Senate Bill sb0018Bc1
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By the Committee on Appropriations; and Senator Sullivan
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1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student financial
3 assistance; amending s. 240.40201, F.S.;
4 revising the eligibility period for the Florida
5 Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
6 redesignating the Florida Merit Scholarship as
7 the Florida Medallion Scholarship; amending s.
8 240.40202, F.S.; defining terms; revising
9 application dates; providing for initial
10 acceptance of a scholarship, to conform;
11 amending s. 240.40203, F.S.; defining terms;
12 providing conditions for awards to students in
13 programs that confer postbaccalaureate degrees;
14 conforming provisions; amending s. 240.40204,
15 F.S.; eliminating obsolete provisions; amending
16 s. 240.40205, F.S.; eliminating obsolete
17 provisions; designating an award level for a
18 Florida Academic Scholarship; amending s.
19 240.40206, F.S.; conforming provisions;
20 increasing requirements for earning a Florida
21 Medallion Scholarship; designating award
22 levels; eliminating obsolete provisions;
23 amending s. 240.40207, F.S.; increasing the
24 eligibility requirements for earning the
25 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship;
26 designating award levels; eliminating obsolete
27 provisions; amending s. 240.40209, F.S.;
28 providing for the calculation of awards;
29 amending s. 240.404, F.S.; requiring a report;
30 providing certain limitations on eligibility
31 for various state student grant programs;
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1 repealing s. 240.40208, F.S., relating to a
2 transition from certain scholarships to the
3 Bright Futures Program; providing an effective
4 date.
5
6 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
7
8 Section 1. Subsections (1), (2), (5), and (7) of
9 section 240.40201, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
10 subsection (11) is added to that section, to read:
11 240.40201 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
12 Program.--
13 (1) The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is
14 created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to
15 reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition
16 of high academic achievement and who enrolls in a degree
17 program, certificate program, or applied technology diploma
18 program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary
19 education institution within 7 3 years after of graduation
20 from high school. An award may not be provided to a student
21 beyond 7 years after high school graduation, regardless of the
22 year in which the student first receives scholarship funding.
23 (2) The Bright Futures Scholarship Program consists of
24 three types of awards, the Florida Academic Scholarship, the
25 Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship, and the Florida
26 Vocational Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
27 (5) The department shall issue awards from the
28 scholarship program annually. Annual awards may be for up to
29 45 semester credit hours or the equivalent. Before the
30 registration period each semester, the department shall
31 transmit payment for each award to the president or director
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1 of the postsecondary education institution, or his or her
2 representative, except that the department may withhold
3 payment if the receiving institution fails to report or to
4 make refunds to the department as required in this act.
5 (a) Within 30 days after the end of regular
6 registration each semester, the educational institution shall
7 certify to the department the eligibility status of each
8 student who receives an award. After the end of the drop and
9 add period, an institution is not required to reevaluate or
10 revise a student's eligibility status, but must make a refund
11 to the department if a student who receives an award
12 disbursement terminates enrollment for any reason during an
13 academic term and a refund is permitted by the institution's
14 refund policy.
15 (b) An institution that receives funds from the
16 program shall certify to the department the amount of funds
17 disbursed to each student and shall remit to the department
18 any undisbursed advances within 60 days after the end of
19 regular registration.
20 (c) Each institution that receives moneys through this
21 program shall prepare an annual report that includes an
22 independent external audit or an audit prepared by the Office
23 of the Auditor General. The report shall include an audit of
24 the institution's administration of the program and a complete
25 accounting of the moneys for the program. This report must be
26 submitted to the department annually by March 1. The
27 department may conduct its own annual audit of an
28 institution's administration of the program. The department
29 may request a refund of any moneys overpaid to the institution
30 for the program. The department may suspend or revoke an
31 institution's eligibility to receive future moneys for the
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1 program if the department finds that an institution has not
2 complied with this section. The institution must remit within
3 60 days any refund requested in accordance with this
4 subsection.
5 (7) A student may receive only one type of award from
6 the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program at a time, but
7 may transfer from one type of award to another through the
8 renewal application process, if the student's eligibility
9 status changes. However, a student is not eligible to transfer
10 from a Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship or a Florida
11 Vocational Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship to a Florida
12 Academic Scholarship. A student who receives an award from the
13 program may also receive a federal family education loan or a
14 federal direct loan, and the value of the award must be
15 considered in the certification or calculation of the
16 student's loan eligibility.
17 (11) A student who graduated from high school in 1997
18 or earlier and who is eligible for the Florida Undergraduate
19 Scholar's Program pursuant to s. 240.402, Florida Statutes,
20 1996 Supplement, is eligible for the Florida Academic Scholars
21 award as provided in this chapter. A student who graduated
22 from high school in 1997 or earlier and who is eligible for
23 the Florida Vocational Gold Seal Endorsement Scholarship award
24 pursuant to s. 240.40201, Florida Statutes, 1996 Supplement,
25 is eligible for the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship
26 award as provided in this chapter. Award eligibility ends 7
27 years after high school graduation.
28 Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and
29 subsection (2) of section 240.40202, Florida Statutes, are
30 amended to read:
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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 this
17 state of a person who is a permanent resident of this state
18 and who is employed by the United States Government or the
19 State of Florida conditioned upon assignment outside this
20 state.
21 (2) A student is eligible to accept an initial award
22 for 3 years following high school graduation and to accept a
23 renewal award for 7 years following high school graduation. A
24 student who applies for an award by April 1 and who meets all
25 other eligibility requirements, but who does not accept his or
26 her award during the first year of eligibility after high
27 school graduation, may apply for reinstatement of the award
28 for use within 7 reapply during subsequent application periods
29 up to 3 years after high school graduation. Reinstatement
30 applications must be received by the deadline established by
31 the Department of Education.
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1 Section 3. Section 240.40203, Florida Statutes, is
2 amended to read:
3 240.40203 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
4 student eligibility requirements for renewal, reinstatement,
5 and restoration awards.--
6 (1) After the first year of eligibility, if a student
7 wishes to receive To be eligible to renew a scholarship from
8 any of the three types of scholarships under the Florida
9 Bright Futures Scholarship Program, the a student must meet
10 the following requirements for either renewal, reinstatement,
11 or restoration:
12 (a) Renewal applies to a student who received an award
13 for at least one term during the previous academic year. For
14 renewal, a student must complete at least 12 semester credit
15 hours or the equivalent in the last academic year in which the
16 student earned a scholarship and.
17 (b) maintain the cumulative grade point average
18 required by the scholarship program, except that:
19 1. If a recipient's grades fall beneath the average
20 required to renew a Florida Academic Scholarship, but are
21 sufficient to renew a Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship or a
22 Florida Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship, the Department of
23 Education may grant a renewal from the Florida Medallion
24 Scholarship Program one of those other scholarship programs,
25 if the student meets the renewal eligibility requirements; or
26 2. If, upon renewal evaluation at any time during the
27 eligibility period, a student's grades or hours, or both, are
28 not sufficient insufficient to renew the scholarship, the
29 student may use the cumulative grades or hours, or both,
30 earned during the following summer to renew the scholarship
31 restore eligibility by improving the grade point average to
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1 the required level. A student is eligible for such a
2 reinstatement only once. The Legislature encourages education
3 institutions to assist students to calculate whether or not it
4 is possible to raise the grade point average during the summer
5 term. If the institution determines that it is possible, the
6 education institution may so inform the department, which may
7 reserve the student's award if funds are available. The
8 renewal, however, must not be granted until the student
9 achieves the required cumulative grade point average and earns
10 the required number of credit hours. If during the summer term
11 the student does not earn is not sufficient hours or to raise
12 the grade point average to the required renewal level, the
13 student is not eligible for an award student's next
14 opportunity for renewal is the fall semester of the following
15 academic year.
16 (b) Reinstatement applies to a student who was
17 eligible for, but did not receive, an award during the
18 previous academic year or years and who may apply to
19 reestablish use of the scholarship. For reinstatement, a
20 student must have been eligible at the time of the student's
21 most recent Bright Futures eligibility determination. The
22 student must apply for reinstatement by submitting a
23 reinstatement application by the deadline established by the
24 Department of Eduction.
25 (c) Restoration applies to a student who did not meet
26 renewal grade-point-average or hours-earned requirements at a
27 prior evaluation period. A student may restore eligibility by
28 meeting the required renewal grade-point average at a
29 subsequent renewal evaluation period. A student is eligible
30 for restoration only once. The student must submit a
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1 restoration application by the deadlines established by the
2 Department of Education.
3 (2) A student who is enrolled in a program that
4 terminates in an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree
5 may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent of the
6 number of credit hours required to complete the program. A
7 student who is enrolled in a program that terminates in a
8 technical certificate may receive an award for a maximum of
9 110 percent of the credit hours or clock hours required to
10 complete the program up to 90 credit hours. A student who
11 transfers from one of these program levels to another becomes
12 eligible for the higher of the two credit hour limits.
13 (3) A Florida Academic Scholar or a Florida Medallion
14 Scholar who is enrolled in a combined undergraduate and
15 graduate program that terminates in the award of a
16 post-baccalaureate degree or the simultaneous award of
17 baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate degrees may receive an
18 award for a maximum of 110 percent of the number of credit
19 hours required to complete a standard undergraduate program at
20 the institution attended, at the undergraduate rate.
21 Section 4. Section 240.40204, Florida Statutes, is
22 amended to read:
23 240.40204 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
24 eligible postsecondary education institutions.--A student is
25 eligible for an award or the renewal of an award from the
26 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program if the student
27 meets the requirements for the program as described in this
28 act and is enrolled in a postsecondary education institution
29 that meets the description in any one of the following
30 subsections:
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1 (1) A Florida public university, community college, or
2 technical center.
3 (2) An independent Florida college or university that
4 is accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by
5 the United States Department of Education a member of the
6 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and
7 that which has operated in the state for at least 3 years.
8 (3) An independent Florida postsecondary education
9 institution that is licensed by the Commission on Independent
10 Education State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities
11 and that which:
12 (a) Is authorized to grant degrees;
13 (b)(a) Shows evidence of sound financial condition;
14 and
15 (c)(b) Has operated in the state for at least 3 years
16 without having its approval, accreditation, or license placed
17 on probation.
18 (4) A Florida independent postsecondary education
19 institution that offers a nursing diploma approved by the
20 Board of Nursing.
21 (5) A Florida independent postsecondary education
22 institution that is licensed by the Commission on Independent
23 Education State Board of Nonpublic Career Education and that
24 which:
25 (a) Is authorized to award certificates or credentials
26 other than degrees;
27 (b)(a) Has a program completion and placement rate of
28 at least the rate required by the current Florida Statutes,
29 the Florida Administrative Code, or the Department of
30 Education for an institution at its level; and
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1 (c)(b) Shows evidence of sound financial condition;
2 and either:
3 1. Is accredited at the institutional level by an
4 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
5 of Education and has operated in the state for at least 3
6 years during which there has been no complaint for which
7 probable cause has been found; or
8 2. Has operated in Florida for 5 years during which
9 there has been no complaint for which probable cause has been
10 found.
11 Section 5. Section 240.40205, Florida Statutes, is
12 amended to read:
13 240.40205 Florida Academic Scholars award.--
14 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic
15 Scholars award if the student meets the general eligibility
16 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
17 Program and the student:
18 (a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
19 calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or its equivalent, in
20 high school courses that are designated by the Department of
21 Education adopted by the Board of Regents and recommended by
22 the State Board of Community Colleges as college-preparatory
23 academic courses; and
24 (b) has attained at least the score identified by
25 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
26 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
27 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
28 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
29 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or
30 (b)(c) Has attended a home education program according
31 to s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
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1 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
2 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
3 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
4 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
5 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
6 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
7 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
8 College Testing Program; or
9 (c)(d) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate
10 Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office; or
11 (d)(e) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
12 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
13 scholar or finalist; or
14 (e)(f) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
15 Recognition Program as a scholar recipient.
16
17 Effective with the 1998-1999 school year, A student must
18 complete a program of community service work, as approved by
19 the district school board or the administrators of a nonpublic
20 school, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours of service
21 work and require the student to identify a social problem that
22 interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal
23 involvement in addressing the problem, and, through papers or
24 other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her
25 experience.
26 (2) Until July 1, 2006, a Florida Academic Scholar who
27 is enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution is
28 eligible for an award equal to the amount required to pay
29 matriculation, fees, and $600 for college-related expenses
30 annually. Until July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a
31 nonpublic postsecondary education institution is eligible for
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1 an award equal to the amount that would be required to pay for
2 the average matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary
3 education institution at the comparable level, plus the annual
4 $600. Effective July 1, 2006, a student is eligible to receive
5 a maximum annual award of $3,200 or the amount established in
6 the General Appropriations Act.
7 (3) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida
8 Academic Scholar, a student must maintain the equivalent of a
9 grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all
10 postsecondary education work attempted, with an opportunity
11 for one restoration reinstatement as provided in this chapter
12 act.
13 (4) In each school district, the Florida Academic
14 Scholar with the highest academic ranking shall be designated
15 as an Academic Top Scholar and shall be entitled to receive an
16 additional award of $1,500 for college-related expenses. This
17 award must be funded from the Florida Bright Futures
18 Scholarship Program.
19 Section 6. Section 240.40206, Florida Statutes, is
20 amended to read:
21 240.40206 Florida Medallion Merit Scholars award.--
22 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Medallion
23 Merit Scholars award if the student meets the general
24 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
25 Scholarship Program and the student:
26 (a) Until July 1, 2006, has achieved a weighted grade
27 point average of 3.0, or on or after July 1, 2006, has
28 achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.25, as calculated
29 pursuant to s. 240.40202, or the equivalent, in high school
30 courses that are designated by the Department of Education
31 adopted by the Board of Regents and recommended by the State
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1 Board of Community Colleges as college-preparatory academic
2 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 (b)(c) Has attended a home education program according
10 to 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;.
19 (c) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
20 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
21 scholar or finalist but has not completed a program of
22 community service as provided in s. 240.40205; or
23 (d) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
24 Recognition Program as a scholar, but has not completed a
25 program of community service as provided in s. 240.40205.
26 (2) Until July 1, 2006, a Florida Medallion Merit
27 Scholar is eligible for an award equal to the amount required
28 to pay 75 percent of matriculation and fees, if the student is
29 enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution.
30 Until July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
31 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
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1 equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent
2 of the matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary
3 education institution at the comparable level. Effective July
4 1, 2006, a student is eligible to receive a maximum annual
5 award of $1,900 or the amount established in the General
6 Appropriations Act, if the student is enrolled in a public
7 university or other eligible 4-year college or university that
8 grants baccalaureate degrees or higher. Effective July 1,
9 2006, a student who is enrolled in a public community college,
10 a nonpublic 2-year college, or a public technical center or
11 eligible nonpublic school is eligible to receive a maximum
12 annual award of $1,500 or the amount established in the
13 General Appropriations Act.
14 (3) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida
15 Merit Scholar, a student must maintain the equivalent of a
16 grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for all
17 postsecondary education work attempted, with an opportunity
18 for restoration reinstatement one time as provided in this
19 chapter act.
20 Section 7. Section 240.40207, Florida Statutes, is
21 amended to read:
22 240.40207 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
23 award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is
24 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
25 to recognize and reward academic achievement and vocational
26 preparation by high school students who wish to continue their
27 education.
28 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
29 Vocational Scholars award if the student meets the general
30 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
31 Scholarship Program and the student:
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1 (a) Completes the secondary school portion of a
2 sequential program of studies that requires at least three
3 consecutive secondary school vocational credits. taken over at
4 least 2 academic years, and is continued in a planned, related
5 postsecondary education program. If the student's school does
6 not offer such a two-plus-two or tech-prep program, the
7 student must complete a job-preparatory career education
8 program selected by the Workforce Estimating Conference or
9 Workforce Florida, Inc., for its ability to provide high-wage
10 employment in an occupation with high potential for employment
11 opportunities. On-the-job training may not be substituted for
12 any of the three required vocational credits.
13 (b) Demonstrates readiness for postsecondary education
14 by earning a passing score on the Florida College Entry Level
15 Placement Test or its equivalent as identified by the
16 Department of Education.
17 (c) Until July 1, 2006, earns a minimum cumulative
18 weighted grade point average of 3.0, or on or after July 1,
19 2006, earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point average
20 of 3.25, as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, on all
21 subjects required for a standard high school diploma,
22 excluding elective courses.
23 (d) Earns a minimum unweighted grade point average of
24 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for secondary vocational courses comprising
25 the vocational program.
26 (e) Completes the requirements of a vocational-ready
27 diploma program, as defined by rules of the State Board of
28 Education.
29 (2) Until July 1, 2006, a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
30 Scholar is eligible for an award equal to the amount required
31 to pay 75 percent of matriculation and fees, if the student is
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1 enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution.
2 Until July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
3 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
4 equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent
5 of the matriculation and mandatory fees of a public
6 postsecondary education institution at the comparable level.
7 Effective July 1, 2006, a student is eligible to receive a
8 maximum annual award of $1,900 or the amount established in
9 the General Appropriations Act, if the student is enrolled in
10 a public university or other eligible 4-year college or
11 university that grants baccalaureate degrees or higher.
12 Effective July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a public
13 community college, a nonpublic 2-year college, or a public
14 technical center or eligible nonpublic school is eligible to
15 receive a maximum annual award of $1,500 or the amount
16 established in the General Appropriations Act.
17 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
18 as a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar, a student must meet
19 the requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the
20 equivalent of a grade point average requirement of 2.75 on a
21 4.0 scale for all postsecondary education work attempted. A
22 student has, with an opportunity for restoration reinstatement
23 one time as provided in this chapter act.
24 (4) A student may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
25 Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
26 required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the
27 equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar who meets
28 all renewal requirements for a Florida Medallion Scholars
29 award has a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all
30 postsecondary education work attempted may apply for a Florida
31 Medallion Merit Scholars award at any renewal period, or the
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1 department may transfer the student to the Florida Medallion
2 Scholars award during any renewal period. All other provisions
3 of that program apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be
4 calculated by subtracting from the student's total eligibility
5 the number of credit hours the student attempted while earning
6 the Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
7 Section 8. Section 240.40209, Florida Statutes, is
8 amended to read:
9 240.40209 Bright Futures Scholarship recipients
10 attending nonpublic institutions; calculation of
11 awards.--Notwithstanding ss. 240.40201, 240.40205, 240.40206,
12 and 240.40207, a student who receives any award under the
13 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, who is enrolled in
14 a nonpublic postsecondary education institution, and who is
15 assessed tuition and fees that are the same as those of a
16 full-time student at that institution, shall receive a fixed
17 award calculated by using the average matriculation and fee
18 calculation as prescribed by the Department of Education for
19 full-time attendance at a public postsecondary education
20 institution at the comparable level. If the student is
21 enrolled part-time and is assessed tuition and fees at a
22 reduced level, the award shall be either one-half of the
23 maximum award or three-fourths of the maximum award, depending
24 on the level of fees assessed.
25 Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and
26 subsection (4) of section 240.404, Florida Statutes, are
27 amended to read:
28 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
29 for state financial aid.--
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1 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of
2 students for state financial aid awards consist of the
3 following:
4 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
5 acceptance at a state university or community college; a
6 nursing diploma school approved by the Florida Board of
7 Nursing; a Florida college, university, or community college
8 which is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the
9 United States Department of Education a member of the
10 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; any
11 Florida institution the credits of which are acceptable for
12 transfer to state universities; any area technical center; or
13 any private vocational-technical institution accredited by an
14 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
15 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
16 Postsecondary Accreditation.
17 2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
18 preceding the award of aid for a program established pursuant
19 to s. 240.409, s. 240.4095, s. 240.4097, s. 240.412, s.
20 240.4125, s. 240.413, s. 240.4987, s. 240.605, or s. 240.606.
21 Residency in this state must be for purposes other than to
22 obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of receiving
23 state financial aid awards shall be determined in the same
24 manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s.
25 240.1201 and rules of the State Board of Education. A person
26 who has been properly classified as a resident by a
27 postsecondary education institution for initial receipt of
28 state-funded student financial assistance and found to be
29 eligible to participate in a financial assistance program may
30 continue to qualify as a resident for state-funded financial
31 aid programs if the student maintains continuous enrollment at
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1 the postsecondary education institution, with no break in
2 enrollment greater than 12 consecutive months.
3 3. Submission of certification attesting to the
4 accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information
5 provided to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive
6 state financial aid awards. Falsification of such information
7 shall result in the denial of any pending application and
8 revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no
9 further payments shall be made. Additionally, students who
10 knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
11 financial aid awards shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
12 second degree subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall
13 be required to return all state financial aid awards
14 wrongfully obtained.
15 4. Completion of the Free Application for Federal
16 Student Aid provided by the U.S. Department of Education and
17 submitted as required by the Florida Department of Education.
18 (4) Effective July 1, 2006, a student is not eligible
19 to receive more than one state scholarship or state grant,
20 except that a student who qualifies for both a merit-based
21 scholarship and a need-based grant may receive both types of
22 awards. A No student is not shall be eligible to receive more
23 than one state scholarship that is based on academic merit.
24 Students who qualify for more than one such scholarship shall
25 be notified of all awards for which they qualify and shall be
26 provided the opportunity to accept one of their choosing.
27 Section 10. Section 240.40208, Florida Statutes, is
28 repealed.
29 Section 11. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
30 law.
31
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1 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
2 Senate Bill 18-B
3
4 The Proposed Committee Substitute differs from the bill in
that it establishes two levels of award for the Bright Futures
5 Gold Seal Vocational and Medallion Scholarship Programs
6 . For a full-time student at a 4-year college or
university, an annual award of $1,900.
7
. For a full-time student at a 2-year community college or
8 technical center, an annual award of $1,500.
9 Makes several technical or administrative changes to the
Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The technical changes have
10 no fiscal impact.
11 . The Merit Scholarship is renamed the Medallion
Scholarship.
12
. Application deadlines are less restrictive: a student
13 may apply by high school graduation, with exceptions
allowed up to December 31.
14
. The terms "renewal, reinstatement, restoration, and
15 public service assignment" are defined and used
consistently.
16
. A student will be eligible for the equivalent of a
17 4-year scholarship for enrollment in a 5-year program
that includes some graduate school.
18
. A student will be eligible for the Medallion Scholarship
19 as well as the Academic Scholarship for achievement in
the National Merit and National Hispanic Scholarship
20 programs.
21 . The high school vocational courses required for the Gold
Seal Scholarship are simplified.
22
. An obsolete statute relating to transition is repealed.
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