Senate Bill 0754
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Florida Senate - 2000 SB 754
By Senator Horne
6-432-00
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to nonpublic postsecondary
3 education; creating s. 240.6052, F.S.;
4 establishing the Florida Resident Job
5 Preparation Grant/Forgivable Loan Program to be
6 administered by the Department of Education;
7 providing eligibility and funding criteria;
8 providing an effective date.
9
10 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12 Section 1. Section 240.6052, Florida Statutes, is
13 created to read:
14 240.6052 Florida Resident Job Preparation
15 Grant/Forgivable Loan Program.--
16 (1) The Legislature recognizes that the economic
17 welfare of the state is heavily dependent upon the education
18 and employability of its residents. It further recognizes that
19 the needs of the workforce stretch across a variety of
20 industries. The Legislature finds and declares that a
21 significant number of state residents choose to attend
22 nonpublic colleges and universities as a means to acquiring
23 the knowledge and skills necessary to become contributing
24 members of society. The Legislature further finds that a
25 strong and viable system of nonpublic colleges reduces the tax
26 burden on residents of the state. Therefore, the Legislature
27 finds that a Resident Job Preparation Grant/Forgivable Loan
28 Program that awards forgivable loans to state residents for
29 study in career-oriented programs at nonpublic colleges is
30 consistent with the goals of the state to increase education
31 and skill levels of its residents as well as to reduce the tax
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Florida Senate - 2000 SB 754
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1 burden on the residents of this state. Because the Florida
2 Resident Job Preparation Grant/Forgivable Loan Program is not
3 based on a student's financial need or other criteria upon
4 which financial aid programs are based, it is the intent of
5 the Legislature that the Florida Resident Job Preparation
6 Grant/Forgivable Loan Program not be considered a financial
7 aid program but rather a tuition assistance program for
8 residents.
9 (2) There is established the Florida Resident Job
10 Preparation Grant/Forgivable Loan Program that will make
11 undergraduate forgivable loans available to eligible students
12 enrolled in Associate Degree programs at eligible institutions
13 within the state. The Department of Education shall administer
14 the program. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
15 for the administration of the program, including rules that
16 set repayment schedules and applicable interest rates under
17 ss. 240.451 and 240.465.
18 (3) The department shall issue through the program a
19 Florida Resident Job Preparation Grant/Forgivable Loan to any
20 full-time undergraduate student seeking an Associate Degree
21 who is registered at an independent college or university that
22 is:
23 (a) Located in the state;
24 (b) Accredited by an agency recognized by the United
25 States Department of Education;
26 (c) Licensed or exempt from licensure by the State
27 Board of Independent Colleges and Universities;
28 (d) Not a state university or state community college;
29 (e) A participant in the Common Course Numbering
30 System, and has at least 75 percent of its courses in the
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Florida Senate - 2000 SB 754
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1 program by December 31 of the year preceding the fiscal year
2 of the award;
3 (f) Not eligible to receive the William L. Boyd, IV,
4 Florida resident access grants as determined in s. 240.605;
5 and
6 (g) An institution with a secular purpose, so long as
7 the receipt of state aid by students at the institution would
8 not have the primary effect of advancing or impeding religion
9 or result in an excessive entanglement between the state and
10 any religious sect.
11 (4) A student is eligible to receive a Florida
12 Resident Job Preparation Grant/Forgivable Loan if the student:
13 (a) Meets the general requirements, including
14 residency, for student eligibility as provided in s. 240.404,
15 except as otherwise provided in this section;
16 (b) Is enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student
17 at an eligible college or university leading to an Associate
18 Degree;
19 (c) Is not enrolled in a program of study leading to a
20 degree in theology or divinity;
21 (d) Is making satisfactory academic progress as
22 defined by the college or university in which he or she is
23 enrolled; and
24 (e) Will complete an Associate Degree within the
25 maximum timeframe as defined by the United States Department
26 of Education.
27 (5)(a) Funding for the Florida Resident Job
28 Preparation Grant/Forgivable Loan Program must be based on a
29 formula that comprehends planned enrollment and the state cost
30 of funding undergraduate enrollment at public community
31 colleges. The amount of a Florida Resident Job Preparation
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Florida Senate - 2000 SB 754
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1 Grant/Forgivable Loan issued to a full-time student shall be
2 the average cost to the state per academic year of an
3 undergraduate student enrolled in a state community college or
4 an amount as specified in the General Appropriations Act. A
5 Florida Resident Job Preparation Grant/Forgivable Loan may be
6 paid on a prorated basis in advance of the registration
7 period. The department shall make such payments to the college
8 or university in which the student is enrolled for credit to
9 the student's account for payment of tuition and fees.
10 Institutions shall certify to the department the amount of
11 funds disbursed to each student and shall remit to the
12 department any undisbursed advances or refunds within 60 days
13 after the end of regular registration. Students are not
14 eligible to receive the award for more than 5 semesters or 7
15 quarters, except as otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3).
16 (b) If the combined amount of a Florida Resident Job
17 Preparation Grant/Forgivable Loan issued under this section
18 and all other scholarships and grants for tuition or fees
19 exceeds the amount charged to a student for tuition and fees,
20 the department shall reduce the Florida Resident Job
21 Preparation Grant/Forgivable Loan issued to that student by an
22 amount equal to the excess.
23 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.
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26 SENATE SUMMARY
27 Creates the Florida Resident Job Preparation
Grant/Forgivable Loan Program to provide forgivable loans
28 to students at nonpublic colleges and universities.
Provides eligibility and funding criteria for loans.
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