Senate Bill sb1330c1
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Florida Senate - 2001 CS for SB 1330
By the Committee on Education and Senators Miller and Sullivan
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1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student financial
3 assistance; creating the Vocational Student
4 Assistance Grant Program; providing eligibility
5 criteria for students and educational
6 institutions; establishing conditions for the
7 amount of an award; providing program criteria;
8 providing restrictions; providing
9 administrative procedures; requiring certain
10 reports; requiring recommendations of the
11 Postsecondary Education Planning Commission,
12 the State Board of Nonpublic Career Education,
13 and the State Board of Independent Colleges and
14 Universities; amending s. 231.621, F.S.;
15 authorizing alternative payment procedures for
16 a loan forgiveness program; amending s.
17 240.40201, F.S.; extending and placing a limit
18 upon the eligibility period for the Florida
19 Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
20 redesignating the Florida Merit Scholarship as
21 the Florida Medallion Scholarship; amending s.
22 240.40202, F.S.; defining terms; revising
23 application dates for the Florida Bright
24 Futures Scholarship Program; amending s.
25 240.40203, F.S.; defining terms; providing
26 conditions for awards to students in programs
27 that confer post-baccalaureate degrees;
28 conforming provisions; amending s. 240.40204,
29 F.S.; conforming provisions; amending s.
30 240.40205, F.S.; eliminating obsolete
31 provisions; amending s. 240.40206, s.
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1 240.40207, F.S.; conforming provisions;
2 amending s. 240.40209, F.S.; directing the
3 Department of Education to define fee
4 calculation; amending s. 240.404, F.S.;
5 requiring an application process; providing
6 conditions for maintaining status as a resident
7 for tuition purposes; amending s. 240.4063,
8 F.S.; conforming provisions; amending s.
9 240.4064, F.S.; revising the tuition
10 reimbursement rate; amending s. 240.409, F.S.;
11 authorizing certain grants for part-time
12 students; revising terms of eligibility for
13 certain grants; amending ss. 240.4095,
14 240.4097, F.S.; conforming provisions; amending
15 s. 240.412, F.S.; conforming provisions;
16 amending s. 240.4126, F.S.; establishing the
17 amount of an award; conforming provisions;
18 amending ss. 240.4128, 240.413, F.S.;
19 conforming provisions; amending s. 240.437,
20 F.S.; authorizing administration by the
21 Department of Education for certain scholarship
22 programs; amending ss. 240.472, 240.6073,
23 240.6074, 240.6075, F.S.; conforming
24 provisions; amending ss. 295.01, 295.02, F.S.;
25 providing eligibility for students attending
26 certain postsecondary institutions; repealing
27 s. 240.40208, F.S., relating to the transition
28 period for the Bright Futures Scholarship
29 Program; repealing s. 240.40242, F.S., relating
30 to criteria for use of certain scholarship
31 funds by children of deceased or disabled
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1 veterans; repealing s. 240.465(5), F.S.,
2 relating to withholding the academic transcript
3 of a borrower who is in default in repayment of
4 student loans; providing effective dates.
5
6 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
7
8 Section 1. Vocational Student Assistance Grant
9 Program; eligibility for grants.--
10 (1) The Vocational Student Assistance Grant Program is
11 created to be administered by the participating institutions
12 in accordance with rules of the Florida Board of Education.
13 (2) A vocational student assistance grant may be made
14 only to a student who enrolls in at least 6 semester hours per
15 term, or the equivalent in quarter hours or clock hours, and
16 who meets the general requirements for student eligibility as
17 provided in section 240.404, Florida Statutes, except as
18 otherwise provided in this section. Such grants shall be
19 awarded annually for the amount of demonstrated unmet need for
20 the cost of education and may not exceed an amount equal to
21 the average prior academic year cost of matriculation and fees
22 for 30 credit hours at state universities or the amount
23 specified in the General Appropriations Act, to any recipient.
24 A demonstrated unmet need of less than $200 renders the
25 applicant ineligible for a Vocational Student Assistance
26 Grant.
27 (3) A grant from the program may be awarded to a
28 student who:
29 (a)1. Is enrolled in a public vocational-technical
30 center, community college, or any nonpublic career education
31 school or college accredited by an association that is
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1 recognized by the United States Department of Education, which
2 school or college has never had its accreditation removed for
3 any reason, has been in continuous operation for at least 5
4 years, has been issued a biennial license under section
5 246.217, Florida Statutes, has not been the subject of a
6 finding of probable cause and subsequent disciplinary action
7 under section 246.226 or section 246.228, Florida Statutes, is
8 not required by the Federal Government to apply for
9 reimbursement for Title IV funding, and is located in and
10 chartered by the state; or
11 2. Is enrolled in an institution that has been
12 licensed continuously for the preceding 5 years by the State
13 Board of Independent Colleges and Universities, or has met the
14 requirements of section 246.085(1)(a), Florida Statutes, and
15 is accredited by an association recognized by the United
16 States Department of Education, and which college has not been
17 the subject of a finding of probable cause and subsequent
18 disciplinary action under section 246.111, section 246.226, or
19 section 246.228, Florida Statutes, has been issued a license
20 under section 246.217, Florida Statutes, is not required by
21 the Federal Government to apply for reimbursement for Title IV
22 funding, and is located in and chartered by the state.
23 (b) Is enrolled in a course or program that awards a
24 certificate or diploma as defined in section 246.203(6),
25 Florida Statutes.
26 1. A student enrolled in a nonpublic school must be
27 enrolled in a program which is comparable and compatible, as
28 determined by the State Board of Nonpublic Career Education,
29 with a public job-preparatory vocational-technical program and
30 the program standards, including curriculum framework and
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1 student performance standards, as provided by rule of the
2 Florida Board of Education.
3 2. A student enrolled in a nonpublic school must meet
4 the same basic skills requirements as a student enrolled in
5 public certificate-level career education as provided by rules
6 of the Florida Board of Education.
7 (4) A student applying for a Florida Vocational
8 Student Assistance Grant must also complete an application for
9 the Pell Grant and, if the student is enrolled in a program
10 that meets the Pell Grant eligibility requirement for program
11 length, the student shall apply for the Pell Grant. The Pell
12 Grant entitlement shall be considered when conducting an
13 assessment of the financial resources available to the
14 student. The criteria and procedure for establishing standards
15 of eligibility shall be determined by the department in
16 consultation with the State Board of Nonpublic Career
17 Education and the State Board of Independent Colleges and
18 Universities. Priority in the distribution of grant moneys
19 shall be given to students with the lowest total family
20 resources, in accordance with a nationally recognized system
21 of need analysis as determined pursuant to this subsection.
22 Using the system of need analysis, the department shall
23 establish a maximum expected family contribution. An
24 institution may not make a grant from this program to a
25 student whose expected family contribution exceeds the level
26 established by the department. An institution may not impose
27 additional criteria to determine a student's eligibility to
28 receive a grant award.
29 (5)(a) A student may not receive simultaneously a
30 vocational student assistance grant and any other form of
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1 student assistance grant provided pursuant to section 240.409,
2 section 240.4095, or section 240.4097, Florida Statutes.
3 (b) The amount of the vocational student assistance
4 grant may not exceed $1,000 and may not exceed the amount of
5 demonstrated unmet need for matriculation and other fees.
6 (c) A student may not receive a vocational student
7 assistance grant for more than 90 semester credit hours of
8 enrollment, or the equivalent in quarter hours or clock hours.
9 (d) As a condition of renewal of a vocational student
10 assistance grant, a student must be in compliance with the
11 institutional definition of satisfactory progress for the
12 receipt of federal Title IV programs and be eligible for
13 continuous enrollment in the institution.
14 (6) Each participating institution shall report to the
15 department by the established date the eligible students to
16 whom grant moneys are disbursed each academic term. Each
17 institution shall also report to the department necessary
18 demographic and eligibility data for such students.
19 (7)(a) The funds appropriated for the Florida
20 Vocational Student Assistance Grant shall be distributed to
21 eligible institutions in accordance with a formula recommended
22 by the Department of Education's Florida Council of Student
23 Financial Aid Advisors and reviewed by the Postsecondary
24 Education Planning Commission, the State Board of Nonpublic
25 Career Education, and the State Board of Independent Colleges
26 and Universities.
27 (b) Payment of Florida vocational student assistance
28 grants shall be transmitted to the chief executive officer of
29 the educational institution or to his or her representative in
30 advance of the registration period. Institutions shall notify
31 students of the amount of their awards.
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1 (c) Institutions shall certify to the Department of
2 Education the amount of funds disbursed to each student and
3 shall remit to the department any undisbursed advances by
4 April 1 of each year for preliminary allocation, and June 1 of
5 each year for reallocation.
6 (d) Each institution that receives moneys through the
7 Vocational Student Assistance Grant Program shall prepare an
8 annual report that includes an independent external audit of
9 the institution's administration of the program and a complete
10 accounting of the moneys in the State Student Financial
11 Assistance Trust Fund allocated to the institution for the
12 program. Such report shall be submitted to the department on
13 or before March 1 every year. The department may conduct its
14 own annual audit of an institution's administration of the
15 program and its allocated funds. The department may suspend or
16 revoke an institution's eligibility to receive future moneys
17 from the trust fund for the program or request a refund of any
18 moneys overpaid to the institution through the trust fund for
19 the program if the department finds that an institution has
20 not complied with the provisions of this section. Any refund
21 requested pursuant to this paragraph shall be remitted within
22 60 days.
23 (8) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for
24 vocational student assistance grants shall be deposited in the
25 State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding
26 the provisions of section 216.301, Florida Statutes, and
27 pursuant to section 216.351, Florida Statutes, any balance in
28 the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year that has been
29 allocated to the Vocational Student Assistance Grant Program
30 shall remain therein and shall be available for carrying out
31 the purposes of this section.
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1 Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
2 231.621, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3 231.621 Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan
4 Forgiveness Program.--
5 (2) From the funds available, the Department of
6 Education may make loan principal repayments as follows:
7 (c) All repayments shall be contingent on continued
8 proof of employment in the designated subject areas in this
9 state and shall be made directly to the holder of the loan or,
10 if the loan is paid in full, directly to the teacher. The
11 state shall not bear responsibility for the collection of any
12 interest charges or other remaining balance. In the event
13 that designated critical teacher shortage subject areas are
14 changed by the State Board of Education, a teacher shall
15 continue to be eligible for loan forgiveness as long as he or
16 she continues to teach in the subject area for which the
17 original loan repayment was made and otherwise meets all
18 conditions of eligibility.
19 Section 3. Subsections (1), (2), (5), and (7) of
20 section 240.40201, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
21 subsection (11) is added to that section, to read:
22 240.40201 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
23 Program.--
24 (1) The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is
25 created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to
26 reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition
27 of high academic achievement and who enrolls in a degree
28 program, certificate program, or applied technology diploma
29 program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary
30 education institution within 7 3 years of graduation from high
31 school. An award may not be provided to a student beyond 7
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1 years after high school graduation, regardless of the year in
2 which the student first receives scholarship funding.
3 (2) The Bright Futures Scholarship Program consists of
4 three types of awards, the Florida Academic Scholarship, the
5 Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship, and the Florida
6 Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship.
7 (5) The department shall issue awards from the
8 scholarship program annually. Annual awards may be for up to
9 45 semester credit hours or the equivalent. Before the
10 registration period each semester, the department shall
11 transmit payment for each award to the president or director
12 of the postsecondary education institution, or his or her
13 representative, except that the department may withhold
14 payment if the receiving institution fails to report or to
15 make refunds to the department as required in this act.
16 (a) Within 30 days after the end of regular
17 registration each semester, the educational institution shall
18 certify to the department the eligibility status of each
19 student who receives an award. After the end of the drop and
20 add period, an institution is not required to reevaluate or
21 revise a student's eligibility status, but must make a refund
22 to the department if a student who receives an award
23 disbursement terminates enrollment for any reason during an
24 academic term and a refund is permitted by the institution's
25 refund policy.
26 (b) An institution that receives funds from the
27 program shall certify to the department the amount of funds
28 disbursed to each student and shall remit to the department
29 any undisbursed advances within 60 days after the end of
30 regular registration.
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1 (c) Each institution that receives moneys through this
2 program shall prepare an annual report that includes an
3 independent external audit or an audit prepared by the Office
4 of the Auditor General. The report shall include an audit of
5 the institution's administration of the program and a complete
6 accounting of the moneys for the program. This report must be
7 submitted to the department annually by March 1. The
8 department may conduct its own annual audit of an
9 institution's administration of the program. The department
10 may request a refund of any moneys overpaid to the institution
11 for the program. The department may suspend or revoke an
12 institution's eligibility to receive future moneys for the
13 program if the department finds that an institution has not
14 complied with this section. The institution must remit within
15 60 days any refund requested in accordance with this
16 subsection.
17 (7) A student may receive only one type of award from
18 the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program at a time, but
19 may transfer from one type of award to another through the
20 renewal application process, if the student's eligibility
21 status changes. However, a student is not eligible to transfer
22 from a Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship or a Florida
23 Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship to a Florida Academic
24 Scholarship. A student who receives an award from the program
25 may also receive a federal family education loan or a federal
26 direct loan, and the value of the award must be considered in
27 the certification or calculation of the student's loan
28 eligibility.
29 (11) A student who graduates from high school in 1997
30 or earlier and who is eligible for the Florida Undergraduate
31 Scholar's Program pursuant to s. 240.402, Florida Statutes,
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1 1996 Supplement, is eligible for the Florida Academic Scholars
2 award as provided in this chapter. A student who graduates
3 from high school in 1997 or earlier and who is eligible for
4 the Florida Vocational Gold Seal Endorsement Scholarship award
5 pursuant to s. 240.40201, Florida Statutes, 1996 Supplement,
6 is eligible for the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
7 award as provided in this chapter. Award eligibility ends 7
8 years after high school graduation.
9 Section 4. Paragraphs (b) and (f) of subsection (1)
10 and subsection (2) of section 240.40202, Florida Statutes, are
11 amended to read:
12 240.40202 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
13 student eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
14 (1) To be eligible for an initial award from any of
15 the three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright
16 Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:
17 (b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
18 equivalent as described in s. 232.246 or s. 229.814 unless:
19 1. The student is enrolled full time in the early
20 admission program of an eligible postsecondary education
21 institution or completes a home education program according to
22 s. 232.0201; or
23 2. The student earns a high school diploma from a
24 non-Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who
25 is on military or public service assignment away from Florida.
26 The term, "public service assignment," as used in this
27 subparagraph, means the occupational assignment outside
28 Florida of a person who is a permanent resident of Florida and
29 who is employed by the United States Government or the State
30 of Florida, a condition of which employment is assignment
31 outside Florida.
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1 (f) Apply for a scholarship from the program by April
2 1 of the last semester before high school graduation. Requests
3 for exceptions to this deadline may be accepted by the high
4 school or district through December 31 following high school
5 graduation. There is no application deadline for a student who
6 graduates from a non-Florida high school pursuant to
7 subparagraph (b)2.
8 (2) A student is eligible to accept an initial award
9 for 3 years following high school graduation and to accept a
10 renewal award for 7 years following high school graduation. A
11 student who applies for an award by April 1 and who meets all
12 other eligibility requirements, but who does not accept his or
13 her award during the first year of eligibility after high
14 school graduation, may apply for reinstatement of the award
15 for use within 7 reapply during subsequent application periods
16 up to 3 years after high school graduation. Reinstatement
17 applications must be received by the deadline established by
18 the Department of Education.
19 Section 5. Section 240.40203, Florida Statutes, is
20 amended to read:
21 240.40203 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
22 student eligibility requirements for renewal, reinstatement,
23 and restoration awards.--
24 (1) After the first year of eligibility, a student who
25 wishes to receive To be eligible to renew a scholarship from
26 any of the three types of scholarships under the Florida
27 Bright Futures Scholarship Program, a student must meet the
28 following requirements for either renewal, reinstatement, or
29 restoration:
30 (a) Renewal applies to a student who received an award
31 for at least one term during the previous academic year. For
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1 renewal, a student must complete at least 12 semester credit
2 hours or the equivalent in the last academic year in which the
3 student earned a scholarship and.
4 (b) maintain the cumulative grade point average
5 required by the scholarship program, except that:
6 1. If a recipient's grades fall beneath the average
7 required to renew a Florida Academic Scholarship, but are
8 sufficient to renew a Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship or a
9 Florida Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship, the Department of
10 Education may grant a renewal from the Florida Medallion
11 Scholarship Program one of those other scholarship programs,
12 if the student meets the renewal eligibility requirements; or
13 2. If upon renewal evaluation, at any time during the
14 eligibility period, a student's grades or hours, or both, are
15 not sufficient insufficient to renew the scholarship, the
16 student may use the cumulative grades or hours, or both,
17 earned through the following summer to renew the scholarship
18 restore eligibility by improving the grade point average to
19 the required level. A student is eligible for such a
20 reinstatement only once. The Legislature encourages
21 educational education institutions to assist students to
22 calculate whether or not it is possible to raise the grade
23 point average during the summer term. If the institution
24 determines that it is possible, the education institution may
25 so inform the department, which may reserve the student's
26 award if funds are available. The renewal, however, must not
27 be granted until the student achieves the required cumulative
28 grade point average and earns the required number of credit
29 hours. If during the summer term the student does not earn is
30 not sufficient hours or to raise the grade point average to
31 the required renewal level, the student is not eligible for an
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1 award student's next opportunity for renewal is the fall
2 semester of the following academic year.
3 (b) Reinstatement applies to a student who was
4 eligible but did not receive an award during the previous
5 academic year or years, and who may apply to reestablish use
6 of the scholarship. For reinstatement, a student must have
7 been eligible at the time of the student's most recent Bright
8 Futures eligibility determination. The student must apply for
9 reinstatement by submitting a reinstatement application by the
10 deadline established by the Department of Education.
11 (c) Restoration applies to a student who did not meet
12 renewal grade-point average or hours-earned requirements at a
13 prior evaluation period. A student may restore eligibility by
14 meeting the required renewal grade-point average at a
15 subsequent renewal evaluation period. A student is eligible
16 for restoration only once. The student must submit a
17 restoration application by the deadlines established by the
18 Department of Eduction.
19 (2) A student who is enrolled in a program that
20 terminates in an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree
21 may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent of the
22 number of credit hours required to complete the program. A
23 student who is enrolled in a program that terminates in a
24 technical certificate may receive an award for a maximum of
25 110 percent of the credit hours or clock hours required to
26 complete the program up to 90 credit hours. A student who
27 transfers from one of these program levels to another becomes
28 eligible for the higher of the two credit hour limits.
29 (3) A Florida Academic Scholar or a Florida Medallion
30 Scholar who is enrolled in a combined undergraduate and
31 graduate program that terminates in the award of a
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1 post-baccalaureate degree or the simultaneous award of
2 baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate degrees may receive an
3 award for a maximum of 110 percent of the number of credit
4 hours required to complete a standard undergraduate program at
5 the institution attended, at the undergraduate rate.
6 Section 6. Subsection (2) of section 240.40204,
7 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
8 240.40204 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
9 eligible postsecondary education institutions.--A student is
10 eligible for an award or the renewal of an award from the
11 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program if the student
12 meets the requirements for the program as described in this
13 act and is enrolled in a postsecondary education institution
14 that meets the description in any one of the following
15 subsections:
16 (2) An independent Florida college or university that
17 is accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by
18 the United States Department of Education a member of the
19 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and
20 which has operated in the state for at least 3 years.
21 Section 7. Subsections (1) and (4) of section
22 240.40205, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
23 240.40205 Florida Academic Scholars award.--
24 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic
25 Scholars award if the student meets the general eligibility
26 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
27 Program and the student:
28 (a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
29 calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or its equivalent, in
30 high school courses that are adopted by the Board of Regents
31
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1 and recommended by the State Board of Community Colleges as
2 college-preparatory academic courses; and
3 (b) Has attained at least the score identified by
4 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
5 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
6 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
7 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
8 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or
9 (c) Has attended a home education program according to
10 s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
11 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
12 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
13 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
14 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
15 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
16 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
17 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
18 College Testing Program; or
19 (d) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate
20 Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office; or
21 (e) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
22 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
23 scholar or finalist; or
24 (f) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
25 Recognition Program as a scholar recipient.
26
27 Effective with the 1998-1999 school year, A student must
28 complete a program of community service work, as approved by
29 the district school board or the administrators of a nonpublic
30 school, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours of service
31 work and require the student to identify a social problem that
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1 interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal
2 involvement in addressing the problem, and, through papers or
3 other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her
4 experience.
5 (4) In each school district, the Florida Academic
6 Scholar with the highest academic ranking shall be designated
7 as an Academic Top Scholar and shall receive an additional
8 award of $1,500 for college-related expenses. This award must
9 be funded from the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
10 Section 8. Section 240.40206, Florida Statutes, is
11 amended to read:
12 240.40206 Florida Medallion Merit Scholars award.--
13 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Medallion
14 Merit Scholars award if the student meets the general
15 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
16 Scholarship Program and the student:
17 (a)1. Has achieved a weighted grade point average of
18 3.0 as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or the equivalent,
19 in high school courses that are adopted by the Board of
20 Regents and recommended by the State Board of Community
21 Colleges as college-preparatory academic courses; and
22 2.(b) Has attained at least the score identified by
23 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
24 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
25 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
26 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
27 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or
28 (b)(c) Has attended a home education program according
29 to s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
30 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
31 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
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1 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
2 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
3 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
4 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
5 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
6 College Testing Program;.
7 (c) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
8 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
9 scholar or finalist but has not completed a program of
10 community service as provided in s. 240.40205; or
11 (d) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
12 Recognition Program as a scholar, but has not completed a
13 program of community service as provided in s. 240.40205.
14 (2) A Florida Medallion Merit Scholar is eligible for
15 an award equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of
16 matriculation and fees, if the student is enrolled in a public
17 postsecondary education institution. A student who is enrolled
18 in a nonpublic postsecondary education institution is eligible
19 for an award equal to the amount that would be required to pay
20 75 percent of the matriculation and fees of a public
21 postsecondary education institution at the comparable level.
22 (3) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida
23 Medallion Merit Scholar, a student must maintain the
24 equivalent of a grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for
25 all postsecondary education work attempted, with an
26 opportunity for restoration reinstatement one time as provided
27 in this act.
28 Section 9. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (1)
29 and subsections (3) and (4) of section 240.40207, Florida
30 Statutes, are amended to read:
31
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1 240.40207 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
2 award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is
3 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
4 to recognize and reward academic achievement and vocational
5 preparation by high school students who wish to continue their
6 education.
7 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
8 Vocational Scholars award if the student meets the general
9 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
10 Scholarship Program and the student:
11 (a) Completes the secondary school portion of a
12 sequential program of studies that requires at least three
13 consecutive secondary school vocational credits taken over at
14 least 2 academic years, and is continued in a planned, related
15 postsecondary education program. If the student's school does
16 not offer such a two-plus-two or tech-prep program, the
17 student must complete a job-preparatory career education
18 program selected by the Workforce Estimating Conference or
19 Workforce Florida, Inc., for its ability to provide high-wage
20 employment in an occupation with high potential for employment
21 opportunities. On-the-job training may not be substituted for
22 any of the three required vocational credits.
23 (c) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point
24 average of 3.0, as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, on all
25 subjects required for a standard high school diploma,
26 excluding elective courses.
27 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
28 as a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar, a student must meet
29 the requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the
30 equivalent of a grade point average requirement of 2.75 on a
31 4.0 scale for all postsecondary education work attempted. A
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1 student has, with an opportunity for one restoration
2 reinstatement one time as provided in this act.
3 (4) A student may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
4 Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
5 required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the
6 equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar who meets
7 all renewal requirements for the Florida Medallion Scholars
8 award, has a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all
9 postsecondary education work attempted may apply for a Florida
10 Medallion Merit Scholars award at any renewal period or the
11 department may transfer the student to the Florida Medallion
12 Scholars Award during any renewal period. All other provisions
13 of that program apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be
14 calculated by subtracting from the student's total eligibility
15 the number of credit hours the student attempted while earning
16 the Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
17 Section 10. Section 240.40209, Florida Statutes, is
18 amended to read:
19 240.40209 Bright Futures Scholarship recipients
20 attending nonpublic institutions; calculation of
21 awards.--Notwithstanding ss. 240.40201, 240.40205, 240.40206,
22 and 240.40207, a student who receives any award under the
23 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, who is enrolled in
24 a nonpublic postsecondary education institution, and who is
25 assessed tuition and fees that are the same as those of a
26 full-time student at that institution, shall receive a fixed
27 award calculated by using the average matriculation and fee
28 calculation as defined by the Department of Education for
29 full-time attendance at a public postsecondary education
30 institution at the comparable level. If the student is
31 enrolled part-time and is assessed tuition and fees at a
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1 reduced level, the award shall be either one-half of the
2 maximum award or three-fourths of the maximum award, depending
3 on the level of fees assessed.
4 Section 11. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and
5 subsection (3) of section 240.404, Florida Statutes, are
6 amended to read:
7 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
8 for state financial aid.--
9 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of
10 students for state financial aid awards consist of the
11 following:
12 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
13 acceptance at a state university or community college; a
14 nursing diploma school approved by the Florida Board of
15 Nursing; a Florida college, university, or community college
16 which is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the
17 United States Department of Education a member of the
18 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; any
19 Florida institution the credits of which are acceptable for
20 transfer to state universities; any area technical center; or
21 any private vocational-technical institution accredited by an
22 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
23 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
24 Postsecondary Accreditation.
25 2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
26 preceding the award of aid for a program established pursuant
27 to s. 240.409, s. 240.4095, s. 240.4097, s. 240.412, s.
28 240.4125, s. 240.413, s. 240.4987, s. 240.605, or s. 240.606.
29 Residency in this state must be for purposes other than to
30 obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of receiving
31 state financial aid awards shall be determined in the same
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1 manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s.
2 240.1201 and rules of the State Board of Education. A person
3 who has been properly classified as a resident by a
4 postsecondary education institution for initial receipt of
5 state-funded student financial assistance and found to be
6 eligible to participate in a financial assistance program may
7 continue to qualify as a resident for state-funded financial
8 aid programs if the student maintains continuous enrollment at
9 the postsecondary education institution, with no break in
10 enrollment greater than 12 consecutive months.
11 3. Submission of certification attesting to the
12 accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information
13 provided to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive
14 state financial aid awards. Falsification of such information
15 shall result in the denial of any pending application and
16 revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no
17 further payments shall be made. Additionally, students who
18 knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
19 financial aid awards shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
20 second degree subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall
21 be required to return all state financial aid awards
22 wrongfully obtained.
23 4. Completion of the Free Application for Federal
24 Student Aid provided by the U.S. Department of Education and
25 submitted as required by the Florida Department of Education.
26 (3) Undergraduate students shall be eligible to
27 receive financial aid for a maximum of 110 percent of the
28 number of credit hours required to complete the program 8
29 semesters or 12 quarters. However, undergraduate students
30 participating in college-preparatory instruction, students
31 requiring additional time to complete the college-level
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1 communication and computation skills testing programs, or
2 students enrolled in a 5-year undergraduate degree program
3 shall be eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum of 10
4 semesters or 15 quarters.
5 Section 12. Subsection (2) of section 240.4063,
6 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
7 240.4063 Florida Teacher Scholarship and Forgivable
8 Loan Program.--
9 (2) Within the Florida Teacher Scholarship and
10 Forgivable Loan Program shall be established the "Chappie"
11 James Most Promising Teacher Scholarship which shall be
12 offered to a top graduating senior from each publicly funded
13 public secondary school in the state. An additional number of
14 "Chappie" James Most Promising Teacher Scholarship awards
15 shall be offered annually to graduating seniors from nonpublic
16 secondary schools in the state which are listed with the
17 Department of Education and accredited by the Southern
18 Association of Colleges and Schools or any other private
19 statewide accrediting agency which makes public its standards,
20 procedures, and member schools. The nonpublic secondary
21 schools shall be in compliance with regulations of the Office
22 for Civil Rights. The number of awards to nonpublic secondary
23 school students shall be proportional to the number of awards
24 available to public secondary school students and shall be
25 calculated as the ratio of the number of nonpublic to public
26 secondary school seniors in the state multiplied by the number
27 of public secondary schools in the state.
28 (a) The scholarship may be used for attendance at a
29 state university, a community college, or an independent
30 institution as defined in s. 240.605.
31
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1 (b) The amount of the scholarship is $1,500 and may be
2 renewed for 1 year if the student earns a 2.5 cumulative grade
3 point average and 12 credit hours per term and meets the
4 eligibility requirements for renewal of the award.
5 (c) To be eligible for the scholarship, a student
6 shall: be ranked within the top quartile of the senior class;
7 have been an active member of a high school future teacher
8 organization, if such organization exists in the student's
9 school; have earned a minimum unweighted cumulative grade
10 point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; file an application
11 within the application period; meet the general requirements
12 for student eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as
13 otherwise provided in this section; and have the intent to
14 enter the public teaching profession in Florida.
15 (d) Three candidates from each publicly funded public
16 secondary school and one candidate from each nonpublic
17 secondary school in the state shall be nominated by the
18 principal and a committee of teachers, based on criteria which
19 shall include, but need not be limited to, rank in class,
20 standardized test scores, cumulative grade point average,
21 extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, an
22 essay, and a declaration of intention to teach in a public
23 school in the state.
24 (e) From public secondary school nominees, the
25 Commissioner of Education shall select a graduating senior
26 from each publicly funded public high school to receive a
27 scholarship. Selection of recipients from nonpublic secondary
28 schools shall be made by a committee appointed by the
29 Commissioner of Education comprised of representatives from
30 nonpublic secondary schools and the Department of Education.
31
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1 (f) Fifteen percent of scholarships awarded shall be
2 to minority students. However, in the event that fewer than
3 15 percent of the total eligible nominees are minority
4 students, the commissioner may allocate all award funds as
5 long as a scholarship loan is reserved for each eligible
6 minority nominee.
7 Section 13. Subsections (2) and (3) of section
8 240.4064, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
9 240.4064 Critical teacher shortage tuition
10 reimbursement program.--
11 (2) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
12 implement the critical teacher shortage tuition reimbursement
13 program. Any full-time certified teacher in a Florida publicly
14 funded school or developmental research school public school
15 employee or developmental research school employee certified
16 to teach in this state is eligible for the program. For the
17 purposes of this program, tuition reimbursement shall be
18 limited to courses in critical teacher shortage areas as
19 determined by the State Board of Education. Such courses
20 shall be:
21 (a) Graduate-level courses leading to a master's,
22 specialist, or doctoral degree;
23 (b) Graduate-level courses leading to a new
24 certification area; or
25 (c) State-approved undergraduate courses leading to an
26 advanced degree or new certification area.
27 (3) Participants may receive tuition reimbursement
28 payments for up to 9 semester hours, or the equivalent in
29 quarter hours, per year, at a rate not to exceed $115 $78 per
30 semester hour, up to a total of 36 semester hours. All tuition
31
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1 reimbursements shall be contingent on passing an approved
2 course with a minimum grade of 3.0 or its equivalent.
3 Section 14. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
4 240.409, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
5 240.409 Florida Public Student Assistance Grant
6 Program; eligibility for grants.--
7 (2)(a) State student assistance grants through the
8 program may be made only to full-time degree-seeking students
9 who enroll in at least 6 semester hours or the equivalent, per
10 term and who meet the general requirements for student
11 eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise
12 provided in this section. Such grants shall be awarded
13 annually for the amount of demonstrated unmet need for the
14 cost of education and may not exceed an amount equal to the
15 average prior academic year cost of matriculation fees and
16 other registration fees for 30 credit hours at state
17 universities or such other amount as specified in the General
18 Appropriations Act, to any recipient. A demonstrated unmet
19 need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible
20 for a state student assistance grant. Recipients of such
21 grants must have been accepted at a state university or
22 community college authorized by Florida law. A No student is
23 eligible for the award for 110 percent of the number of credit
24 hours required to complete the program may receive an award
25 for more than the equivalent of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of
26 full-time enrollment, except as otherwise provided in s.
27 240.404(3).
28 Section 15. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
29 240.4095, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
30 240.4095 Florida Private Student Assistance Grant
31 Program; eligibility for grants.--
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1 (2)(a) Florida private student assistance grants from
2 the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may be made
3 only to full-time degree-seeking students who meet the general
4 requirements for student eligibility as provided in s.
5 240.404, except as otherwise provided in this section. Such
6 grants shall be awarded for the amount of demonstrated unmet
7 need for tuition and fees and may not exceed an amount equal
8 to the average matriculation and other registration fees for
9 30 credit hours at state universities plus $1,000 per academic
10 year, or as specified in the General Appropriations Act, to
11 any applicant. A demonstrated unmet need of less than $200
12 shall render the applicant ineligible for a Florida private
13 student assistance grant. Recipients of such grants must have
14 been accepted at a baccalaureate-degree-granting independent
15 nonprofit college or university, which is accredited by the
16 Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges
17 and Schools and which is located in and chartered as a
18 domestic corporation by the state. A No student is eligible
19 for the award for 110 percent of credit hours required to
20 complete the program may receive an award for more than the
21 equivalent of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time
22 enrollment, except as otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3).
23 Section 16. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
24 240.4097, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
25 240.4097 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance
26 Grant Program; eligibility for grants.--
27 (2)(a) Florida postsecondary student assistance grants
28 through the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may
29 be made only to full time degree-seeking students who meet the
30 general requirements for student eligibility as provided in s.
31 240.404, except as otherwise provided in this section. Such
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1 grants shall be awarded for the amount of demonstrated unmet
2 need for tuition and fees and may not exceed an amount equal
3 to the average prior academic year cost of matriculation and
4 other registration fees for 30 credit hours at state
5 universities plus $1,000 per academic year, or as specified in
6 the General Appropriations Act, to any applicant. A
7 demonstrated unmet need of less than $200 shall render the
8 applicant ineligible for a Florida postsecondary student
9 assistance grant. Recipients of such grants must have been
10 accepted at a postsecondary institution that is located in the
11 state and that is:
12 1. A private nursing diploma school approved by the
13 Florida Board of Nursing; or
14 2. An institution either licensed by the State Board
15 of Independent Colleges and Universities or exempt from
16 licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(a), excluding those
17 institutions the students of which are eligible to receive a
18 Florida private student assistance grant pursuant to s.
19 240.4095.
20
21 A No student is eligible for the award for 110 percent of the
22 number of credit hours required to complete the program may
23 receive an award for more than the equivalent of 9 semesters
24 or 14 quarters of full-time enrollment, except as otherwise
25 provided in s. 240.404(3).
26 Section 17. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) and
27 subsection (6) of section 240.412, Florida Statutes, are
28 amended to read:
29 240.412 Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant
30 Program.--
31
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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 18. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
4 240.4126, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
5 240.4126 Rosewood Family Scholarship Program.--
6 (2) The Rosewood Family Scholarship Program shall be
7 administered by the Department of Education. The State Board
8 of Education shall adopt rules for administering this program
9 which shall at a minimum provide for the following:
10 (a) The annual award to a student shall be up to
11 $4,000 but should not exceed an amount in excess of tuition
12 and registration fees.
13 Section 19. Subsection (3) of section 240.4128,
14 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
15 240.4128 Minority teacher education scholars
16 program.--There is created the minority teacher education
17 scholars program, which is a collaborative performance-based
18 scholarship program for African-American, Hispanic-American,
19 Asian-American, and Native American students. The participants
20 in the program include Florida's public community colleges and
21 its public and private universities that have teacher
22 education programs.
23 (3) The total amount appropriated annually for new
24 scholarships in the program must be divided by $4,000 and by
25 the number of participating colleges and universities. Each
26 participating institution has access to the same number of
27 scholarships and may award all of them to eligible minority
28 students. If a college or university does not award all of its
29 scholarships by the date set by the program administration at
30 the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., the remaining
31 scholarships must be transferred to another institution that
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1 has eligible students. Each participating institution shall
2 report to the department by the established date the eligible
3 students to whom grant moneys are disbursed each academic
4 term. Each institution shall also report to the department
5 demographic and eligibility data for the recipient.
6 Section 20. Subsection (2) of section 240.413, Florida
7 Statutes, is amended to read:
8 240.413 Seminole and Miccosukee Indian Scholarships.--
9 (2) Scholarships shall be awarded by the department to
10 students who:
11 (a) Have graduated from high school, have earned an
12 equivalency diploma issued by the Department of Education
13 pursuant to s. 229.814, have earned an equivalency diploma
14 issued by the United States Armed Forces Institute, or have
15 been accepted through an early admission program;
16 (b) Are enrolled at a state university or community
17 college authorized by Florida law; a nursing diploma school
18 approved by the Board of Nursing; any Florida college,
19 university, or community college which is accredited by an
20 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
21 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
22 Postsecondary Accreditation; or any Florida institution the
23 credits of which are acceptable for transfer to state
24 universities;
25 (c) Are enrolled as either full-time or part-time
26 undergraduate or graduate students and make satisfactory
27 academic progress as defined by the college or university;
28 (d) Have been recommended by the Seminole Tribe of
29 Florida or the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; and
30
31
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1 (e) Meet the general requirements for student
2 eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise
3 provided in this section.
4 Section 21. Subsection (6) of section 240.437, Florida
5 Statutes, is amended to read:
6 240.437 Student financial aid planning and
7 development.--
8 (6) Effective July 1, 1992, All new and existing
9 financial assistance programs authorized under this part, and
10 those programs in other parts of the Florida Statutes which
11 are administered by the Florida Department of Education,
12 Bureau of Student Financial Assistance, which are not funded
13 for 3 consecutive years after enactment shall stand repealed.
14 Financial aid programs provided under this part on July 1,
15 1992, which lose funding for 3 consecutive years shall stand
16 repealed. The Bureau Office of Student Financial Assistance of
17 the Department of Education shall annually review the
18 legislative appropriation of financial aid to identify such
19 programs.
20 Section 22. Subsection (13) of section 240.472,
21 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
22 240.472 Definitions.--As used in this act:
23 (13) "Institution" means any college or university
24 which, by virtue of law or charter, is accredited by an
25 accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States
26 Department of Education and holds membership in the Commission
27 on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; which grants
28 baccalaureate or associate degrees; which is not a pervasively
29 sectarian institution; and which does not discriminate in the
30 admission of students on the basis of race, color, religion,
31 sex, or creed.
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1 Section 23. Subsection (1) and paragraph (d) of
2 subsection (2) of section 240.6073, Florida Statutes, are
3 amended to read:
4 240.6073 Critical Occupational Therapist or Physical
5 Therapist Shortage Student Loan Forgiveness Program.--
6 (1) There is established the Critical Occupational
7 Therapist or Physical Therapist Shortage Student Loan
8 Forgiveness Program. The primary function of the program is
9 to make repayments toward loans received by students from
10 institutions for the support of postsecondary study of
11 occupational therapy or physical therapy. Repayments shall be
12 made to qualified applicants who initiate employment in the
13 publicly funded public schools of this state and who apply
14 during their first year of employment in a public school
15 setting.
16 (2) From the funds available, the Department of
17 Education is authorized to make loan principal repayments as
18 follows:
19 (d) All repayments shall be contingent on continued
20 proof of employment for 3 years as a therapist or therapy
21 assistant by the publicly funded public schools in this state
22 and shall be made directly to the holder of the loan or, if
23 the loan is paid in full, directly to the therapist. The state
24 shall not bear the responsibility for the collection of any
25 interest charges or other remaining balance. In the event
26 that a critical shortage is no longer verified, a therapist or
27 therapy assistant shall continue to be eligible for loan
28 forgiveness as long as the therapist or therapy assistant
29 continues to be employed by the public schools of this state
30 and otherwise meets all conditions of eligibility.
31
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1 Section 24. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and
2 subsection (4) of section 240.6074, Florida Statutes, are
3 amended to read:
4 240.6074 Critical Occupational Therapist or Physical
5 Therapist Shortage Scholarship Loan Program.--
6 (2) To be eligible, a candidate shall:
7 (b) Have declared an intention to be employed by the
8 publicly funded public schools of this state for 3 years
9 following completion of the requirements. In the event
10 critical shortage areas are changed by the State Board of
11 Education, a student shall continue to be eligible for an
12 award as long as the student continues in the therapist
13 educational program for which the initial award was made and
14 the student otherwise meets all other conditions of
15 eligibility.
16 (4) The State Board of Education shall adopt by rule
17 repayment schedules and applicable interest rates under ss.
18 240.451 and 240.465. A scholarship loan must be paid back
19 within 10 years of completion of a program of studies.
20 (a) Credit for repayment of a scholarship loan shall
21 be in an amount not to exceed $2,000 plus applicable accrued
22 interest for each full year of employment by the publicly
23 funded public schools of this state.
24 (b) Any therapist or therapy assistant who fails to be
25 employed by a publicly funded public school in this state as
26 specified in this subsection is responsible for repaying the
27 loan plus interest. Repayment schedules and applicable
28 interest rates shall be determined by the rules of the State
29 Board of Education under ss. 240.451 and 240.465.
30 Section 25. Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of section
31 240.6075, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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1 240.6075 Critical Occupational Therapist or Physical
2 Therapist Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program.--
3 (1) There is established the Critical Occupational
4 Therapist or Physical Therapist Shortage Tuition Reimbursement
5 Program to improve the skills and knowledge of current
6 therapists and therapy assistants who are employed by a
7 publicly funded school in this state the public school system.
8 (2) Any full-time public school employee in a publicly
9 funded school in this state who is licensed to practice
10 occupational therapy or physical therapy in this state is
11 eligible for the program.
12 (4) The participant shall be employed by a publicly
13 funded school the public schools of this state for 3 years
14 following completion of the requirements.
15 Section 26. Section 295.01, Florida Statutes, is
16 amended to read:
17 295.01 Children of deceased or disabled veterans;
18 education.--
19 (1) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
20 state to provide educational opportunity at state expense for
21 dependent children either of whose parents was a resident of
22 the state at the time such parent entered the Armed Forces
23 and:
24 (a) Died in that service or from injuries sustained or
25 disease contracted during a period of wartime service as
26 defined in s. 1.01(14) or has died since or may hereafter die
27 from diseases or disability resulting from such war service,
28 or
29 (b) Has been:
30 1. Determined by the United States Department of
31 Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a
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1 service-connected 100-percent total and permanent disability
2 rating for compensation,
3 2. Determined to have a service-connected total and
4 permanent disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt
5 of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United
6 States Armed Services, or
7 3. Issued a valid identification card by the
8 Department of Veterans' Affairs in accordance with s. 295.17.,
9 (2) when The parents of such children must have been
10 bona fide residents of the state for 5 years next preceding
11 their application for the benefits under this section hereof,
12 and subject to the rules, restrictions, and limitations
13 hereof.
14 (3)(2) The provisions of ss. 240.404, 295.03, 295.04,
15 and 295.05 shall apply.
16 (4)(3) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
17 for administering this section.
18 Section 27. Section 295.02, Florida Statutes, is
19 amended to read:
20 295.02 Use of funds; age, etc.--
21 (1) All sums appropriated and expended under this
22 chapter shall be used to pay matriculation tuition and
23 registration fees as defined by the Department of Education,
24 board, and room rent and to buy books and supplies for the
25 children of:
26 (a) Deceased or disabled veterans or service members,
27 as defined and limited in s. 295.01, s. 295.016, s. 295.017,
28 s. 295.018, or s. 295.0195;, or of
29 (b) Parents classified as prisoners of war or missing
30 in action, as defined and limited in s. 295.015.,
31
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Florida Senate - 2001 CS for SB 1330
21-1545C-01
1 (2) Such children must be who are between the ages of
2 16 and 22 years and attend who are in attendance at a
3 state-supported institution of higher learning, including a
4 community college or vocational-technical school or attend any
5 postsecondary institution eligible to participate in the
6 Florida Bright Futures Program. A student attending an
7 eligible nonpublic institution may receive an award equivalent
8 to the average matriculation and fees calculated for full-time
9 enrollment at a public postsecondary institution at the
10 comparable level. Any child having entered upon a course of
11 training or education under the provisions of this chapter,
12 consisting of a course of not more than 4 years, and arriving
13 at the age of 22 years before the completion of such course
14 may continue the course and receive all benefits of the
15 provisions of this chapter until the course is completed. The
16 Department of Education shall administer this educational
17 program subject to regulations of the department.
18 Section 28. Sections 240.40208, 240.40242, and
19 subsection (5) of section 240.465, Florida Statutes, are
20 repealed.
21 Section 29. Except as otherwise provided in this act,
22 this act shall take effect July 1, 2001.
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
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Florida Senate - 2001 CS for SB 1330
21-1545C-01
1 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
2 SB 1330
3
4 The Committee Substitute does not create a need-based aid
program to distribute grants to universities. Instead, it
5 creates a new need-based grant program for students in
technical education, authorizes part-time students to be
6 eligible for the Florida Public Student Assistance Grant, and
makes a number of changes to statutes relating to student
7 financial assistance. Most of the changes are technical or
administrative:
8
All applicants for state financial assistance programs will
9 fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA),
which demonstrates the level of need for financial assistance.
10
The Rosewood Family Scholarship will pay $4,000 to each
11 recipient.
12 Authorized payments for recipients of the Critical Teacher
Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program are increased from $78
13 to $115 per credit hour.
14 The following changes are made to the Bright Futures
Scholarship program:
15
Awards are available for 7 years after high school graduation.
16
The Merit Scholarship is renamed the Medallion Scholarship.
17
Students who graduate from an out-of-state high school are
18 eligible for a scholarship only if their parents are required
to live out of state because of a clearly defined public
19 service assignment.
20 Application deadlines are less restrictive: a student may
apply by high school graduation, with exceptions allowed up to
21 December 31.
22 The terms "renewal, reinstatement, and restoration" are
defined and used consistently.
23
A student in a 5-year undergraduate and graduate-level program
24 will earn a scholarship worth the same amount as a student in
a 4-year undergraduate program.
25
A student will be eligible for the Medallion Scholarship
26 without earning a GPA of 3.0 and without completing a
community service project, if the student is a National Merit
27 Scholar, a National Merit Finalist, or a National Hispanic
Scholar.
28
The vocational courses required for the Gold Seal Scholarship
29 are simplified. They must be three consecutive vocational
credits.
30
In addition, the bill makes technical and administrative
31 changes to various programs as recommended by Department of
Education.
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