Senate Bill sb0018B
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Florida Senate - 2001 SB 18-B
By Senator Sullivan
22-486A-02
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student financial
3 assistance; amending s. 240.40201, F.S.;
4 extending eligibility for accepting a Bright
5 Futures scholarship; restricting the types of
6 scholarship a Bright Futures Scholar may
7 receive; amending s. 240.40202, F.S.; providing
8 for initial acceptance of a scholarship, to
9 conform; amending s. 240.40205, F.S.; deleting
10 obsolete provisions; designating an award level
11 for a Florida Academic Scholarship; amending s.
12 240.40206, F.S.; increasing the eligibility
13 requirements for earning a Florida Merit
14 Scholarship; designating an award level;
15 deleting obsolete provisions; amending s.
16 240.40207, F.S.; increasing the eligibility
17 requirements for earning the Florida Gold Seal
18 Vocational Scholarship; designating an award
19 level; deleting obsolete provisions; amending
20 s. 240.404, F.S.; providing certain limitations
21 on eligibility for various state student grant
22 programs; eliminating obsolete provisions;
23 providing an effective date.
24
25 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
26
27 Section 1. Subsections (1) and (2) of section
28 240.40201, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
29 240.40201 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
30 Program.--
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Florida Senate - 2001 SB 18-B
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1 (1) The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is
2 created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to
3 reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition
4 of high academic achievement and who enrolls in an eligible
5 Florida public or private postsecondary education institution
6 within 7 3 years after of graduation from high school. An
7 award may not be provided to a student beyond 7 years after
8 high school graduation, regardless of the year in which the
9 student first receives scholarship funding.
10 (2) The Bright Futures Scholarship Program consists of
11 three types of awards, the Florida Academic Scholarship, the
12 Florida Merit Scholarship, and the Florida Vocational Gold
13 Seal Vocational Scholarship.
14 Section 2. Paragraph (f) of subsection (1) and
15 subsection (2) of section 240.40202, Florida Statutes, are
16 amended to read:
17 240.40202 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
18 student eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
19 (1) To be eligible for an initial award from any of
20 the three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright
21 Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:
22 (f) Apply for a scholarship from the program by April
23 1 of the last semester before high school graduation.
24 (2) A student is eligible to accept an initial award
25 for 3 years following high school graduation and to accept a
26 renewal award for 7 years following high school graduation. A
27 student who applies for an award by April 1 and who meets all
28 other eligibility requirements, but who does not accept his or
29 her award, may apply for reinstatement of the award for use
30 within 7 reapply during subsequent application periods up to 3
31 years after high school graduation. Reinstatement applications
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Florida Senate - 2001 SB 18-B
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1 must be received by the deadline established by the Department
2 of Education.
3 Section 3. Subsections (1) and (2) of section
4 240.40205, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
5 240.40205 Florida Academic Scholars award.--
6 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic
7 Scholars award if the student meets the general eligibility
8 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
9 Program and the student:
10 (a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
11 calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or its equivalent, in
12 high school courses that are designated by the Department of
13 Education adopted by the Board of Regents and recommended by
14 the State Board of Community Colleges as college-preparatory
15 academic courses; and
16 (b) has attained at least the score identified by
17 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
18 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
19 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
20 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
21 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or
22 (b)(c) Has attended a home education program according
23 to s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
24 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
25 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
26 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
27 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
28 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
29 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
30 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
31 College Testing Program; or
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Florida Senate - 2001 SB 18-B
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1 (c)(d) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate
2 Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office; or
3 (d)(e) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
4 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
5 scholar or finalist; or
6 (e)(f) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
7 Recognition Program as a scholar recipient.
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9 Effective with the 1998-1999 school year, A student must
10 complete a program of community service work, as approved by
11 the district school board or the administrators of a nonpublic
12 school, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours of service
13 work and require the student to identify a social problem that
14 interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal
15 involvement in addressing the problem, and, through papers or
16 other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her
17 experience.
18 (2) Until July 1, 2006, a Florida Academic Scholar who
19 is enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution is
20 eligible for an award equal to the amount required to pay
21 matriculation, fees, and $600 for college-related expenses
22 annually. Until July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a
23 nonpublic postsecondary education institution is eligible for
24 an award equal to the amount that would be required to pay for
25 the average matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary
26 education institution at the comparable level, plus the annual
27 $600. Effective July 1, 2006, a student is eligible to receive
28 a maximum annual award of $3,200 or the amount established in
29 a General Appropriations Act.
30 Section 4. Section 240.40206, Florida Statutes, is
31 amended to read:
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1 240.40206 Florida Merit Scholars award.--
2 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Merit Scholars
3 award if the student meets the general eligibility
4 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
5 Program and the student:
6 (a) Until July 1, 2006, has achieved a weighted grade
7 point average of 3.0, or on or after July 1, 2006, has
8 achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.25, as calculated
9 pursuant to s. 240.40202, or the equivalent, in high school
10 courses that are designated by the Department of Education
11 adopted by the Board of Regents and recommended by the State
12 Board of Community Colleges as college-preparatory academic
13 courses; and
14 (b) has attained at least the score identified by
15 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
16 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
17 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
18 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
19 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or
20 (b)(c) Has attended a home education program according
21 to s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
22 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
23 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
24 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
25 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
26 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
27 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
28 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
29 College Testing Program.
30 (2) Until July 1, 2006, a Florida Merit Scholar is
31 eligible for an award equal to the amount required to pay 75
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1 percent of matriculation and fees, if the student is enrolled
2 in a public postsecondary education institution. Until July 1,
3 2006, a student who is enrolled in a nonpublic postsecondary
4 education institution is eligible for an award equal to the
5 amount that would be required to pay 75 percent of the
6 matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary education
7 institution at the comparable level. Effective July 1, 2006, a
8 student is eligible to receive a maximum annual award of
9 $1,900 or the amount established in a General Appropriations
10 Act.
11 (3) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida
12 Merit Scholar, a student must maintain the equivalent of a
13 grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for all
14 postsecondary education work attempted, with an opportunity
15 for reinstatement one time as provided in this act.
16 Section 5. Subsections (1) and (2) of section
17 240.40207, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
18 240.40207 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
19 award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is
20 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
21 to recognize and reward academic achievement and vocational
22 preparation by high school students who wish to continue their
23 education.
24 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
25 Vocational Scholars award if the student meets the general
26 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
27 Scholarship Program and the student:
28 (a) Completes the secondary school portion of a
29 sequential program of studies that requires at least three
30 secondary school vocational credits taken over at least 2
31 academic years, and is continued in a planned, related
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1 postsecondary education program. If the student's school does
2 not offer such a two-plus-two or tech-prep program, the
3 student must complete a job-preparatory career education
4 program selected by the Workforce Estimating Conference or
5 Workforce Florida, Inc., for its ability to provide high-wage
6 employment in an occupation with high potential for employment
7 opportunities. On-the-job training may not be substituted for
8 any of the three required vocational credits.
9 (b) Demonstrates readiness for postsecondary education
10 by earning a passing score on the Florida College Entry Level
11 Placement Test or its equivalent as identified by the
12 Department of Education.
13 (c) Until July 1, 2006, earns a minimum cumulative
14 weighted grade point average of 3.0, or on or after July 1,
15 2006, earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point average
16 of 3.25, as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, on all
17 subjects required for a standard high school diploma,
18 excluding elective courses.
19 (d) Earns a minimum unweighted grade point average of
20 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for secondary vocational courses comprising
21 the vocational program.
22 (e) Completes the requirements of a vocational-ready
23 diploma program, as defined by rules of the State Board of
24 Education.
25 (2) Until July 1, 2006, a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
26 Scholar is eligible for an award equal to the amount required
27 to pay 75 percent of matriculation and fees, if the student is
28 enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution.
29 Until July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
30 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
31 equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent
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Florida Senate - 2001 SB 18-B
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1 of the matriculation and mandatory fees of a public
2 postsecondary education institution at the comparable level.
3 Effective July 1, 2006, a student is eligible to receive a
4 maximum annual award of $1,900 or the amount established in a
5 General Appropriations Act.
6 Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and
7 subsection (4) of section 240.404, Florida Statutes, are
8 amended to read:
9 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
10 for state financial aid.--
11 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of
12 students for state financial aid awards consist of the
13 following:
14 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
15 acceptance at a state university or community college; a
16 nursing diploma school approved by the Florida Board of
17 Nursing; a Florida college, university, or community college
18 which is accredited by a member of the Commission on
19 Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; any Florida
20 institution the credits of which are acceptable for transfer
21 to state universities; any area technical center; or any
22 private vocational-technical institution accredited by an
23 accredited agency recognized by the United States Department
24 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
25 Postsecondary Accreditation.
26 2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
27 preceding the award of aid for a program established pursuant
28 to s. 240.409, s. 240.4095, s. 240.4097, s. 240.412, s.
29 240.4125, s. 240.413, s. 240.4987, s. 240.605, or s. 240.606.
30 Residency in this state must be for purposes other than to
31 obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of receiving
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1 state financial aid awards shall be determined in the same
2 manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s.
3 240.1201 and rules of the State Board of Education.
4 3. Submission of certification attesting to the
5 accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information
6 provided to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive
7 state financial aid awards. Falsification of such information
8 shall result in the denial of any pending application and
9 revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no
10 further payments shall be made. Additionally, students who
11 knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
12 financial aid awards shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
13 second degree subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall
14 be required to return all state financial aid awards
15 wrongfully obtained.
16 4. Completion of the Free Application for Federal
17 Student Aid provided by the U.S. Department of Education and
18 submitted as required by the Florida Department of Education.
19 (4) Effective July 1, 2006, a student is not eligible
20 to receive more than one state scholarship or state grant,
21 except that a student who qualifies for both a merit-based
22 scholarship and a need-based grant may receive both types of
23 awards. A No student is not shall be eligible to receive more
24 than one state scholarship that is based on academic merit.
25 Students who qualify for more than one such scholarship shall
26 be notified of all awards for which they qualify and shall be
27 provided the opportunity to accept one of their choosing.
28 Section 7. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
29 law.
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2 SENATE SUMMARY
3 Revises provisions of the Education Code relating to
student financial assistance. (See bill for details.)
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