-supported institution of higher learning,
9 including a community college or vocational-technical school,
10 or
11 (b) Any postsecondary institution eligible to
12 participate in the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program.
13
14 A student attending an eligible private postsecondary
15 institution may receive an award equivalent to the average
16 matriculation and fees calculated for full-time attendance at
17 a public postsecondary institution at the comparable level.
18 Any child having entered upon a course of training or
19 education under the provisions of this chapter, consisting of
20 a course of not more than 4 years, and arriving at the age of
21 22 years before the completion of such course may continue the
22 course and receive all benefits of the provisions of this
23 chapter until the course is completed. The Department of
24 Education shall administer this educational program subject to
25 regulations of the department. The State Board of Education is
26 authorized to adopt rules to implement this program.
27 Section 19. Sections 228.502, 240.40242, and 240.6055,
28 Florida Statutes, are repealed.
29 Section 20. Paragraph (r) of subsection (1) of section
30 246.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
31 246.041 Powers and duties of board.--
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1 (1) The board shall:
2 (r) Provide information and documentation on an annual
3 basis to the Office of Student Financial Assistance of the
4 Department of Education regarding the requirements set forth
5 for nonpublic colleges in s. 240.605, relating to William L.
6 Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grants, s. 240.6055,
7 relating to access grants for community college graduates, and
8 s. 240.609, relating to Florida postsecondary endowment
9 grants.
10 Section 21. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (2)
11 of section 240.409, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
12 240.409 Florida Public Student Assistance Grant
13 Program; eligibility for grants.--
14 (2)(a) State student assistance grants through the
15 program may be made only to full-time degree-seeking students
16 who enroll in at least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent,
17 per semester and who meet the general requirements for student
18 eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise
19 provided in this section. Such grants shall be awarded
20 annually for the amount of demonstrated unmet need for the
21 cost of education and may not exceed an amount equal to the
22 average prior academic year cost of matriculation fees and
23 other registration fees for 30 credit hours at state
24 universities or such other amount as specified in the General
25 Appropriations Act, to any recipient. A demonstrated unmet
26 need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible
27 for a state student assistance grant. Recipients of such
28 grants must have been accepted at a state university or
29 community college authorized by Florida law. No student may
30 receive an award for more than the equivalent of 9 semesters
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1 or 14 quarters of full-time enrollment, except as otherwise
2 provided in s. 240.404(3).
3 (c) Priority in the distribution of grant moneys shall
4 be given to students with both the lowest total family
5 resources, in accordance with a nationally recognized system
6 of need analysis, and a class ranking within the top 20
7 percent as determined by the student's high school. Using the
8 system of need analysis, the department shall establish a
9 maximum expected family contribution. An institution may not
10 make a grant from this program to a student whose expected
11 family contribution exceeds the level established by the
12 department. An institution may not impose additional criteria
13 to determine a student's eligibility to receive a grant award.
14 Section 22. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
15 240.4095, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
16 240.4095 Florida Private Student Assistance Grant
17 Program; eligibility for grants.--
18 (2)(a) Florida private student assistance grants from
19 the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may be made
20 only to full-time degree-seeking students who enroll in at
21 least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent, per semester and
22 who meet the general requirements for student eligibility as
23 provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise provided in this
24 section. Such grants shall be awarded for the amount of
25 demonstrated unmet need for tuition and fees and may not
26 exceed an amount equal to the average matriculation and other
27 registration fees for 30 credit hours at state universities
28 plus $1,000 per academic year, or as specified in the General
29 Appropriations Act, to any applicant. A demonstrated unmet
30 need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible
31 for a Florida private student assistance grant. Recipients of
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1 such grants must have been accepted at a
2 baccalaureate-degree-granting independent nonprofit college or
3 university, which is accredited by the Commission on Colleges
4 of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and which
5 is located in and chartered as a domestic corporation by the
6 state. No student may receive an award for more than the
7 equivalent of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time
8 enrollment, except as otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3).
9 Section 23. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
10 240.4097, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
11 240.4097 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance
12 Grant Program; eligibility for grants.--
13 (2)(a) Florida postsecondary student assistance grants
14 through the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may
15 be made only to full-time degree-seeking students who enroll
16 in at least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent, per semester
17 and who meet the general requirements for student eligibility
18 as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise provided in
19 this section. Such grants shall be awarded for the amount of
20 demonstrated unmet need for tuition and fees and may not
21 exceed an amount equal to the average prior academic year cost
22 of matriculation and other registration fees for 30 credit
23 hours at state universities plus $1,000 per academic year, or
24 as specified in the General Appropriations Act, to any
25 applicant. A demonstrated unmet need of less than $200 shall
26 render the applicant ineligible for a Florida postsecondary
27 student assistance grant. Recipients of such grants must have
28 been accepted at a postsecondary institution that is located
29 in the state and that is:
30 1. A private nursing diploma school approved by the
31 Florida Board of Nursing; or
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1 2. An institution either licensed by the State Board
2 of Independent Colleges and Universities or exempt from
3 licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(a), excluding those
4 institutions the students of which are eligible to receive a
5 Florida private student assistance grant pursuant to s.
6 240.4095.
7
8 No student may receive an award for more than the equivalent
9 of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time enrollment, except
10 as otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3).
11 Section 24. Subsection (3) of section 240.404, Florida
12 Statutes, is amended to read:
13 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
14 for state financial aid.--
15 (3) Undergraduate students shall be eligible to
16 receive financial aid for a maximum of 110 percent of the
17 number of credit hours required to complete the program, up to
18 a maximum of 132 credit hours, or the equivalent 8 semesters
19 or 12 quarters. However, undergraduate students participating
20 in college-preparatory instruction, students requiring
21 additional time to complete the college-level communication
22 and computation skills testing programs, or students enrolled
23 in a 5-year undergraduate degree program shall be eligible to
24 receive financial aid for a maximum of 10 semesters or 15
25 quarters.
26 Section 25. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.
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1 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
2 SB 1888
3
4 The Committee Substitute will:
5 Authorize the Department of Education to pay student expense
stipends by semester rather than annually to students in the
6 Florida Academic Scholars Program and to the highest ranking
academic scholar in each school district.
7
Clarify criteria for restoration of a Gold Seal Vocational
8 Scholarship.
9 Not disqualify from the Bright Futures Scholarship Program a
student who has had adjudication withheld for a felony charge.
10
Authorize 4 years of eligibility for the Bright Futures
11 Scholarship Program after a student's discharge from the U. S.
armed services, if the student enlisted within 6 months of
12 high school graduation.
13 Create a priority under the Florida Public Student Assistance
Grant Program for students who have financial need and who are
14 also in the top 20 percent of their high school class.
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