Senate Bill sb1330e1
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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 ss.
17 240.209, 240.35, F.S.; increasing the
18 percentage of funds from the financial aid fee
19 to be used for need-based financial aid for
20 students at state universities and community
21 colleges; requiring a report; amending s.
22 240.40201, F.S.; extending and placing a limit
23 upon the eligibility period for the Florida
24 Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
25 redesignating the Florida Merit Scholarship as
26 the Florida Medallion Scholarship; amending s.
27 240.40202, F.S.; defining terms; revising
28 application dates for the Florida Bright
29 Futures Scholarship Program; requiring school
30 districts to provide an annual report to
31 students; amending s. 240.40203, F.S.; defining
1
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1 terms; providing conditions for awards to
2 students in programs that confer
3 post-baccalaureate degrees; conforming
4 provisions; amending s. 240.40204, F.S.;
5 conforming provisions; amending s. 240.40205,
6 F.S.; eliminating obsolete provisions;
7 expanding eligibility for the Florida Academic
8 Scholarship; amending s. 240.40206, s.
9 240.40207, F.S.; conforming provisions;
10 amending s. 240.40209, F.S.; directing the
11 Department of Education to define fee
12 calculation; amending s. 240.404, F.S.;
13 requiring an application process; providing
14 conditions for maintaining status as a resident
15 for tuition purposes; amending s. 240.4063,
16 F.S.; conforming provisions; amending s.
17 240.4064, F.S.; revising the tuition
18 reimbursement rate; amending s. 240.409, F.S.;
19 authorizing certain grants for part-time
20 students; revising terms of eligibility for
21 certain grants; amending ss. 240.4095,
22 240.4097, F.S.; conforming provisions; amending
23 s. 240.412, F.S.; conforming provisions;
24 amending s. 240.4126, F.S.; establishing the
25 amount of an award; conforming provisions;
26 amending ss. 240.4128, 240.413, F.S.;
27 conforming provisions; amending s. 240.437,
28 F.S.; authorizing administration by the
29 Department of Education for certain scholarship
30 programs; amending ss. 240.472, 240.6073,
31 240.6074, 240.6075, F.S.; conforming
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1 provisions; amending ss. 295.01, 295.02, F.S.;
2 providing eligibility for students attending
3 certain postsecondary institutions; repealing
4 s. 240.40208, F.S., relating to the transition
5 period for the Bright Futures Scholarship
6 Program; repealing s. 240.40242, F.S., relating
7 to criteria for use of certain scholarship
8 funds by children of deceased or disabled
9 veterans; amending s. 240.235, F.S.; requiring
10 the approval of certain student fee
11 modifications, rather than just increases, by
12 certain committees; conforming provisions;
13 creating s. 240.236, F.S.; providing for the
14 establishment of student governments at each
15 state university with the authority to
16 establish certain procedures and to provide for
17 the election or removal of student government
18 officers; providing powers and duties;
19 providing for suspension or removal from office
20 under certain circumstances; amending s.
21 240.295, F.S.; conforming provisions; creating
22 s. 240.336, F.S.; providing for student
23 governments at community colleges; amending ss.
24 240.382, 240.531, 447.203, 447.301, F.S.;
25 conforming provisions; repealing s. 240.136,
26 F.S., relating to the removal and suspension of
27 student government officers; authorizing a
28 Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program
29 at the University of West Florida; authorizing
30 a Master of Science in Social Work degree
31 program at Florida Atlantic University;
3
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1 repealing s. 240.465(5), F.S., relating to
2 withholding the academic transcript of a
3 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. Paragraph (e) of subsection (3) of section
20 240.209, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
21 240.209 Board of Regents; powers and duties.--
22 (3) The board shall:
23 (e) Establish student fees.
24 1. By no later than December 1 of each year, the board
25 shall raise the systemwide standard for resident undergraduate
26 matriculation and financial aid fees for the subsequent fall
27 term, up to but no more than 25 percent of the prior year's
28 cost of undergraduate programs. In implementing this
29 paragraph, fees charged for graduate, medical, veterinary, and
30 dental programs may be increased by the Board of Regents in
31 the same percentage as the increase in fees for resident
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1 undergraduates. However, in the absence of legislative action
2 to the contrary in an appropriations act, the board may not
3 approve annual fee increases for resident students in excess
4 of 10 percent. The sum of nonresident student matriculation
5 and tuition fees must be sufficient to defray the full cost of
6 undergraduate education. Graduate, medical, veterinary, and
7 dental fees charged to nonresidents may be increased by the
8 board in the same percentage as the increase in fees for
9 nonresident undergraduates. However, in implementing this
10 policy and in the absence of legislative action to the
11 contrary in an appropriations act, annual fee increases for
12 nonresident students may not exceed 25 percent. In the absence
13 of legislative action to the contrary in the General
14 Appropriations Act, the fees shall go into effect for the
15 following fall term.
16 2. When the appropriations act requires a new fee
17 schedule, the board shall establish a systemwide standard fee
18 schedule required to produce the total fee revenue established
19 in the appropriations act based on the product of the assigned
20 enrollment and the fee schedule. The board may approve the
21 expenditure of any fee revenues resulting from the product of
22 the fee schedule adopted pursuant to this section and the
23 assigned enrollment.
24 3. Upon provision of authority in a General
25 Appropriations Act to spend revenue raised pursuant to this
26 section, the board shall approve a university request to
27 implement a matriculation and out-of-state tuition fee
28 schedule which is calculated to generate revenue which varies
29 no more than 10 percent from the standard fee revenues
30 authorized through an appropriations act. In implementing an
31 alternative fee schedule, the increase in cost to a student
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1 taking 15 hours in one term shall be limited to 5 percent.
2 Matriculation and out-of-state tuition fee revenues generated
3 as a result of this provision are to be expended for
4 implementing a plan for achieving accountability goals adopted
5 pursuant to s. 240.214 and for implementing a Board of
6 Regents-approved plan to contain student costs by reducing the
7 time necessary for graduation without reducing the quality of
8 instruction. The plans shall be recommended by a
9 universitywide committee, at least one-half of whom are
10 students appointed by the student body president. A
11 chairperson, appointed jointly by the university president and
12 the student body president, shall vote only in the case of a
13 tie.
14 4. The board may implement individual university plans
15 for a differential out-of-state tuition fee for universities
16 that have a service area that borders another state.
17 5. The board is authorized to collect for financial
18 aid purposes an amount not to exceed 5 percent of the student
19 tuition and matriculation fee per credit hour. The revenues
20 from fees are to remain at each campus and replace existing
21 financial aid fees. Such funds shall be disbursed to students
22 as quickly as possible. The board shall specify specific
23 limits on the percent of the fees collected in a fiscal year
24 which may be carried forward unexpended to the following
25 fiscal year. A minimum of 75 50 percent of funds from the
26 student financial aid fee for new financial aid awards shall
27 be used to provide financial aid based on absolute need. A
28 student who has received an award prior to July 1, 1984, shall
29 have his or her eligibility assessed on the same criteria that
30 was used at the time of his or her original award. The Board
31 of Regents shall develop criteria for making financial aid
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1 awards. Each university shall report annually to the
2 Department of Education on the revenue collected pursuant to
3 this subparagraph, the amount carried forward, the criteria
4 used to make awards, the amount and number of awards for each
5 criterion, and a delineation of the distribution of such
6 awards. The report shall include an assessment by category of
7 the financial need of every student who receives an award,
8 regardless of the purpose for which the award is received.
9 Awards which are based on financial need shall be distributed
10 in accordance with a nationally recognized system of need
11 analysis approved by the Board of Regents. An award for
12 academic merit shall require a minimum overall grade point
13 average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent for both
14 initial receipt of the award and renewal of the award.
15 6. The board may recommend to the Legislature an
16 appropriate systemwide standard matriculation and tuition fee
17 schedule.
18 7. The Education and General Student and Other Fees
19 Trust Fund is hereby created, to be administered by the
20 Department of Education. Funds shall be credited to the trust
21 fund from student fee collections and other miscellaneous fees
22 and receipts. The purpose of the trust fund is to support the
23 instruction and research missions of the State University
24 System. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301, and
25 pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the
26 end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund and
27 shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust
28 fund.
29 8. The board is further authorized to establish the
30 following fees:
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1 a. A nonrefundable application fee in an amount not to
2 exceed $30.
3 b. An admissions deposit fee for the University of
4 Florida College of Dentistry in an amount not to exceed $200.
5 c. An orientation fee in an amount not to exceed $35.
6 d. A fee for security, access, or identification
7 cards. The annual fee for such a card may not exceed $10 per
8 card. The maximum amount charged for a replacement card may
9 not exceed $15.
10 e. Registration fees for audit and zero-hours
11 registration; a service charge, which may not exceed $15, for
12 the payment of tuition in installments; and a
13 late-registration fee in an amount not less than $50 nor more
14 than $100 to be imposed on students who fail to initiate
15 registration during the regular registration period.
16 f. A late-payment fee in an amount not less than $50
17 nor more than $100 to be imposed on students who fail to pay
18 or fail to make appropriate arrangements to pay (by means of
19 installment payment, deferment, or third-party billing)
20 tuition by the deadline set by each university. Each
21 university may adopt specific procedures or policies for
22 waiving the late-payment fee for minor underpayments.
23 g. A fee for miscellaneous health-related charges for
24 services provided at cost by the university health center
25 which are not covered by the health fee set under s.
26 240.235(1).
27 h. Materials and supplies fees to offset the cost of
28 materials or supplies that are consumed in the course of the
29 student's instructional activities, excluding the cost of
30 equipment replacement, repairs, and maintenance.
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1 i. Housing rental rates and miscellaneous housing
2 charges for services provided by the university at the request
3 of the student.
4 j. A charge representing the reasonable cost of
5 efforts to collect payment of overdue accounts.
6 k. A service charge on university loans in lieu of
7 interest and administrative handling charges.
8 l. A fee for off-campus course offerings when the
9 location results in specific, identifiable increased costs to
10 the university.
11 m. Library fees and fines, including charges for
12 damaged and lost library materials, overdue reserve library
13 books, interlibrary loans, and literature searches.
14 n. Fees relating to duplicating, photocopying,
15 binding, and microfilming; copyright services; and
16 standardized testing. These fees may be charged only to those
17 who receive the services.
18 o. Fees and fines relating to the use, late return,
19 and loss and damage of facilities and equipment.
20 p. A returned-check fee as authorized by s. 832.07(1)
21 for unpaid checks returned to the university.
22 q. Traffic and parking fines, charges for parking
23 decals, and transportation access fees.
24 r. An Educational Research Center for Child
25 Development fee for child care and services offered by the
26 center.
27 s. Fees for transcripts and diploma replacement, not
28 to exceed $10 per item.
29 Section 4. Subsection (11) of section 240.35, Florida
30 Statutes, is amended to read:
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1 240.35 Student fees.--Unless otherwise provided, the
2 provisions of this section apply only to fees charged for
3 college credit instruction leading to an associate in arts
4 degree, an associate in applied science degree, or an
5 associate in science degree and noncollege credit
6 college-preparatory courses defined in s. 239.105.
7 (11)(a) Each community college is authorized to
8 establish a separate fee for financial aid purposes in an
9 additional amount up to, but not to exceed, 5 percent of the
10 total student tuition or matriculation fees collected. Each
11 community college may collect up to an additional 2 percent if
12 the amount generated by the total financial aid fee is less
13 than $250,000. If the amount generated is less than $250,000,
14 a community college that charges tuition and matriculation
15 fees at least equal to the average fees established by rule
16 may transfer from the general current fund to the scholarship
17 fund an amount equal to the difference between $250,000 and
18 the amount generated by the total financial aid fee
19 assessment. No other transfer from the general current fund to
20 the loan, endowment, or scholarship fund, by whatever name
21 known, is authorized.
22 (b) All funds collected under this program shall be
23 placed in the loan and endowment fund or scholarship fund of
24 the college, by whatever name known. Such funds shall be
25 disbursed to students as quickly as possible. An amount not
26 greater than 40 percent of the fees collected in a fiscal year
27 may be carried forward unexpended to the following fiscal
28 year. However, funds collected prior to July 1, 1989, and
29 placed in an endowment fund may not be considered part of the
30 balance of funds carried forward unexpended to the following
31 fiscal year.
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1 (c) Up to 25 percent or $300,000, whichever is
2 greater, of the financial aid fees collected may be used to
3 assist students who demonstrate academic merit; who
4 participate in athletics, public service, cultural arts, and
5 other extracurricular programs as determined by the
6 institution; or who are identified as members of a targeted
7 gender or ethnic minority population. The financial aid fee
8 revenues allocated for athletic scholarships and fee
9 exemptions provided pursuant to subsection (17) for athletes
10 shall be distributed equitably as required by s.
11 228.2001(3)(d). A minimum of 75 50 percent of the balance of
12 these funds for new awards shall be used to provide financial
13 aid based on absolute need, and the remainder of the funds
14 shall be used for academic merit purposes and other purposes
15 approved by the district boards of trustees. Such other
16 purposes shall include the payment of child care fees for
17 students with financial need. The State Board of Community
18 Colleges shall develop criteria for making financial aid
19 awards. Each college shall report annually to the Department
20 of Education on the revenue collected pursuant to this
21 paragraph, the amount carried forward, the criteria used to
22 make awards, the amount and number of awards for each
23 criterion, and a delineation of the distribution of such
24 awards. The report shall include an assessment by category of
25 the financial need of every student who receives an award,
26 regardless of the purpose for which the award is received.
27 Awards which are based on financial need shall be distributed
28 in accordance with a nationally recognized system of need
29 analysis approved by the State Board of Community Colleges. An
30 award for academic merit shall require a minimum overall grade
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1 point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent for both
2 initial receipt of the award and renewal of the award.
3 (d) These funds may not be used for direct or indirect
4 administrative purposes or salaries.
5 Section 5. Subsections (1), (2), (5), and (7) of
6 section 240.40201, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
7 subsection (11) is added to that section, to read:
8 240.40201 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
9 Program.--
10 (1) The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is
11 created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to
12 reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition
13 of high academic achievement and who enrolls in a degree
14 program, certificate program, or applied technology diploma
15 program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary
16 education institution within 7 3 years of graduation from high
17 school. An award may not be provided to a student beyond 7
18 years after high school graduation, regardless of the year in
19 which the student first receives scholarship funding.
20 (2) The Bright Futures Scholarship Program consists of
21 three types of awards, the Florida Academic Scholarship, the
22 Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship, and the Florida
23 Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship.
24 (5) The department shall issue awards from the
25 scholarship program annually. Annual awards may be for up to
26 45 semester credit hours or the equivalent. Before the
27 registration period each semester, the department shall
28 transmit payment for each award to the president or director
29 of the postsecondary education institution, or his or her
30 representative, except that the department may withhold
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1 payment if the receiving institution fails to report or to
2 make refunds to the department as required in this act.
3 (a) Within 30 days after the end of regular
4 registration each semester, the educational institution shall
5 certify to the department the eligibility status of each
6 student who receives an award. After the end of the drop and
7 add period, an institution is not required to reevaluate or
8 revise a student's eligibility status, but must make a refund
9 to the department if a student who receives an award
10 disbursement terminates enrollment for any reason during an
11 academic term and a refund is permitted by the institution's
12 refund policy.
13 (b) An institution that receives funds from the
14 program shall certify to the department the amount of funds
15 disbursed to each student and shall remit to the department
16 any undisbursed advances within 60 days after the end of
17 regular registration.
18 (c) Each institution that receives moneys through this
19 program shall prepare an annual report that includes an
20 independent external audit or an audit prepared by the Office
21 of the Auditor General. The report shall include an audit of
22 the institution's administration of the program and a complete
23 accounting of the moneys for the program. This report must be
24 submitted to the department annually by March 1. The
25 department may conduct its own annual audit of an
26 institution's administration of the program. The department
27 may request a refund of any moneys overpaid to the institution
28 for the program. The department may suspend or revoke an
29 institution's eligibility to receive future moneys for the
30 program if the department finds that an institution has not
31 complied with this section. The institution must remit within
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1 60 days any refund requested in accordance with this
2 subsection.
3 (7) A student may receive only one type of award from
4 the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program at a time, but
5 may transfer from one type of award to another through the
6 renewal application process, if the student's eligibility
7 status changes. However, a student is not eligible to transfer
8 from a Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship or a Florida
9 Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship to a Florida Academic
10 Scholarship. A student who receives an award from the program
11 may also receive a federal family education loan or a federal
12 direct loan, and the value of the award must be considered in
13 the certification or calculation of the student's loan
14 eligibility.
15 (11) A student who graduates from high school in 1997
16 or earlier and who is eligible for the Florida Undergraduate
17 Scholar's Program pursuant to s. 240.402, Florida Statutes,
18 1996 Supplement, is eligible for the Florida Academic Scholars
19 award as provided in this chapter. A student who graduates
20 from high school in 1997 or earlier and who is eligible for
21 the Florida Vocational Gold Seal Endorsement Scholarship award
22 pursuant to s. 240.40201, Florida Statutes, 1996 Supplement,
23 is eligible for the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
24 award as provided in this chapter. Award eligibility ends 7
25 years after high school graduation.
26 Section 6. Paragraphs (b) and (f) of subsection (1)
27 and subsection (2) of section 240.40202, Florida Statutes, are
28 amended, present subsection (4) of that section is
29 redesignated as subsection (5), and a new subsection (4) is
30 added to that section, to read:
31
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1 240.40202 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
2 student eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
3 (1) To be eligible for an initial award from any of
4 the three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright
5 Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:
6 (b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
7 equivalent as described in s. 232.246 or s. 229.814 unless:
8 1. The student is enrolled full time in the early
9 admission program of an eligible postsecondary education
10 institution or completes a home education program according to
11 s. 232.0201; or
12 2. The student earns a high school diploma from a
13 non-Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who
14 is on military or public service assignment away from Florida.
15 The term, "public service assignment," as used in this
16 subparagraph, means the occupational assignment outside
17 Florida of a person who is a permanent resident of Florida and
18 who is employed by the United States Government or the State
19 of Florida, a condition of which employment is assignment
20 outside Florida.
21 (f) Apply for a scholarship from the program by April
22 1 of the last semester before high school graduation. Requests
23 for exceptions to this deadline may be accepted by the high
24 school or district through December 31 following high school
25 graduation. There is no application deadline for a student who
26 graduates from a non-Florida high school pursuant to
27 subparagraph (b)2.
28 (2) A student is eligible to accept an initial award
29 for 3 years following high school graduation and to accept a
30 renewal award for 7 years following high school graduation. A
31 student who applies for an award by April 1 and who meets all
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1 other eligibility requirements, but who does not accept his or
2 her award during the first year of eligibility after high
3 school graduation, may apply for reinstatement of the award
4 for use within 7 reapply during subsequent application periods
5 up to 3 years after high school graduation. Reinstatement
6 applications must be received by the deadline established by
7 the Department of Education.
8 (4) Each school district shall annually provide to
9 each high school student a complete and accurate Florida
10 Bright Futures Scholarship Evaluation Report and Key. The
11 report shall be disseminated at the beginning of each school
12 year. The report must include all high school coursework
13 attempted, the number of credits earned toward each type of
14 award, and the calculation of the grade point average for each
15 award. The report must also identify all requirements not met
16 per award as well as identify the awards for which the student
17 has met the academic requirements.
18 Section 7. Section 240.40203, Florida Statutes, is
19 amended to read:
20 240.40203 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
21 student eligibility requirements for renewal, reinstatement,
22 and restoration awards.--
23 (1) After the first year of eligibility, a student who
24 wishes to receive To be eligible to renew a scholarship from
25 any of the three types of scholarships under the Florida
26 Bright Futures Scholarship Program, a student must meet the
27 following requirements for either renewal, reinstatement, or
28 restoration:
29 (a) Renewal applies to a student who received an award
30 for at least one term during the previous academic year. For
31 renewal, a student must complete at least 12 semester credit
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1 hours or the equivalent in the last academic year in which the
2 student earned a scholarship and.
3 (b) maintain the cumulative grade point average
4 required by the scholarship program, except that:
5 1. If a recipient's grades fall beneath the average
6 required to renew a Florida Academic Scholarship, but are
7 sufficient to renew a Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship or a
8 Florida Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship, the Department of
9 Education may grant a renewal from the Florida Medallion
10 Scholarship Program one of those other scholarship programs,
11 if the student meets the renewal eligibility requirements; or
12 2. If upon renewal evaluation, at any time during the
13 eligibility period, a student's grades or hours, or both, are
14 not sufficient insufficient to renew the scholarship, the
15 student may use the cumulative grades or hours, or both,
16 earned through the following summer to renew the scholarship
17 restore eligibility by improving the grade point average to
18 the required level. A student is eligible for such a
19 reinstatement only once. The Legislature encourages
20 educational education institutions to assist students to
21 calculate whether or not it is possible to raise the grade
22 point average during the summer term. If the institution
23 determines that it is possible, the education institution may
24 so inform the department, which may reserve the student's
25 award if funds are available. The renewal, however, must not
26 be granted until the student achieves the required cumulative
27 grade point average and earns the required number of credit
28 hours. If during the summer term the student does not earn is
29 not sufficient hours or to raise the grade point average to
30 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 8. 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 9. 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
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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 (g) Has been awarded the American International
27 Certificate of Education Diploma from the University of
28 Cambridge.
29
30 Effective with the 1998-1999 school year, A student must
31 complete a program of community service work, as approved by
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1 the district school board or the administrators of a nonpublic
2 school, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours of service
3 work and require the student to identify a social problem that
4 interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal
5 involvement in addressing the problem, and, through papers or
6 other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her
7 experience.
8 (4) In each school district, the Florida Academic
9 Scholar with the highest academic ranking shall be designated
10 as an Academic Top Scholar and shall receive an additional
11 award of $1,500 for college-related expenses. This award must
12 be funded from the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
13 Section 10. Section 240.40206, Florida Statutes, is
14 amended to read:
15 240.40206 Florida Medallion Merit Scholars award.--
16 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Medallion
17 Merit Scholars award if the student meets the general
18 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
19 Scholarship Program and the student:
20 (a)1. Has achieved a weighted grade point average of
21 3.0 as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or the equivalent,
22 in high school courses that are adopted by the Board of
23 Regents and recommended by the State Board of Community
24 Colleges as college-preparatory academic courses; and
25 2.(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
31
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1 (b)(c) Has attended a home education program according
2 to 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;.
11 (c) 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 in s. 240.40205; or
15 (d) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
16 Recognition Program as a scholar, but has not completed a
17 program of community service as provided in s. 240.40205.
18 (2) A Florida Medallion Merit Scholar is eligible for
19 an award equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of
20 matriculation and fees, if the student is enrolled in a public
21 postsecondary education institution. A student who is enrolled
22 in a nonpublic postsecondary education institution is eligible
23 for an award equal to the amount that would be required to pay
24 75 percent of the matriculation and fees of a public
25 postsecondary education institution at the comparable level.
26 (3) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida
27 Medallion Merit Scholar, a student must maintain the
28 equivalent of a grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for
29 all postsecondary education work attempted, with an
30 opportunity for restoration reinstatement one time as provided
31 in this act.
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1 Section 11. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (1)
2 and subsections (3) and (4) of section 240.40207, Florida
3 Statutes, are amended to read:
4 240.40207 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
5 award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is
6 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
7 to recognize and reward academic achievement and vocational
8 preparation by high school students who wish to continue their
9 education.
10 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
11 Vocational Scholars award if the student meets the general
12 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
13 Scholarship Program and the student:
14 (a) Completes the secondary school portion of a
15 sequential program of studies that requires at least three
16 secondary school vocational credits in the same program taken
17 over 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 Workforce Estimating
22 Conference or Workforce Florida, Inc., for its ability to
23 provide high-wage employment in an occupation with high
24 potential for employment opportunities. On-the-job training
25 may not be substituted for any of the three required
26 vocational credits.
27 (c) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point
28 average of 3.0, as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, on all
29 subjects required for a standard high school diploma,
30 excluding elective courses.
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1 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
2 as a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar, a student must meet
3 the requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the
4 equivalent of a grade point average requirement of 2.75 on a
5 4.0 scale for all postsecondary education work attempted. A
6 student has, with an opportunity for one restoration
7 reinstatement one time as provided in this act.
8 (4) A student may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
9 Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
10 required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the
11 equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar who meets
12 all renewal requirements for the Florida Medallion Scholars
13 award, has a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all
14 postsecondary education work attempted may apply for a Florida
15 Medallion Merit Scholars award at any renewal period or the
16 department may transfer the student to the Florida Medallion
17 Scholars Award during any renewal period. All other provisions
18 of that program apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be
19 calculated by subtracting from the student's total eligibility
20 the number of credit hours the student attempted while earning
21 the Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
22 Section 12. Section 240.40209, Florida Statutes, is
23 amended to read:
24 240.40209 Bright Futures Scholarship recipients
25 attending nonpublic institutions; calculation of
26 awards.--Notwithstanding ss. 240.40201, 240.40205, 240.40206,
27 and 240.40207, a student who receives any award under the
28 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, who is enrolled in
29 a nonpublic postsecondary education institution, and who is
30 assessed tuition and fees that are the same as those of a
31 full-time student at that institution, shall receive a fixed
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1 award calculated by using the average matriculation and fee
2 calculation as defined by the Department of Education for
3 full-time attendance at a public postsecondary education
4 institution at the comparable level. If the student is
5 enrolled part-time and is assessed tuition and fees at a
6 reduced level, the award shall be either one-half of the
7 maximum award or three-fourths of the maximum award, depending
8 on the level of fees assessed.
9 Section 13. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and
10 subsection (3) of section 240.404, Florida Statutes, are
11 amended to read:
12 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
13 for state financial aid.--
14 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of
15 students for state financial aid awards consist of the
16 following:
17 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
18 acceptance at a state university or community college; a
19 nursing diploma school approved by the Florida Board of
20 Nursing; a Florida college, university, or community college
21 which is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the
22 United States Department of Education a member of the
23 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; any
24 Florida institution the credits of which are acceptable for
25 transfer to state universities; any area technical center; or
26 any private vocational-technical institution accredited by an
27 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
28 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
29 Postsecondary Accreditation.
30 2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
31 preceding the award of aid for a program established pursuant
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1 to s. 240.409, s. 240.4095, s. 240.4097, s. 240.412, s.
2 240.4125, s. 240.413, s. 240.4987, s. 240.605, or s. 240.606.
3 Residency in this state must be for purposes other than to
4 obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of receiving
5 state financial aid awards shall be determined in the same
6 manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s.
7 240.1201 and rules of the State Board of Education. A person
8 who has been properly classified as a resident by a
9 postsecondary education institution for initial receipt of
10 state-funded student financial assistance and found to be
11 eligible to participate in a financial assistance program may
12 continue to qualify as a resident for state-funded financial
13 aid programs if the student maintains continuous enrollment at
14 the postsecondary education institution, with no break in
15 enrollment greater than 12 consecutive months.
16 3. Submission of certification attesting to the
17 accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information
18 provided to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive
19 state financial aid awards. Falsification of such information
20 shall result in the denial of any pending application and
21 revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no
22 further payments shall be made. Additionally, students who
23 knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
24 financial aid awards shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
25 second degree subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall
26 be required to return all state financial aid awards
27 wrongfully obtained.
28 4. Completion of the Free Application for Federal
29 Student Aid provided by the U.S. Department of Education and
30 submitted as required by the Florida Department of Education.
31
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1 (3) Undergraduate students shall be eligible to
2 receive financial aid for a maximum of 110 percent of the
3 number of credit hours required to complete the program 8
4 semesters or 12 quarters. However, undergraduate students
5 participating in college-preparatory instruction, students
6 requiring additional time to complete the college-level
7 communication and computation skills testing programs, or
8 students enrolled in a 5-year undergraduate degree program
9 shall be eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum of 10
10 semesters or 15 quarters.
11 Section 14. Subsection (2) and paragraph (a) of
12 subsection (3) of section 240.4063, Florida Statutes, are
13 amended to read:
14 240.4063 Florida Teacher Scholarship and Forgivable
15 Loan Program.--
16 (2) Within the Florida Teacher Scholarship and
17 Forgivable Loan Program shall be established the "Chappie"
18 James Most Promising Teacher Scholarship, which shall be
19 offered to a top graduating senior from each publicly funded
20 public secondary school in the state. An additional number of
21 "Chappie" James Most Promising Teacher Scholarship awards
22 shall be offered annually to graduating seniors from nonpublic
23 secondary schools in the state which are listed with the
24 Department of Education and accredited by the Southern
25 Association of Colleges and Schools or any other private
26 statewide accrediting agency which makes public its standards,
27 procedures, and member schools. The nonpublic secondary
28 schools shall be in compliance with regulations of the Office
29 for Civil Rights. The number of awards to nonpublic secondary
30 school students shall be proportional to the number of awards
31 available to public secondary school students and shall be
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1 calculated as the ratio of the number of nonpublic to public
2 secondary school seniors in the state multiplied by the number
3 of public secondary schools in the state.
4 (a) The scholarship may be used for attendance at a
5 state university, a community college, or an independent
6 institution as defined in s. 240.605.
7 (b) The amount of the scholarship is $1,500 and may be
8 renewed for 1 year if the student earns a 2.5 cumulative grade
9 point average and 12 credit hours per term and meets the
10 eligibility requirements for renewal of the award.
11 (c) To be eligible for the scholarship, a student
12 shall: be ranked within the top quartile of the senior class;
13 have been an active member of a high school future teacher
14 organization, if such organization exists in the student's
15 school; have earned a minimum unweighted cumulative grade
16 point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; file an application
17 within the application period; meet the general requirements
18 for student eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as
19 otherwise provided in this section; and have the intent to
20 enter the public teaching profession in Florida.
21 (d) Three candidates from each publicly funded public
22 secondary school and one candidate from each nonpublic
23 secondary school in the state shall be nominated by the
24 principal and a committee of teachers, based on criteria which
25 shall include, but need not be limited to, rank in class,
26 standardized test scores, cumulative grade point average,
27 extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, an
28 essay, and a declaration of intention to teach in a public
29 school in the state.
30 (e) From public secondary school nominees, the
31 Commissioner of Education shall select a graduating senior
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1 from each publicly funded public high school to receive a
2 scholarship. Selection of recipients from nonpublic secondary
3 schools shall be made by a committee appointed by the
4 Commissioner of Education comprised of representatives from
5 nonpublic secondary schools and the Department of Education.
6 (f) Fifteen percent of scholarships awarded shall be
7 to minority students. However, in the event that fewer than
8 15 percent of the total eligible nominees are minority
9 students, the commissioner may allocate all award funds as
10 long as a scholarship loan is reserved for each eligible
11 minority nominee.
12 (3)(a) Within the Florida Teacher Scholarship and
13 Forgivable Loan Program shall be established the Florida
14 Critical Teacher Shortage Forgivable Loan Program which shall
15 make undergraduate and graduate forgivable loans available to
16 eligible students entering programs of study that lead to a
17 degree in a teaching program in a critical teacher shortage
18 area. To be eligible for a program loan, a candidate shall:
19 1. Be a full-time student at the upper-division
20 undergraduate or graduate level in a teacher training program
21 approved by the department pursuant to s. 240.529 leading to
22 certification in a critical teacher shortage subject area.
23 2. Have declared an intent to teach, for at least the
24 number of years for which a forgivable loan is received, in
25 publicly funded elementary or secondary schools of Florida in
26 a critical teacher shortage area identified by the State Board
27 of Education. For purposes of this chapter subsection, a
28 school is publicly funded if it receives at least 75 percent
29 of its operating costs from governmental agencies and operates
30 its educational program under contract with a public school
31 district or the Department of Education.
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1 3. Meet the general requirements for student
2 eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise
3 provided in this section.
4 4. If applying for an undergraduate forgivable loan,
5 have maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average of
6 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate work. Renewal
7 applicants for undergraduate loans shall maintain a minimum
8 cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.5 on a 4.0
9 scale for all undergraduate work and have earned at least 12
10 semester credits per term, or the equivalent.
11 5. If applying for a graduate forgivable loan, have
12 maintained an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of
13 at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or have attained a Graduate
14 Record Examination score of at least 1,000. Renewal applicants
15 for graduate loans shall maintain a minimum cumulative grade
16 point average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all
17 graduate work and have earned at least 9 semester credits per
18 term, or the equivalent.
19 Section 15. Subsections (2) and (3) of section
20 240.4064, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
21 240.4064 Critical teacher shortage tuition
22 reimbursement program.--
23 (2) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
24 implement the critical teacher shortage tuition reimbursement
25 program. Any full-time certified teacher in a Florida publicly
26 funded school or developmental research school public school
27 employee or developmental research school employee certified
28 to teach in this state is eligible for the program. For the
29 purposes of this program, tuition reimbursement shall be
30 limited to courses in critical teacher shortage areas as
31
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1 determined by the State Board of Education. Such courses
2 shall be:
3 (a) Graduate-level courses leading to a master's,
4 specialist, or doctoral degree;
5 (b) Graduate-level courses leading to a new
6 certification area; or
7 (c) State-approved undergraduate courses leading to an
8 advanced degree or new certification area.
9 (3) Participants may receive tuition reimbursement
10 payments for up to 9 semester hours, or the equivalent in
11 quarter hours, per year, at a rate not to exceed $115 $78 per
12 semester hour, up to a total of 36 semester hours. All tuition
13 reimbursements shall be contingent on passing an approved
14 course with a minimum grade of 3.0 or its equivalent.
15 Section 16. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
16 240.409, Florida Statutes, is 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, per
22 term 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. A No student is
4 eligible for the award for 110 percent of the number of credit
5 hours required to complete the program may receive an award
6 for more than the equivalent of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of
7 full-time enrollment, except as otherwise provided in s.
8 240.404(3).
9 Section 17. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
10 240.4095, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
11 240.4095 Florida Private Student Assistance Grant
12 Program; eligibility for grants.--
13 (2)(a) Florida private student assistance grants from
14 the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may be made
15 only to full-time degree-seeking students who meet the general
16 requirements for student eligibility as provided in s.
17 240.404, except as otherwise provided in this section. Such
18 grants shall be awarded for the amount of demonstrated unmet
19 need for tuition and fees and may not exceed an amount equal
20 to the average matriculation and other registration fees for
21 30 credit hours at state universities plus $1,000 per academic
22 year, or as specified in the General Appropriations Act, to
23 any applicant. A demonstrated unmet need of less than $200
24 shall render the applicant ineligible for a Florida private
25 student assistance grant. Recipients of such grants must have
26 been accepted at a baccalaureate-degree-granting independent
27 nonprofit college or university, which is accredited by the
28 Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges
29 and Schools and which is located in and chartered as a
30 domestic corporation by the state. A No student is eligible
31 for the award for 110 percent of credit hours required to
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1 complete the program may receive an award for more than the
2 equivalent of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time
3 enrollment, except as otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3).
4 Section 18. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
5 240.4097, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
6 240.4097 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance
7 Grant Program; eligibility for grants.--
8 (2)(a) Florida postsecondary student assistance grants
9 through the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may
10 be made only to full time degree-seeking students who meet the
11 general requirements for student eligibility as provided in s.
12 240.404, except as otherwise provided in this section. Such
13 grants shall be awarded for the amount of demonstrated unmet
14 need for tuition and fees and may not exceed an amount equal
15 to the average prior academic year cost of matriculation and
16 other registration fees for 30 credit hours at state
17 universities plus $1,000 per academic year, or as specified in
18 the General Appropriations Act, to any applicant. A
19 demonstrated unmet need of less than $200 shall render the
20 applicant ineligible for a Florida postsecondary student
21 assistance grant. Recipients of such grants must have been
22 accepted at a postsecondary institution that is located in the
23 state and that is:
24 1. A private nursing diploma school approved by the
25 Florida Board of Nursing; or
26 2. An institution either licensed by the State Board
27 of Independent Colleges and Universities or exempt from
28 licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(a), excluding those
29 institutions the students of which are eligible to receive a
30 Florida private student assistance grant pursuant to s.
31 240.4095.
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1
2 A No student is eligible for the award for 110 percent of the
3 number of credit hours required to complete the program 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 Section 19. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) and
8 subsection (6) of section 240.412, Florida Statutes, are
9 amended to read:
10 240.412 Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant
11 Program.--
12 (5)(a) In order to be eligible to receive a
13 scholarship pursuant to this section, an applicant shall:
14 1. Be a Hispanic-American, or a person of Spanish
15 culture with origins in Mexico, South America, Central
16 America, or the Caribbean, regardless of race.
17 2. Be a citizen of the United States and meet the
18 general requirements for student eligibility as provided in s.
19 240.404, except as otherwise provided in this section.
20 3. Be accepted at a state university or community
21 college or any Florida college or university 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 the credits of which are
25 acceptable without qualification for transfer to state
26 universities.
27 4. Enroll as a full-time undergraduate or graduate
28 student.
29 5. Earn a 3.0 unweighted grade point average on a 4.0
30 scale, or the equivalent for high school subjects creditable
31 toward a diploma. If an applicant applies as a graduate
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1 student, he or she shall have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade
2 point average for undergraduate college-level courses.
3 (6) The annual scholarship to each recipient shall be
4 $2,000. Priority in the distribution of scholarships shall be
5 given to students with the lowest total family resources.
6 Renewal scholarships shall take precedence over new awards in
7 any year in which funds are not sufficient to meet the total
8 need. No undergraduate student shall receive an award for
9 more than the equivalent of 8 semesters or 12 quarters over a
10 period of no more than 6 consecutive years, except as
11 otherwise provided in s. 240.404(3). No graduate student shall
12 receive an award for more than the equivalent of 4 semesters
13 or 6 quarters.
14 Section 20. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
15 240.4126, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
16 240.4126 Rosewood Family Scholarship Program.--
17 (2) The Rosewood Family Scholarship Program shall be
18 administered by the Department of Education. The State Board
19 of Education shall adopt rules for administering this program
20 which shall at a minimum provide for the following:
21 (a) The annual award to a student shall be up to
22 $4,000 but should not exceed an amount in excess of tuition
23 and registration fees.
24 Section 21. Subsection (3) of section 240.4128,
25 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
26 240.4128 Minority teacher education scholars
27 program.--There is created the minority teacher education
28 scholars program, which is a collaborative performance-based
29 scholarship program for African-American, Hispanic-American,
30 Asian-American, and Native American students. The participants
31 in the program include Florida's public community colleges and
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1 its public and private universities that have teacher
2 education programs.
3 (3) The total amount appropriated annually for new
4 scholarships in the program must be divided by $4,000 and by
5 the number of participating colleges and universities. Each
6 participating institution has access to the same number of
7 scholarships and may award all of them to eligible minority
8 students. If a college or university does not award all of its
9 scholarships by the date set by the program administration at
10 the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., the remaining
11 scholarships must be transferred to another institution that
12 has eligible students. Each participating institution shall
13 report to the department by the established date the eligible
14 students to whom grant moneys are disbursed each academic
15 term. Each institution shall also report to the department
16 demographic and eligibility data for the recipient.
17 Section 22. Subsection (2) of section 240.413, Florida
18 Statutes, is amended to read:
19 240.413 Seminole and Miccosukee Indian Scholarships.--
20 (2) Scholarships shall be awarded by the department to
21 students who:
22 (a) Have graduated from high school, have earned an
23 equivalency diploma issued by the Department of Education
24 pursuant to s. 229.814, have earned an equivalency diploma
25 issued by the United States Armed Forces Institute, or have
26 been accepted through an early admission program;
27 (b) Are enrolled at a state university or community
28 college authorized by Florida law; a nursing diploma school
29 approved by the Board of Nursing; any Florida college,
30 university, or community college which is accredited by an
31 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
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1 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
2 Postsecondary Accreditation; or any Florida institution the
3 credits of which are acceptable for transfer to state
4 universities;
5 (c) Are enrolled as either full-time or part-time
6 undergraduate or graduate students and make satisfactory
7 academic progress as defined by the college or university;
8 (d) Have been recommended by the Seminole Tribe of
9 Florida or the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; and
10 (e) Meet the general requirements for student
11 eligibility as provided in s. 240.404, except as otherwise
12 provided in this section.
13 Section 23. Subsection (6) of section 240.437, Florida
14 Statutes, is amended to read:
15 240.437 Student financial aid planning and
16 development.--
17 (6) Effective July 1, 1992, All new and existing
18 financial assistance programs authorized under this part, and
19 those programs in other parts of the Florida Statutes which
20 are administered by the Florida Department of Education,
21 Bureau of Student Financial Assistance, which are not funded
22 for 3 consecutive years after enactment shall stand repealed.
23 Financial aid programs provided under this part on July 1,
24 1992, which lose funding for 3 consecutive years shall stand
25 repealed. The Bureau Office of Student Financial Assistance of
26 the Department of Education shall annually review the
27 legislative appropriation of financial aid to identify such
28 programs.
29 Section 24. Subsection (13) of section 240.472,
30 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
31 240.472 Definitions.--As used in this act:
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1 (13) "Institution" means any college or university
2 which, by virtue of law or charter, is accredited by an
3 accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States
4 Department of Education and holds membership in the Commission
5 on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; which grants
6 baccalaureate or associate degrees; which is not a pervasively
7 sectarian institution; and which does not discriminate in the
8 admission of students on the basis of race, color, religion,
9 sex, or creed.
10 Section 25. Subsection (1) and paragraph (d) of
11 subsection (2) of section 240.6073, Florida Statutes, are
12 amended to read:
13 240.6073 Critical Occupational Therapist or Physical
14 Therapist Shortage Student Loan Forgiveness Program.--
15 (1) There is established the Critical Occupational
16 Therapist or Physical Therapist Shortage Student Loan
17 Forgiveness Program. The primary function of the program is
18 to make repayments toward loans received by students from
19 institutions for the support of postsecondary study of
20 occupational therapy or physical therapy. Repayments shall be
21 made to qualified applicants who initiate employment in the
22 publicly funded public schools of this state and who apply
23 during their first year of employment in a public school
24 setting.
25 (2) From the funds available, the Department of
26 Education is authorized to make loan principal repayments as
27 follows:
28 (d) All repayments shall be contingent on continued
29 proof of employment for 3 years as a therapist or therapy
30 assistant by the publicly funded public schools in this state
31 and shall be made directly to the holder of the loan or, if
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1 the loan is paid in full, directly to the therapist. The state
2 shall not bear the responsibility for the collection of any
3 interest charges or other remaining balance. In the event
4 that a critical shortage is no longer verified, a therapist or
5 therapy assistant shall continue to be eligible for loan
6 forgiveness as long as the therapist or therapy assistant
7 continues to be employed by the public schools of this state
8 and otherwise meets all conditions of eligibility.
9 Section 26. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and
10 subsection (4) of section 240.6074, Florida Statutes, are
11 amended to read:
12 240.6074 Critical Occupational Therapist or Physical
13 Therapist Shortage Scholarship Loan Program.--
14 (2) To be eligible, a candidate shall:
15 (b) Have declared an intention to be employed by the
16 publicly funded public schools of this state for 3 years
17 following completion of the requirements. In the event
18 critical shortage areas are changed by the State Board of
19 Education, a student shall continue to be eligible for an
20 award as long as the student continues in the therapist
21 educational program for which the initial award was made and
22 the student otherwise meets all other conditions of
23 eligibility.
24 (4) The State Board of Education shall adopt by rule
25 repayment schedules and applicable interest rates under ss.
26 240.451 and 240.465. A scholarship loan must be paid back
27 within 10 years of completion of a program of studies.
28 (a) Credit for repayment of a scholarship loan shall
29 be in an amount not to exceed $2,000 plus applicable accrued
30 interest for each full year of employment by the publicly
31 funded public schools of this state.
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1 (b) Any therapist or therapy assistant who fails to be
2 employed by a publicly funded public school in this state as
3 specified in this subsection is responsible for repaying the
4 loan plus interest. Repayment schedules and applicable
5 interest rates shall be determined by the rules of the State
6 Board of Education under ss. 240.451 and 240.465.
7 Section 27. Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of section
8 240.6075, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
9 240.6075 Critical Occupational Therapist or Physical
10 Therapist Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program.--
11 (1) There is established the Critical Occupational
12 Therapist or Physical Therapist Shortage Tuition Reimbursement
13 Program to improve the skills and knowledge of current
14 therapists and therapy assistants who are employed by a
15 publicly funded school in this state the public school system.
16 (2) Any full-time public school employee in a publicly
17 funded school in this state who is licensed to practice
18 occupational therapy or physical therapy in this state is
19 eligible for the program.
20 (4) The participant shall be employed by a publicly
21 funded school the public schools of this state for 3 years
22 following completion of the requirements.
23 Section 28. Section 295.01, Florida Statutes, is
24 amended to read:
25 295.01 Children of deceased or disabled veterans;
26 education.--
27 (1) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
28 state to provide educational opportunity at state expense for
29 dependent children either of whose parents was a resident of
30 the state at the time such parent entered the Armed Forces
31 and:
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1 (a) Died in that service or from injuries sustained or
2 disease contracted during a period of wartime service as
3 defined in s. 1.01(14) or has died since or may hereafter die
4 from diseases or disability resulting from such war service,
5 or
6 (b) Has been:
7 1. Determined by the United States Department of
8 Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a
9 service-connected 100-percent total and permanent disability
10 rating for compensation,
11 2. Determined to have a service-connected total and
12 permanent disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt
13 of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United
14 States Armed Services, or
15 3. Issued a valid identification card by the
16 Department of Veterans' Affairs in accordance with s. 295.17.,
17 (2) when The parents of such children must have been
18 bona fide residents of the state for 5 years next preceding
19 their application for the benefits under this section hereof,
20 and subject to the rules, restrictions, and limitations
21 hereof.
22 (3)(2) The provisions of ss. 240.404, 295.03, 295.04,
23 and 295.05 shall apply.
24 (4)(3) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
25 for administering this section.
26 Section 29. Section 295.02, Florida Statutes, is
27 amended to read:
28 295.02 Use of funds; age, etc.--
29 (1) All sums appropriated and expended under this
30 chapter shall be used to pay matriculation tuition and
31 registration fees as defined by the Department of Education,
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1 board, and room rent and to buy books and supplies for the
2 children of:
3 (a) Deceased or disabled veterans or service members,
4 as defined and limited in s. 295.01, s. 295.016, s. 295.017,
5 s. 295.018, or s. 295.0195;, or of
6 (b) Parents classified as prisoners of war or missing
7 in action, as defined and limited in s. 295.015.,
8 (2) Such children must be who are between the ages of
9 16 and 22 years and attend who are in attendance at a
10 state-supported institution of higher learning, including a
11 community college or vocational-technical school or attend any
12 postsecondary institution eligible to participate in the
13 Florida Bright Futures Program. A student attending an
14 eligible nonpublic institution may receive an award equivalent
15 to the average matriculation and fees calculated for full-time
16 enrollment at a public postsecondary institution at the
17 comparable level. Any child having entered upon a course of
18 training or education under the provisions of this chapter,
19 consisting of a course of not more than 4 years, and arriving
20 at the age of 22 years before the completion of such course
21 may continue the course and receive all benefits of the
22 provisions of this chapter until the course is completed. The
23 Department of Education shall administer this educational
24 program subject to regulations of the department.
25 Section 30. Subsection (1) of section 240.235, Florida
26 Statutes, is amended to read:
27 240.235 Fees.--
28 (1) Each university may is authorized to establish
29 separate activity and service, health, and athletic fees.
30 When duly established, these the fees shall be collected as
31 component parts of the registration and tuition fees and shall
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1 be retained by the university and paid into the separate
2 activity and service, health, and athletic funds.
3 (a)1. Each university president shall establish a
4 student activity and service fee on the main campus of the
5 university. The university president may also establish a
6 student activity and service fee on any branch campus or
7 center. Any subsequent modification increase in the activity
8 and service fee must be recommended by an activity and service
9 fee committee, at least one-half of whom are students
10 appointed by the student body president. The remainder of the
11 committee shall be appointed by the university president. A
12 chairperson, appointed jointly by the university president and
13 the student body president, may shall vote only in the case of
14 a tie. The recommendations of the committee shall take effect
15 only after approval by the university president, after
16 consultation with the student body president, with final
17 approval by the Board of Regents. An increase in the activity
18 and service fee may occur only once each fiscal year and must
19 be implemented beginning with the fall term. The Board of
20 Regents is responsible for promulgating the rules and
21 timetables necessary to implement this fee.
22 2. The student activity and service fees shall be
23 expended for lawful purposes to benefit the student body in
24 general. These purposes This shall include, but are shall not
25 be limited to, student publications and grants to duly
26 recognized student organizations, the membership of which is
27 open to all students at the university without regard to race,
28 sex, or religion. The fund may not benefit activities for
29 which an admission fee is charged to students, except for
30 student-government-sponsored
31 student-government-association-sponsored concerts. The
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1 allocation and expenditure of the fund shall be determined by
2 the student government association of the university, except
3 that the president of the university may veto any line item or
4 portion thereof within the budget when submitted by the
5 student government association legislative body. The
6 university president shall have 15 school days from the date
7 of presentation of the budget to act on the allocation and
8 expenditure recommendations, which shall be deemed approved if
9 no action is taken within the 15 school days. If any line item
10 or portion thereof within the budget is vetoed, the student
11 government association legislative body shall within 15 school
12 days make new budget recommendations for expenditure of the
13 vetoed portion of the fund. If the university president
14 vetoes any line item or portion thereof within the new budget
15 revisions, the university president may reallocate by line
16 item that vetoed portion to bond obligations guaranteed by
17 activity and service fees. Unexpended funds and undisbursed
18 funds remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall be carried
19 over and remain in the student activity and service fund and
20 be available for allocation and expenditure during the next
21 fiscal year.
22 (b) Each university president shall establish a
23 student health fee on the main campus of the university. The
24 university president may also establish a student health fee
25 on any branch campus or center. Any subsequent modification
26 increase in the health fee must be recommended by a health
27 committee, at least one-half of whom are students appointed by
28 the student body president. The remainder of the committee
29 shall be appointed by the university president. A
30 chairperson, appointed jointly by the university president and
31 the student body president, may shall vote only in the case of
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1 a tie. The recommendations of the committee shall take effect
2 only after approval by the university president, after
3 consultation with the student body president, with final
4 approval by the Board of Regents. An increase in the health
5 fee may occur only once each fiscal year and must be
6 implemented beginning with the fall term. The Board of Regents
7 is responsible for promulgating the rules and timetables
8 necessary to implement this fee.
9 (c) Each university president shall establish a
10 separate athletic fee on the main campus of the university.
11 The university president may also establish a separate
12 athletic fee on any branch campus or center. The initial
13 aggregate athletic fee at each university shall be equal to,
14 but may be no greater than, the 1982-1983 per-credit-hour
15 activity and service fee contributed to intercollegiate
16 athletics, including women's athletics, as provided by s.
17 240.533. Concurrently with the establishment of the athletic
18 fee, the activity and service fee shall experience a one-time
19 reduction equal to the initial aggregate athletic fee. Any
20 subsequent modification increase in the athletic fee must be
21 recommended by an athletic fee committee, at least one-half of
22 whom are students appointed by the student body president.
23 The remainder of the committee shall be appointed by the
24 university president. A chairperson, appointed jointly by the
25 university president and the student body president, may shall
26 vote only in the case of a tie. The recommendations of the
27 committee shall take effect only after approval by the
28 university president, after consultation with the student body
29 president, with final approval by the Board of Regents. An
30 increase in the athletic fee may occur only once each fiscal
31 year and must be implemented beginning with the fall term. The
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1 Board of Regents is responsible for promulgating the rules and
2 timetables necessary to implement this fee.
3 Section 31. Section 240.236, Florida Statutes, is
4 created to read:
5 240.236 University student governments.--
6 (1) There is created within each state university a
7 student government that shall be organized and maintained by
8 students as the official representatives of the student body.
9 Each student government shall be composed of at least a
10 student body president and a student legislative body. Interim
11 vacancies may be filled in a manner other than election as
12 prescribed by the student government. Each student government
13 may adopt internal procedures governing:
14 (a) The operation and administration of the student
15 government.
16 (b) The election, appointment, removal, and discipline
17 of officers of the student government.
18 (c) The execution of all other duties as prescribed to
19 the student government by law.
20 (2) Any elected officer of the student government of a
21 state university may be removed from office by the majority
22 vote of students participating in a referendum held pursuant
23 to the provisions of this section. The student government
24 shall develop a procedure by which students may petition for a
25 referendum to remove from office an elected officer of the
26 student government. The grounds for removal of a student
27 government officer by petition must be expressly contained in
28 the petition and are limited to the following: malfeasance,
29 misfeasance, neglect of duty, incompetence, permanent
30 inability to perform official duties, or conviction of a
31
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1 felony. The referendum must be held no more than 60 days after
2 the filing of the petition.
3 (3) The student government shall develop procedures
4 providing for the suspension and removal of an elected student
5 government officer following the conviction of that officer of
6 a felony.
7 (4) Each student government is a part of the
8 university at which it is established. The internal procedures
9 adopted by the student government under this section are
10 subject to final approval by the university president.
11 Section 32. Subsection (3) of section 240.295, Florida
12 Statutes, is amended to read:
13 240.295 State University System; authorization for
14 fixed capital outlay projects.--
15 (3) Other than those projects currently authorized, no
16 project proposed by a university which is to be funded from
17 Capital Improvement Trust Fund fees or building fees shall be
18 submitted to the Board of Regents for approval without prior
19 consultation with the student government association of that
20 university. The Board of Regents shall adopt promulgate rules
21 that which are consistent with this requirement.
22 Section 33. Section 240.336, Florida Statutes, is
23 created to read:
24 240.336 Community college student governments.--
25 (1) There is created within each community college a
26 student government that shall be organized and maintained by
27 students as the official representatives of the student body.
28 Each student government shall be composed of at least a
29 student body president and a student legislative body. Interim
30 vacancies may be filled in a manner other than election as
31
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1 prescribed by the student government. Each student government
2 may adopt internal procedures governing:
3 (a) The operation and administration of the student
4 government.
5 (b) The election, appointment, removal, and discipline
6 of officers of the student government.
7 (c) The execution of all other duties as prescribed to
8 the student government by law.
9 (2) Any elected officer of the student government of a
10 community college may be removed from office by the majority
11 vote of students participating in a referendum held pursuant
12 to the provisions of this section. The student government
13 shall develop a procedure by which students may petition for a
14 referendum to remove from office an elected officer of the
15 student government. The grounds for removal of a student
16 government officer by petition must be expressly contained in
17 the petition and are limited to the following: malfeasance,
18 misfeasance, neglect of duty, incompetence, permanent
19 inability to perform official duties, or conviction of a
20 felony. The referendum must be held no more than 60 days after
21 the filing of the petition.
22 (3) The student government shall develop procedures
23 providing for the suspension and removal of an elected student
24 government officer following the conviction of that officer of
25 a felony.
26 (4) Each student government is a part of the community
27 college at which it is established. The internal procedures
28 adopted by the student government under this section are
29 subject to final approval by the community college president.
30 Section 34. Subsection (2) of section 240.382, Florida
31 Statutes, is amended to read:
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1 240.382 Establishment of child development training
2 centers at community colleges.--
3 (2) In consultation with the student government
4 association or a recognized student group representing the
5 student body, the district board of trustees of any community
6 college may establish a child development training center in
7 accordance with this section. Each child development training
8 center shall be a child care center established to provide
9 child care during the day and at variable hours, including
10 evenings and weekends, for the children of students. Emphasis
11 should be placed on serving students who demonstrate financial
12 need as defined by the district board of trustees. At least 50
13 percent of the child care slots must be made available to
14 students, and financially needy students, as defined by the
15 district board of trustees, shall receive child care slots
16 first. The center may serve the children of staff, employees,
17 and faculty; however, a designated number of child care slots
18 shall not be allocated for employees. Whenever possible, the
19 center shall be located on the campus of the community
20 college. However, the board may elect to provide child care
21 services for students through alternative mechanisms, which
22 may include contracting with private providers.
23 Section 35. Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of section
24 240.531, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
25 240.531 Establishment of educational research centers
26 for child development.--
27 (1) Upon approval of the university president, the
28 student government association of any university within the
29 State University System may establish an educational research
30 center for child development in accordance with the provisions
31 of this section. Each such center shall be a child day care
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1 center established to provide care for the children of
2 students, both graduate and undergraduate, faculty, and other
3 staff and employees of the university and to provide an
4 opportunity for interested schools or departments of the
5 university to conduct educational research programs and
6 establish internship programs within such centers. Whenever
7 possible, such center shall be located on the campus of the
8 university. There shall be a director of each center,
9 selected by the board of directors of the center.
10 (2) There shall be a board of directors for each
11 educational research center for child development, consisting
12 of the president of the university or his or her designee, the
13 student body government president or his or her designee, the
14 chair of each department participating in the center or his or
15 her designee, and one parent for each 50 children enrolled in
16 the center, elected by the parents of children enrolled in the
17 center. The director of the center shall be an ex officio,
18 nonvoting member of the board. The board shall establish
19 local policies and perform local oversight and operational
20 guidance for the center.
21 (4) The Board of Regents shall adopt is authorized and
22 directed to promulgate rules for the establishment, operation,
23 and supervision of educational research centers for child
24 development. These Such rules shall include, but are need not
25 be limited to,: a defined method of establishment of and
26 participation in the operation of centers by the appropriate
27 student governments, government associations; guidelines for
28 the establishment of an intern program in each center,; and
29 guidelines for the receipt and monitoring of funds from grants
30 and other sources of funds consistent with existing laws.
31
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1 Section 36. Subsection (18) of section 447.203,
2 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3 447.203 Definitions.--As used in this part:
4 (18) "Student representative" means the representative
5 selected by each community college student government
6 association and the council of student body presidents. Each
7 representative may be present at all negotiating sessions
8 which take place between the appropriate public employer and
9 an exclusive bargaining agent. The Said representative shall
10 be enrolled as a student with at least 8 credit hours in the
11 respective community college or in the State University System
12 during his or her term as student representative.
13 Section 37. Subsection (5) of section 447.301, Florida
14 Statutes, is amended to read:
15 447.301 Public employees' rights; organization and
16 representation.--
17 (5) In negotiations over the terms and conditions of
18 service and other matters affecting the working environment of
19 employees, or the learning environment of students, in
20 institutions of higher education, one student representative
21 selected by the council of student body presidents may, at his
22 or her discretion, be present at all negotiating sessions
23 which take place between the Board of Regents and the
24 bargaining agent for an employee bargaining unit. In the case
25 of community colleges, the student government association of
26 each college shall establish procedures for the selection of,
27 and shall select, a student representative to be present, at
28 his or her discretion, at negotiations between the bargaining
29 agent of the employees and the board of trustees. Each
30 student representative shall have access to all written draft
31 agreements and all other written documents pertaining to
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CS for SB 1330 First Engrossed
1 negotiations exchanged by the appropriate public employer and
2 the bargaining agent, including a copy of any prepared written
3 transcripts of any negotiating session. Each student
4 representative shall have the right at reasonable times during
5 the negotiating session to comment to the parties and to the
6 public upon the impact of proposed agreements on the
7 educational environment of students. Each student
8 representative shall have the right to be accompanied by
9 alternates or aides, not to exceed a combined total of two in
10 number. Each student representative shall be obligated to
11 participate in good faith during all negotiations and shall be
12 subject to the rules and regulations of the Public Employees
13 Relations Commission. The student representatives shall have
14 neither voting nor veto power in any negotiation, action, or
15 agreement. The state or any branch, agency, division, agent,
16 or institution of the state shall not expend any moneys from
17 any source for the payment of reimbursement for travel
18 expenses or per diem to aides, alternates, or student
19 representatives participating in, observing, or contributing
20 to any negotiating sessions between the bargaining parties;
21 however, this limitation does not apply to the use of student
22 activity fees for the reimbursement of travel expenses and per
23 diem to the university student representative, aides, or
24 alternates participating in the aforementioned negotiations
25 between the Board of Regents and the bargaining agent for an
26 employee bargaining unit.
27 Section 38. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree
28 program is authorized at the University of West Florida.
29 Section 39. A Master of Science in Social Work degree
30 program is authorized at Florida Atlantic University.
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CS for SB 1330 First Engrossed
1 Section 40. Section 240.136, Florida Statutes, is
2 repealed.
3 Section 41. Sections 240.40208, 240.40242, and
4 subsection (5) of section 240.465, Florida Statutes, are
5 repealed.
6 Section 42. Except as otherwise provided in this act,
7 this act shall take effect July 1, 2001.
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