Senate Bill 1888c2
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Florida Senate - 2000 CS for CS for SB 1888
By the Committees on Fiscal Policy, Education and Senator
Kirkpatrick
309-2221-00
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
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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.
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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; limiting grant
29 awards to students with lowest total family
30 resources; creating s. 240.40995, F.S.;
31 providing priority for awarding student
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1 assistance grants; amending s. 240.4095, F.S.;
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; limiting eligibility
7 for postsecondary student assistance grants to
8 students with the lowest total resources;
9 amending s. 240.4097, F.S.; deleting the
10 requirement that a student attend full-time to
11 be eligible for a Florida postsecondary student
12 assistance grant; requiring a student to enroll
13 in at least 6 semester hours, or the
14 equivalent, per semester; limiting the
15 eligibility for postsecondary student
16 assistance grants to students with the lowest
17 total family resources; amending s. 240.404,
18 F.S.; revising the maximum amount of time an
19 undergraduate student can receive financial
20 aid; directing the Division of Statutory
21 Revision to prepare a reviser's bill; providing
22 an effective date.
23
24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
25
26 Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
27 231.621, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
28 231.621 Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan
29 Forgiveness Program.--
30
31
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1 (2) From the funds available, the Department of
2 Education is authorized to make loan principal repayments as
3 follows:
4 (c) All repayments shall be contingent on continued
5 proof of employment in the designated subject areas in this
6 state and shall be made directly to the holder of the loan.
7 The state shall not bear responsibility for the collection of
8 any interest charges or other remaining balance. In the event
9 that designated critical teacher shortage subject areas are
10 changed by the State Board of Education, a teacher shall
11 continue to be eligible for loan forgiveness as long as he or
12 she continues to teach in the subject area for which the
13 original loan repayment was made and otherwise meets all
14 conditions of eligibility.
15 Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 240.40201,
16 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
17 240.40201 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
18 Program.--
19 (1) The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is
20 created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to
21 reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition
22 of high academic achievement and who enrolls in a degree
23 program, certificate program, or applied technology diploma
24 program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary
25 education institution within 7 3 years of graduation from high
26 school. Regardless of the year in which the student first
27 receives scholarship funding, all eligibility will end 7 years
28 after high school graduation. However, an eligible student who
29 enlists in the United States Armed Forces within 6 months of
30 high school graduation maintains eligibility for 4 years
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1 following his or her discharge from military service, provided
2 that all other eligibility criteria apply.
3 Section 3. Paragraphs (b), (e), and (f) of subsection
4 (1) and subsection (2) of section 240.40202, Florida Statutes,
5 are amended to read:
6 240.40202 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
7 student eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
8 (1) To be eligible for an initial award from any of
9 the three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright
10 Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:
11 (b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
12 equivalent as described in s. 232.246 or s. 229.814 unless:
13 1. The student is enrolled full time in the early
14 admission program of an eligible postsecondary education
15 institution or completes a home education program according to
16 s. 232.0201; or
17 2. The student earns a high school diploma from a
18 non-Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who
19 is on military or public service assignment away from Florida.
20 "Public service assignment," as used in this subparagraph,
21 means the occupational assignment outside of Florida of a
22 person who is a permanent resident of Florida and who is
23 employed by the United States Government or the State of
24 Florida, a condition of which employment is assignment outside
25 of Florida.
26 (e) Not have been found guilty of, or pled plead nolo
27 contendere or guilty to, a felony charge, unless the student
28 has been granted clemency by the Governor and Cabinet sitting
29 as the Executive Office of Clemency.
30 (f) Apply for a scholarship from the program by
31 December 31 after April 1 of the last semester before high
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1 school graduation. There is no application deadline for a
2 student graduating from a non-Florida school, pursuant to
3 subparagraph (1)(b)2.
4 (2) A student is eligible to accept an initial award
5 for 3 years following high school graduation and to accept a
6 renewal award for 7 years following high school graduation. A
7 student who applies for an award by April 1 and who meets all
8 other eligibility requirements, but who does not accept his or
9 her award during the first year of eligibility after high
10 school graduation, may apply for reinstatement of the award
11 for use within 7 reapply during subsequent application periods
12 up to 3 years after high school graduation. Reinstatement
13 applications must be received by the deadline established by
14 the Department of Education.
15 Section 4. Section 240.40203, Florida Statutes, is
16 amended to read:
17 240.40203 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
18 student eligibility requirements for renewal, reinstatement,
19 and restoration awards.--
20 (1) To be eligible to receive renew a scholarship from
21 any of the three types of scholarships under the Florida
22 Bright Futures Scholarship Program after the first year of
23 eligibility, a student must meet the following requirements
24 for either renewal, reinstatement, or restoration:
25 (a) Renewal applies to students who receive an award
26 for at least one term during the academic year. For renewal, a
27 student must complete at least 12 semester credit hours or the
28 equivalent in the last academic year in which the student
29 earned a scholarship.
30 (b) and maintain the cumulative grade point average
31 required by the scholarship program, except that:
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1 1. If a recipient's grades fall beneath the average
2 required to renew a Florida Academic Scholarship, but are
3 sufficient to renew a Florida Merit Scholarship or a Florida
4 Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship, the Department of Education
5 may grant a renewal from one of those other scholarship
6 programs, if the student meets the renewal eligibility
7 requirements.; or
8 2. If, upon renewal evaluation at any time during the
9 eligibility period, a student's grades or hours, or both, are
10 not sufficient insufficient to renew the scholarship, the
11 student may use grades or hours, or both, earned during the
12 following summer to renew the scholarship restore eligibility
13 by improving the grade point average to the required level. A
14 student is eligible for such a reinstatement only once. The
15 Legislature encourages education institutions to assist
16 students to calculate whether or not it is possible to raise
17 the grade point average during the summer term. If the
18 institution determines that it is possible, the education
19 institution may so inform the department, which may reserve
20 the student's award if funds are available. The renewal,
21 however, must not be granted until the student achieves the
22 required cumulative grade point average and earns the required
23 number of hours. If, during the summer term, a student does
24 not earn is not sufficient hours or to raise the grade point
25 average to the required renewal level, the student will not be
26 eligible for an award student's next opportunity for renewal
27 is the fall semester of the following academic year.
28 (b) Reinstatement applies to students who were
29 eligible but did not receive an award during the previous
30 academic year or years, and who may apply to reestablish use
31 of the scholarship. For reinstatement, a student must have
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1 been eligible at the time of the student's most recent Bright
2 Futures eligibility determination. The student must apply for
3 reinstatement by submitting a reinstatement application by the
4 deadline established by the Department of Education.
5 (c) Restoration applies to students who lost
6 scholarship eligibility due to a low renewal grade point
7 average, but earned the required grade point average in a
8 subsequent academic year, and who may apply to receive awards
9 in the future. For restoration, a student who did not meet
10 renewal requirements during a prior evaluation period may
11 restore eligibility by meeting the required grade point
12 average during a subsequent renewal evaluation period. A
13 student is eligible to receive such restoration only once.
14 The student must submit an application for restoration by the
15 deadline established by the Department of Education.
16 (2) A student who is enrolled in a program that
17 terminates in an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree
18 may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent of the
19 number of credit hours required to complete the program. A
20 student who is enrolled in an undergraduate program that
21 terminates in the award of a postbaccalaureate degree, or the
22 simultaneous award of baccalaureate and postbaccalaureate
23 degrees, may receive an award for a maximum of 132 semester
24 hours, or the equivalent, at the undergraduate rate. A student
25 who is enrolled in a program that terminates in a technical
26 certificate may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent
27 of the credit hours or clock hours required to complete the
28 program up to 90 credit hours. A student who transfers from
29 one of these program levels to another becomes eligible for
30 the higher of the two credit hour limits.
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1 Section 5. Subsection (2) of section 240.40204,
2 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3 240.40204 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
4 eligible postsecondary education institutions.--A student is
5 eligible for an award or the renewal of an award from the
6 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program if the student
7 meets the requirements for the program as described in this
8 act and is enrolled in a postsecondary education institution
9 that meets the description in any one of the following
10 subsections:
11 (2) An independent Florida college or university that
12 is accredited by a member of the Commission on Recognition of
13 Postsecondary Accreditation and which has operated in the
14 state for at least 3 years and is accredited by an accrediting
15 agency recognized by the United States Department of
16 Education.
17 Section 6. Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section
18 240.40205, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
19 240.40205 Florida Academic Scholars award.--
20 (2) A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a
21 public postsecondary education institution is eligible for an
22 award equal to the amount required to pay matriculation and,
23 fees, as defined by the Department of Education, and $300 per
24 semester or the equivalent $600 for college-related expenses
25 annually. A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
26 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
27 equal to the amount that would be required to pay for the
28 average matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary
29 education institution at the comparable level, plus the amount
30 provided for college-related expenses annual $600.
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1 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
2 as a Florida Academic Scholar, a student must meet the
3 requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the equivalent
4 of a grade point average requirement of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or
5 the equivalent, for all postsecondary education work
6 attempted. A student may have, with an opportunity for one
7 restoration reinstatement as provided in this act.
8 (4) In each school district, the Florida Academic
9 Scholar with the highest academic ranking shall receive an
10 additional award of $750 per semester or the equivalent $1,500
11 for college-related expenses. This award must be funded from
12 the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
13 Section 7. Section 240.40206, Florida Statutes, is
14 amended to read:
15 240.40206 Florida Merit Scholars award.--
16 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Merit Scholars
17 award if the student meets the general eligibility
18 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
19 Program and the student:
20 (a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0
21 as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or the equivalent, in
22 high school courses that are adopted by the Board of Regents
23 and recommended by the State Board of Community Colleges as
24 college-preparatory academic courses; and
25 (b) Has attained at least the score identified by
26 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
27 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
28 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
29 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
30 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or
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1 (c) Has attended a home education program according to
2 s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
3 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
4 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
5 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
6 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
7 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
8 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
9 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
10 College Testing Program; or.
11 (d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
12 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
13 scholar or finalist, but has not completed a program of
14 community service as provided by s. 240.40205.
15 (2) A Florida Merit Scholar is eligible for an award
16 equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of
17 matriculation and fees, as defined by the department, if the
18 student is enrolled in a public postsecondary education
19 institution. A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
20 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
21 equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent
22 of the matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary
23 education institution at the comparable level.
24 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
25 as a Florida Merit Scholar, a student must meet the
26 requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the equivalent
27 of a grade point average requirement of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale,
28 or the equivalent, for all postsecondary education work
29 attempted. A student may have, with an opportunity for
30 reinstatement one restoration time as provided in this act.
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1 Section 8. Section 240.40207, Florida Statutes, is
2 amended to read:
3 240.40207 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
4 award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is
5 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
6 to recognize and reward academic achievement and vocational
7 preparation by high school students who wish to continue their
8 education.
9 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
10 Vocational Scholars award if the student meets the general
11 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
12 Scholarship Program and the student:
13 (a) Successfully completes the secondary school
14 portion of a sequential program of studies that requires at
15 least three secondary school vocational credits in one program
16 of study identified by the Department of Education taken over
17 at least 2 academic years, and is continued in a planned,
18 related postsecondary education program. If the student's
19 school does not offer such a two-plus-two or tech-prep
20 program, the student must complete a job-preparatory career
21 education program selected by the Occupational Forecasting
22 Conference or the Workforce Development Board of Enterprise
23 Florida for its ability to provide high-wage employment in an
24 occupation with high potential for employment opportunities.
25 On-the-job training may not be substituted for any of the
26 three required vocational credits.
27 (b) Demonstrates readiness for postsecondary education
28 by earning a passing score on the Florida College Entry Level
29 Placement Test or its equivalent as identified by the
30 Department of Education.
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1 (c) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point
2 average of 3.0, as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, on all
3 subjects required for a standard high school diploma,
4 excluding elective courses.
5 (d) Earns a minimum unweighted grade point average of
6 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for secondary vocational courses comprising
7 the vocational program.
8 (e) Completes the requirements of a vocational-ready
9 diploma program, as defined by rules of the State Board of
10 Education.
11 (2) A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar is eligible
12 for an award equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of
13 matriculation and fees, as defined by the Department of
14 Education, if the student is enrolled in a public
15 postsecondary education institution. A student who is enrolled
16 in a nonpublic postsecondary education institution is eligible
17 for an award equal to the amount that would be required to pay
18 75 percent of the matriculation and mandatory fees of a public
19 postsecondary education institution at the comparable level.
20 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
21 as a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar, a student must meet
22 the requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the
23 equivalent of a grade point average requirement of 2.75 on a
24 4.0 scale, or the equivalent, for all postsecondary education
25 work attempted. A student may have, with an opportunity for
26 reinstatement one restoration time as provided in this act.
27 (4) A student may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
28 Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
29 required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the
30 equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Scholar who has a cumulative
31 grade point average of 2.75 in all postsecondary education
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1 work attempted may apply for a Florida Merit Scholars award at
2 any renewal period. All other provisions of that program
3 apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be calculated by
4 subtracting from the student's total eligibility the number of
5 credit hours the student attempted while earning the Gold Seal
6 Vocational Scholarship.
7 (5) Beginning with the fall term of 2002, a Florida
8 Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award may not be used at an
9 institution that grants baccalaureate degrees unless the award
10 is a renewal of an initial award issued prior to the fall term
11 of 2002, or as otherwise provided for in this section.
12 (6) Upon successful completion of an an associate
13 degree program, an award recipient who meets the renewal
14 criteria in subsection (3) and enrolls in a baccalaureate
15 degree program at an eligible postsecondary education
16 institution is eligible to transfer to the Florida Merit
17 Scholars award component of the Bright Futures Scholarship
18 Program. If the student receives an associate degree prior to
19 the end of an academic year and enrolls in the baccalaureate
20 degree program during a subsequent term of the same academic
21 year, the student may continue to receive the Gold Seal
22 Scholars award for the duration of that academic year. If
23 necessary, the department may provide an exception to the
24 90-semester-hour limit, or the equivalent, through the end of
25 that academic year. Other than initial eligibility criteria,
26 all other requirements of the Florida Merit Scholars award
27 apply to a student who transfers to that program under this
28 section. The credit-hour limitation must be calculated by
29 subtracting from the student's total eligibility the number of
30 credit hours for which the student has already received
31 funding under the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
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1 (7) If a Florida Gold Seal Scholar received an initial
2 Gold Seal Scholars award prior to the fall term of 2002 and
3 has a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all
4 postsecondary education work attempted, the Department of
5 Education may transfer the student to the Florida Merit
6 Scholars award component of the Bright Futures Scholarship
7 Program during any renewal period. All other provisions of
8 that program apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be
9 calculated by subtracting from the student's total eligibility
10 the number of credit hours for which the student has already
11 received funding under the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
12 Section 9. Section 240.40209, Florida Statutes, is
13 amended to read:
14 240.40209 Bright Futures Scholarship recipients
15 attending nonpublic institutions; calculation of
16 awards.--Notwithstanding ss. 240.40201, 240.40205, 240.40206,
17 and 240.40207, a student who receives any award under the
18 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, who is enrolled in
19 a nonpublic postsecondary education institution, and who is
20 assessed tuition and fees that are the same as those of a
21 full-time student at that institution, shall receive a fixed
22 award calculated by using the average matriculation and fee
23 calculation, as defined by the Department of Education, for
24 full-time attendance at a public postsecondary educational
25 education institution at the comparable level. If the student
26 is enrolled part-time and is assessed tuition and fees at a
27 reduced level, the award shall be either one-half of the
28 maximum award or three-fourths of the maximum award, depending
29 on the level of fees assessed.
30 Section 10. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
31 240.404, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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1 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
2 for state financial aid.--
3 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of
4 students for state financial aid awards consist of the
5 following:
6 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
7 acceptance at a state university or community college; a
8 nursing diploma school approved by the Florida Board of
9 Nursing; a Florida college, university, or community college
10 which is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the
11 United States Department of Education a member of the
12 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; any
13 Florida institution the credits of which are acceptable for
14 transfer to state universities; any area technical center; or
15 any private vocational-technical institution accredited by an
16 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
17 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
18 Postsecondary Accreditation.
19 2.a. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
20 preceding the award of aid for a program established pursuant
21 to s. 240.409, s. 240.4095, s. 240.4097, s. 240.412, s.
22 240.4125, s. 240.413, s. 240.4987, s. 240.605, or s. 240.606.
23 Residency in this state must be for purposes other than to
24 obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of receiving
25 state financial aid awards shall be determined in the same
26 manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s.
27 240.1201 and rules of the State Board of Education.
28 b. A person who has been properly classified as a
29 resident by a postsecondary institution for initial receipt of
30 state-funded student financial assistance and has been
31 determined eligible to participate in a financial assistance
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1 program may continue to qualify as a resident for state-funded
2 financial aid programs if he or she maintains continuous
3 enrollment at the postsecondary institution, with no break in
4 enrollment greater than 12 consecutive months.
5 3. Submission of certification attesting to the
6 accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information
7 provided to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive
8 state financial aid awards. Falsification of such information
9 shall result in the denial of any pending application and
10 revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no
11 further payments shall be made. Additionally, students who
12 knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
13 financial aid awards shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
14 second degree subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall
15 be required to return all state financial aid awards
16 wrongfully obtained.
17 Section 11. Subsection (3) of section 240.4064,
18 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
19 240.4064 Critical teacher shortage tuition
20 reimbursement program.--
21 (3) Participants may receive tuition reimbursement
22 payments for up to 9 semester hours, or the equivalent in
23 quarter hours, per year, at a rate not to exceed $115 $78 per
24 semester hour, up to a total of 36 semester hours. All
25 tuition reimbursements shall be contingent on passing an
26 approved course with a minimum grade of 3.0 or its equivalent.
27 Section 12. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) and
28 subsection (6) of section 240.412, Florida Statutes, are
29 amended to read:
30 240.412 Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant
31 Program.--
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1 (5)(a) In order to be eligible to receive a
2 scholarship pursuant to this section, an applicant shall:
3 1. Be a Hispanic-American, or a person of Spanish
4 culture with origins in Mexico, South America, Central
5 America, or the Caribbean, regardless of race.
6 2. Be a citizen of the United States and meet the
7 general requirements for student eligibility as provided in s.
8 240.404, except as otherwise provided in this section.
9 3. Be accepted at a state university or community
10 college or any Florida college or university accredited by an
11 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
12 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
13 Postsecondary Accreditation the credits of which are
14 acceptable without qualification for transfer to state
15 universities.
16 4. Enroll as a full-time undergraduate or graduate
17 student.
18 5. Earn a 3.0 unweighted grade point average on a 4.0
19 scale, or the equivalent for high school subjects creditable
20 toward a diploma. If an applicant applies as a graduate
21 student, he or she shall have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade
22 point average for undergraduate college-level courses.
23 (6) The annual scholarship to each recipient shall be
24 $2,000. Priority in the distribution of scholarships shall be
25 given to students with the lowest total family resources.
26 Renewal scholarships shall take precedence over new awards in
27 any year in which funds are not sufficient to meet the total
28 need. No undergraduate student shall receive an award for
29 more than the equivalent of 8 semesters or 12 quarters over a
30 period of no more than 6 consecutive years, except as
31 otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3). No graduate student shall
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1 receive an award for more than the equivalent of 4 semesters
2 or 6 quarters.
3 Section 13. Subsection (2) of section 240.413, Florida
4 Statutes, is amended to read:
5 240.413 Seminole and Miccosukee Indian Scholarships.--
6 (2) Scholarships shall be awarded by the department to
7 students who:
8 (a) Have graduated from high school, have earned an
9 equivalency diploma issued by the Department of Education
10 pursuant to s. 229.814, have earned an equivalency diploma
11 issued by the United States Armed Forces Institute, or have
12 been accepted through an early admission program;
13 (b) Are enrolled at a state university or community
14 college authorized by Florida law; a nursing diploma school
15 approved by the Board of Nursing; any Florida college,
16 university, or community college which is accredited by an
17 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
18 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
19 Postsecondary Accreditation; or any Florida institution the
20 credits of which are acceptable for transfer to state
21 universities;
22 (c) Are enrolled as either full-time or part-time
23 undergraduate or graduate students and make satisfactory
24 academic progress as defined by the college or university;
25 (d) Have been recommended by the Seminole Tribe of
26 Florida or the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; and
27 (e) Meet the general requirements for student
28 eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise
29 provided in this section.
30 Section 14. Subsection (6) of section 240.437, Florida
31 Statutes, is amended to read:
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1 240.437 Student financial aid planning and
2 development.--
3 (6) Any Effective July 1, 1992, all new and existing
4 financial assistance programs authorized by state law that are
5 administered by the Bureau of Student Financial Assistance of
6 the Department of Education, and that under this part which
7 are not funded for 3 consecutive years after enactment shall
8 stand repealed. Financial aid programs provided under this
9 part on July 1, 1992, which lose funding for 3 consecutive
10 years shall stand repealed. The Bureau Office of Student
11 Financial Assistance of the Department of Education shall
12 annually review the legislative appropriation of financial aid
13 to identify such programs.
14 Section 15. Subsection (5) of section 240.465, Florida
15 Statutes, is repealed.
16 Section 16. Subsection (13) of section 240.472,
17 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
18 240.472 Definitions.--As used in this act:
19 (13) "Institution" means any college or university
20 which, by virtue of law or charter, is accredited by an
21 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
22 of Education and holds membership in the Commission on
23 Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; which grants
24 baccalaureate or associate degrees; which is not a pervasively
25 sectarian institution; and which does not discriminate in the
26 admission of students on the basis of race, color, religion,
27 sex, or creed.
28 Section 17. Subsection (1) of section 295.01, Florida
29 Statutes, is amended to read:
30 295.01 Children of deceased or disabled veterans;
31 education.--
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1 (1) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
2 state to provide educational opportunity at state expense for
3 dependent children either of whose parents was a resident of
4 the state at the time such parent entered the Armed Forces,
5 had been a bona fide resident of the state for 5 years
6 preceding the child's application for benefits under this
7 section, and who:
8 (a) Died in that service or from injuries sustained or
9 disease contracted during a period of wartime service as
10 defined in s. 1.01(14) or has died since or may hereafter die
11 from diseases or disability resulting from such war service,
12 or
13 (b) Participated during a period of wartime service,
14 as provided for in this chapter, and has been:
15 1. Determined by the United States Department of
16 Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a
17 service-connected 100-percent total and permanent disability
18 rating for compensation,
19 2. Determined to have a service-connected total and
20 permanent disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt
21 of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United
22 States Armed Services, or
23 3. Issued a valid identification card by the
24 Department of Veterans' Affairs in accordance with s. 295.17,
25
26 when the parents of such children have been bona fide
27 residents of the state for 5 years next preceding their
28 application for the benefits hereof, and subject to the rules,
29 restrictions, and limitations hereof.
30 Section 18. Section 295.02, Florida Statutes, is
31 amended to read:
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1 295.02 Use of funds; age, etc.--
2 (1) All sums appropriated and expended under this
3 chapter shall be used to pay tuition and registration fees, as
4 defined by the Department of Education; board;, and room rent
5 and to buy books and supplies for the children of:
6 (a) Deceased or disabled veterans or service members,
7 as defined and limited in s. 295.01, s. 295.016, s. 295.017,
8 s. 295.018, or s. 295.0195., or of
9 (b) Parents classified as prisoners of war or missing
10 in action, as defined and limited in s. 295.015.,
11 (2) Such children must be who are between the ages of
12 16 and 22 years, and who are in attendance at:
13 (a) A state-supported institution of higher learning,
14 including a community college or vocational-technical school,
15 or
16 (b) Any postsecondary institution eligible to
17 participate in the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program.
18
19 A student attending an eligible private postsecondary
20 institution may receive an award equivalent to the average
21 matriculation and fees calculated for full-time attendance at
22 a public postsecondary institution at the comparable level.
23 Any child having entered upon a course of training or
24 education under the provisions of this chapter, consisting of
25 a course of not more than 4 years, and arriving at the age of
26 22 years before the completion of such course may continue the
27 course and receive all benefits of the provisions of this
28 chapter until the course is completed. The Department of
29 Education shall administer this educational program subject to
30 regulations of the department. The State Board of Education is
31 authorized to adopt rules to implement this program.
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1 Section 19. Sections 228.502, 240.40242, and 240.6055,
2 Florida Statutes, are repealed.
3 Section 20. Paragraph (r) of subsection (1) of section
4 246.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
5 246.041 Powers and duties of board.--
6 (1) The board shall:
7 (r) Provide information and documentation on an annual
8 basis to the Office of Student Financial Assistance of the
9 Department of Education regarding the requirements set forth
10 for nonpublic colleges in s. 240.605, relating to William L.
11 Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grants, s. 240.6055,
12 relating to access grants for community college graduates, and
13 s. 240.609, relating to Florida postsecondary endowment
14 grants.
15 Section 21. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (2)
16 of section 240.409, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
17 240.409 Florida Public Student Assistance Grant
18 Program; eligibility for grants.--
19 (2)(a) State student assistance grants through the
20 program may be made only to full-time degree-seeking students
21 who enroll in at least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent,
22 per semester and who meet the general requirements for student
23 eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise
24 provided in this section. Such grants shall be awarded
25 annually for the amount of demonstrated unmet need for the
26 cost of education and may not exceed an amount equal to the
27 average prior academic year cost of matriculation fees and
28 other registration fees for 30 credit hours at state
29 universities or such other amount as specified in the General
30 Appropriations Act, to any recipient. A demonstrated unmet
31 need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible
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1 for a state student assistance grant. Recipients of such
2 grants must have been accepted at a state university or
3 community college authorized by Florida law. No student may
4 receive an award for more than the equivalent of 9 semesters
5 or 14 quarters of full-time enrollment, except as otherwise
6 provided in s. 240.404(3).
7 (c) Priority in the distribution of Grant moneys shall
8 be given to students with the lowest total family resources,
9 in accordance with a nationally recognized system of need
10 analysis. Using the system of need analysis, the department
11 shall establish a maximum expected family contribution. An
12 institution may not make a grant from this program to a
13 student whose expected family contribution exceeds the level
14 established by the department. An institution may not impose
15 additional criteria to determine a student's eligibility to
16 receive a grant award.
17 Section 22. Section 240.40995, Florida Statutes, is
18 created to read:
19 240.40995 Florida student assistance grant programs;
20 priority for receiving grants.--
21 (1) The distribution of Florida public, private, and
22 postsecondary student assistance grant money to initial
23 applicants must be according to the following priority:
24 (a) First priority for student assistance grant money
25 shall be given to students who:
26 1. Demonstrate financial need as determined by ss.
27 240.404 and 240.409;
28 2. Have graduated from a Florida public high school;
29 3. Have completed the high school courses that are
30 adopted by the Board of Regents and recommended by the State
31
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1 Board of Community Colleges as college-preparatory academic
2 courses;
3 4. Are enrolled full-time; and
4 5. Rank in the top 20 percent of their high school
5 graduating class, as determined according to guidelines of the
6 Department of Education.
7 (b) Second priority for student assistance grant money
8 shall be given to other full-time students who demonstrate
9 need.
10 (c) Last priority for student assistance grant money
11 shall be given to part-time students who demonstrate need.
12 (2) The Department of Education, in consultation with
13 the Florida Council of Student Financial Aid Advisors, shall
14 establish an initial application deadline for students who
15 meet the requirements in subsection (1). Institutions shall
16 first award funds administered pursuant to this section to
17 students who meet the initial application deadline. After such
18 deadline, the institutions may at their discretion award any
19 remaining funds from the Florida Student Assistance Grant or
20 from other need-based aid to students who are otherwise
21 eligible under this section.
22 Section 23. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (2)
23 of section 240.4095, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
24 240.4095 Florida Private Student Assistance Grant
25 Program; eligibility for grants.--
26 (2)(a) Florida private student assistance grants from
27 the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may be made
28 only to full-time degree-seeking students who enroll in at
29 least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent, per semester and
30 who meet the general requirements for student eligibility as
31 provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise provided in this
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1 section. Such grants shall be awarded for the amount of
2 demonstrated unmet need for tuition and fees and may not
3 exceed an amount equal to the average matriculation and other
4 registration fees for 30 credit hours at state universities
5 plus $1,000 per academic year, or as specified in the General
6 Appropriations Act, to any applicant. A demonstrated unmet
7 need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible
8 for a Florida private student assistance grant. Recipients of
9 such grants must have been accepted at a
10 baccalaureate-degree-granting independent nonprofit college or
11 university, which is accredited by the Commission on Colleges
12 of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and which
13 is located in and chartered as a domestic corporation by the
14 state. No student may receive an award for more than the
15 equivalent of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time
16 enrollment, except as otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3).
17 (c) Priority in the distribution of Grant moneys shall
18 be given to students with the lowest total family resources,
19 in accordance with a nationally recognized system of need
20 analysis. Using the system of need analysis, the department
21 shall establish a maximum expected family contribution. An
22 institution may not make a grant from this program to a
23 student whose expected family contribution exceeds the level
24 established by the department. An institution may not impose
25 additional criteria to determine a student's eligibility to
26 receive a grant award.
27 Section 24. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (2)
28 of section 240.4097, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
29 240.4097 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance
30 Grant Program; eligibility for grants.--
31
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1 (2)(a) Florida postsecondary student assistance grants
2 through the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may
3 be made only to full-time degree-seeking students who enroll
4 in at least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent, per semester
5 and who meet the general requirements for student eligibility
6 as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise provided in
7 this section. Such grants shall be awarded for the amount of
8 demonstrated unmet need for tuition and fees and may not
9 exceed an amount equal to the average prior academic year cost
10 of matriculation and other registration fees for 30 credit
11 hours at state universities plus $1,000 per academic year, or
12 as specified in the General Appropriations Act, to any
13 applicant. A demonstrated unmet need of less than $200 shall
14 render the applicant ineligible for a Florida postsecondary
15 student assistance grant. Recipients of such grants must have
16 been accepted at a postsecondary institution that is located
17 in the state and that is:
18 1. A private nursing diploma school approved by the
19 Florida Board of Nursing; or
20 2. An institution either licensed by the State Board
21 of Independent Colleges and Universities or exempt from
22 licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(a), excluding those
23 institutions the students of which are eligible to receive a
24 Florida private student assistance grant pursuant to s.
25 240.4095.
26
27 No student may receive an award for more than the equivalent
28 of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time enrollment, except
29 as otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3).
30 (c) Priority in the distribution of Grant moneys shall
31 be given to students with the lowest total family resources,
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1 in accordance with a nationally recognized system of need
2 analysis. Using the system of need analysis, the department
3 shall establish a maximum expected family contribution. An
4 institution may not make a grant from this program to a
5 student whose expected family contribution exceeds the level
6 established by the department. An institution may not impose
7 additional criteria to determine a student's eligibility to
8 receive a grant award.
9 Section 25. Subsection (3) of section 240.404, Florida
10 Statutes, is amended to read:
11 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
12 for state financial aid.--
13 (3) Undergraduate students shall be eligible to
14 receive financial aid for a maximum of 110 percent of the
15 number of credit hours required to complete the program, up to
16 a maximum of 132 credit hours, or the equivalent 8 semesters
17 or 12 quarters. However, undergraduate students participating
18 in college-preparatory instruction, students requiring
19 additional time to complete the college-level communication
20 and computation skills testing programs, or students enrolled
21 in a 5-year undergraduate degree program shall be eligible to
22 receive financial aid for a maximum of 10 semesters or 15
23 quarters.
24 Section 26. The Division of Statutory Revision of the
25 Office of Legislative Services is directed to prepare a
26 reviser's bill for introduction at the 2001 Regular Session of
27 the Legislature to change "Florida Merit Scholarship" to
28 "Florida Medallion Scholarship" and to change "Florida Merit
29 Scholar" to "Florida Medallion Scholar," effective for the
30 2002-2003 school year.
31 Section 27. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.
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1 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
2 CS/SB 1888
3
4 First priority for distribution of student assistance grants
is for full-time students with financial need who are in the
5 top 20% of their high school graduation class and have
completed the appropriate high school courses; second priority
6 is for other full-time students with financial need; and third
priority is for part-time students with financial need. Any
7 funds remaining after awards are made to students who meet the
initial application deadline may be distributed to eligible
8 students at the discretion of the institution.
9 Directs Statutory Revision to prepare a reviser's bill for the
2001 Session to change the name of the Florida Merit
10 Scholarship to "Florida Medallion Scholarship."
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