Senate Bill sb1506
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Florida Senate - 2002 SB 1506
By Senator Mitchell
4-1492-02 See HB
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student financial
3 assistance; amending s. 240.4015, F.S.,
4 relating to the Florida Bright Futures
5 Scholarship Testing Program; redesignating the
6 Florida Merit Scholarship as the Florida
7 Medallion Scholarship; amending s. 240.40201,
8 F.S.; revising the eligibility period for the
9 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
10 eliminating provisions relating to maximum
11 awards; providing for transition from certain
12 scholarships; amending s. 240.40202, F.S.;
13 defining the term "public service assignment";
14 revising application dates; providing for
15 initial acceptance of a scholarship, to
16 conform; amending s. 240.40203, F.S.; defining
17 renewal, reinstatement, and restoration and
18 revising conditions for eligibility; providing
19 conditions for awards to students in programs
20 that confer postbaccalaureate degrees;
21 conforming provisions; amending s. 240.40204,
22 F.S.; revising provisions and eliminating
23 obsolete provisions relating to eligible
24 postsecondary education institutions; amending
25 s. 240.40205, F.S.; eliminating obsolete
26 provisions; designating an award level for a
27 Florida Academic Scholarship; amending s.
28 240.40206, F.S.; conforming provisions and
29 eliminating obsolete provisions; designating
30 award levels for a Florida Medallion
31 Scholarship; revising eligibility requirements;
1
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1 amending s. 240.40207, F.S.; designating award
2 levels for a Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship;
3 revising eligibility requirements; providing
4 for transfer to the Florida Medallion
5 Scholarship; amending s. 240.40209, F.S.;
6 providing for the calculation of awards;
7 amending s. 240.404, F.S.; revising general
8 requirements for eligibility for state
9 financial aid; eliminating obsolete provisions;
10 providing certain limitations on eligibility
11 for various state scholarships and grants;
12 repealing s. 240.40208, F.S., relating to a
13 transition from certain scholarships to the
14 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
15 providing an effective date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Subsections (3), (4), and (8) of section
20 240.4015, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
21 240.4015 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Testing
22 Program.--
23 (3) Beginning with initial award recipients for the
24 2002-2003 academic year and continuing thereafter, students
25 eligible for a Florida Academic Scholars award or a Florida
26 Medallion Merit Scholars award who are admitted to and enroll
27 in a community college or state university shall, prior to
28 registering for courses that may be earned through a CLEP
29 examination and no later than registration for their second
30 term, complete at least five examinations from those specified
31 in subsection (1) in the following areas: English; humanities;
2
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1 mathematics; natural sciences; and social sciences. Successful
2 completion of dual enrollment courses, Advanced Placement
3 examinations, and International Baccalaureate examinations
4 taken prior to high school graduation satisfy this
5 requirement. The Articulation Coordinating Committee shall
6 identify the examinations that satisfy each component of this
7 requirement.
8 (4) Initial award recipients for the 2001-2002
9 academic year who are eligible for a Florida Academic Scholars
10 award or a Florida Medallion Merit Scholars award and who are
11 admitted to and enroll in a community college or state
12 university may choose, prior to registering for courses that
13 may be earned through CLEP examination, to complete up to five
14 CLEP examinations, one in each of the following areas:
15 English; humanities; mathematics; natural sciences; and social
16 sciences.
17 (8) Beginning with the 2002-2003 award recipients, the
18 Department of Education shall track and annually report on the
19 effectiveness of the program, and include information on the
20 number of students participating in the program; the CLEP
21 examinations taken and the passage rate of Florida Academic
22 Scholars and Florida Medallion Merit Scholars award
23 recipients; the use of Advanced Placement and International
24 Baccalaureate examinations and dual enrollment courses to
25 satisfy the requirements of the program; and the course credit
26 provided.
27 Section 2. Subsections (1), (2), (5), and (7) of
28 section 240.40201, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
29 subsection (11) is added to that section, to read:
30 240.40201 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
31 Program.--
3
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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 a degree
5 program, certificate program, or applied technology diploma
6 program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary
7 education institution within 7 3 years after of graduation
8 from high school. An award may not be provided to a student
9 beyond 7 years after high school graduation, regardless of the
10 year in which the student first receives scholarship funding.
11 (2) The Bright Futures Scholarship Program consists of
12 three types of awards, the Florida Academic Scholarship, the
13 Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship, and the Florida
14 Vocational Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
15 (5) The department shall issue awards from the
16 scholarship program annually. Annual awards may be for up to
17 45 semester credit hours or the equivalent. Before the
18 registration period each semester, the department shall
19 transmit payment for each award to the president or director
20 of the postsecondary education institution, or his or her
21 representative, except that the department may withhold
22 payment if the receiving institution fails to report or to
23 make refunds to the department as required in this act.
24 (a) Within 30 days after the end of regular
25 registration each semester, the educational institution shall
26 certify to the department the eligibility status of each
27 student who receives an award. After the end of the drop and
28 add period, an institution is not required to reevaluate or
29 revise a student's eligibility status, but must make a refund
30 to the department if a student who receives an award
31 disbursement terminates enrollment for any reason during an
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1 academic term and a refund is permitted by the institution's
2 refund policy.
3 (b) An institution that receives funds from the
4 program shall certify to the department the amount of funds
5 disbursed to each student and shall remit to the department
6 any undisbursed advances within 60 days after the end of
7 regular registration.
8 (c) Each institution that receives moneys through this
9 program shall prepare an annual report that includes an
10 independent external audit or an audit prepared by the Office
11 of the Auditor General. The report shall include an audit of
12 the institution's administration of the program and a complete
13 accounting of the moneys for the program. This report must be
14 submitted to the department annually by March 1. The
15 department may conduct its own annual audit of an
16 institution's administration of the program. The department
17 may request a refund of any moneys overpaid to the institution
18 for the program. The department may suspend or revoke an
19 institution's eligibility to receive future moneys for the
20 program if the department finds that an institution has not
21 complied with this section. The institution must remit within
22 60 days any refund requested in accordance with this
23 subsection.
24 (7) A student may receive only one type of award from
25 the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program at a time, but
26 may transfer from one type of award to another through the
27 renewal application process, if the student's eligibility
28 status changes. However, a student is not eligible to transfer
29 from a Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship or a Florida
30 Vocational Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship to a Florida
31 Academic Scholarship. A student who receives an award from the
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1 program may also receive a federal family education loan or a
2 federal direct loan, and the value of the award must be
3 considered in the certification or calculation of the
4 student's loan eligibility.
5 (11) A student who graduated from high school in 1997
6 or earlier and who is eligible for the Florida Undergraduate
7 Scholars' Program award pursuant to s. 240.402, Florida
8 Statutes, 1995, is eligible for the Florida Academic Scholars
9 award as provided in this chapter. A student who graduated
10 from high school in 1997 or earlier and who is eligible for
11 the Vocational Gold Seal Endorsement Scholarship Program award
12 pursuant to s. 240.4021, Florida Statutes, 1995, is eligible
13 for the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship award as
14 provided in this chapter. Award eligibility ends 7 years after
15 high school graduation.
16 Section 3. Paragraphs (b) and (f) of subsection (1)
17 and subsection (2) of section 240.40202, Florida Statutes, are
18 amended to read:
19 240.40202 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
20 student eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
21 (1) To be eligible for an initial award from any of
22 the three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright
23 Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:
24 (b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
25 equivalent as described in s. 232.246 or s. 229.814 unless:
26 1. The student is enrolled full time in the early
27 admission program of an eligible postsecondary education
28 institution or completes a home education program according to
29 s. 232.0201; or
30 2. The student earns a high school diploma from a
31 non-Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who
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1 is on military or public service assignment away from Florida.
2 The term "public service assignment," as used in this
3 subparagraph, means the occupational assignment outside this
4 state of a person who is a permanent resident of this state
5 and who is employed by the United States Government or the
6 State of Florida conditioned upon assignment outside this
7 state.
8 (f) Apply for a scholarship from the program within 2
9 years after by April 1 of the last semester before high school
10 graduation.
11 (2) A student is eligible to accept an initial award
12 for 3 years following high school graduation and to accept a
13 renewal award for 7 years following high school graduation. A
14 student who applies for an award by April 1 and who meets all
15 other eligibility requirements, but who does not accept his or
16 her award during the first year of eligibility after high
17 school graduation, may apply for reinstatement of the award
18 for use within 7 reapply during subsequent application periods
19 up to 3 years after high school graduation. Reinstatement
20 applications must be received by the deadline established by
21 the Department of Education.
22 Section 4. Section 240.40203, Florida Statutes, is
23 amended to read:
24 240.40203 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
25 student eligibility requirements for renewal, reinstatement,
26 and restoration awards.--
27 (1) After the first year of eligibility, if a student
28 wishes to receive To be eligible to renew a scholarship from
29 any of the three types of scholarships under the Florida
30 Bright Futures Scholarship Program, the a student must meet
31
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1 the following requirements for either renewal, reinstatement,
2 or restoration:
3 (a) Renewal applies to a student who received an award
4 for at least one term during the previous academic year. For
5 renewal, a student must complete at least 12 semester credit
6 hours or the equivalent in the last academic year in which the
7 student earned a scholarship and.
8 (b) maintain the cumulative grade point average
9 required by the scholarship program, except that:
10 1. If a recipient's grades fall beneath the average
11 required to renew a Florida Academic Scholarship, but are
12 sufficient to renew a Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship or a
13 Florida Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship, the Department of
14 Education may grant a renewal from the Florida Medallion
15 Scholarship Program one of those other scholarship programs,
16 if the student meets the renewal eligibility requirements; or
17 2. If, upon renewal evaluation at any time during the
18 eligibility period, a student's grades or hours, or both, are
19 not sufficient insufficient to renew the scholarship, the
20 student may use the cumulative grades or hours, or both,
21 earned during the following summer to renew the scholarship
22 restore eligibility by improving the grade point average to
23 the required level. A student is eligible for such a
24 reinstatement only once. The Legislature encourages education
25 institutions to assist students to calculate whether or not it
26 is possible to raise the grade point average during the summer
27 term. If the institution determines that it is possible, the
28 education institution may so inform the department, which may
29 reserve the student's award if funds are available. The
30 renewal, however, must not be granted until the student
31 achieves the required cumulative grade point average and earns
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1 the required number of credit hours. If during the summer term
2 the student does not earn is not sufficient hours or to raise
3 the grade point average to the required renewal level, the
4 student is not eligible for an award student's next
5 opportunity for renewal is the fall semester of the following
6 academic year.
7 (b) Reinstatement applies to a student who was
8 eligible for, but did not receive, an award during the
9 previous academic year or years and who may apply to
10 reestablish use of the scholarship. For reinstatement, a
11 student must have been eligible at the time of the student's
12 most recent Bright Futures eligibility determination. The
13 student must apply for reinstatement by submitting a
14 reinstatement application by the deadline established by the
15 Department of Eduction.
16 (c) Restoration applies to a student who did not meet
17 renewal grade-point-average or hours-earned requirements at a
18 prior evaluation period. A student may restore eligibility by
19 meeting the required renewal grade-point average at a
20 subsequent renewal evaluation period. A student is eligible
21 for restoration only once. The student must submit a
22 restoration application by the deadline established by the
23 Department of Education.
24 (2) A student who is enrolled in a program that
25 terminates in an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree
26 may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent of the
27 number of credit hours required to complete the program. A
28 student who is enrolled in a program that terminates in a
29 technical certificate may receive an award for a maximum of
30 110 percent of the credit hours or clock hours required to
31 complete the program up to 90 credit hours. A student who
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1 transfers from one of these program levels to another becomes
2 eligible for the higher of the two credit hour limits.
3 (3) A Florida Academic Scholar or a Florida Medallion
4 Scholar who is enrolled in a combined undergraduate and
5 graduate program that terminates in the award of a
6 postbaccalaureate degree or the simultaneous award of
7 baccalaureate and postbaccalaureate degrees may receive an
8 award for a maximum of 110 percent of the number of credit
9 hours required to complete a standard undergraduate program at
10 the institution attended, at the undergraduate rate.
11 Section 5. Section 240.40204, Florida Statutes, is
12 amended to read:
13 240.40204 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
14 eligible postsecondary education institutions.--A student is
15 eligible for an award or the renewal of an award from the
16 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program if the student
17 meets the requirements for the program as described in this
18 act and is enrolled in a postsecondary education institution
19 that meets the description in any one of the following
20 subsections:
21 (1) A Florida public university, community college, or
22 technical center.
23 (2) An independent Florida college or university that
24 is accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by
25 the United States Department of Education a member of the
26 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and
27 that which has operated in the state for at least 3 years.
28 (3) An independent Florida postsecondary education
29 institution that is licensed pursuant to the provisions of
30 chapter 246 by the State Board of Independent Colleges and
31 Universities and that which:
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1 (a) Is authorized to grant degrees;
2 (b)(a) Shows evidence of sound financial condition;
3 and
4 (c)(b) Has operated in the state for at least 3 years
5 without having its approval, accreditation, or license placed
6 on probation.
7 (4) A Florida independent postsecondary education
8 institution that offers a nursing diploma approved by the
9 Board of Nursing.
10 (5) A Florida independent postsecondary education
11 institution that is licensed pursuant to the provisions of
12 chapter 246 by the State Board of Nonpublic Career Education
13 and that which:
14 (a) Is authorized to award certificates or credentials
15 other than degrees;
16 (b)(a) Has a program completion and placement rate of
17 at least the rate required by the current Florida Statutes,
18 the Florida Administrative Code, or the Department of
19 Education for an institution at its level; and
20 (c)(b) Shows evidence of sound financial condition;
21 and either:
22 1. Is accredited at the institutional level by an
23 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
24 of Education and has operated in the state for at least 3
25 years during which there has been no complaint for which
26 probable cause has been found; or
27 2. Has operated in Florida for 5 years during which
28 there has been no complaint for which probable cause has been
29 found.
30 Section 6. Section 240.40205, Florida Statutes, is
31 amended to read:
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1 240.40205 Florida Academic Scholars award.--
2 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic
3 Scholars award if the student meets the general eligibility
4 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
5 Program and the student:
6 (a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
7 calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or its equivalent, in
8 high school courses that are designated by the Department of
9 Education adopted by the Board of Regents and recommended by
10 the State Board of Community Colleges as college-preparatory
11 academic courses; and
12 (b) has attained at least the score identified by
13 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
14 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
15 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
16 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
17 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or
18 (b)(c) Has attended a home education program according
19 to s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
20 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
21 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
22 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
23 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
24 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
25 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
26 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
27 College Testing Program; or
28 (c)(d) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate
29 Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office; or
30
31
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1 (d)(e) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
2 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
3 scholar or finalist; or
4 (e)(f) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
5 Recognition Program as a scholar recipient.
6
7 Effective with the 1998-1999 school year, A student must
8 complete a program of community service work, as approved by
9 the district school board or the administrators of a nonpublic
10 school, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours of service
11 work and require the student to identify a social problem that
12 interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal
13 involvement in addressing the problem, and, through papers or
14 other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her
15 experience.
16 (2) Until July 1, 2006, a Florida Academic Scholar who
17 is enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution is
18 eligible for an award equal to the amount required to pay
19 matriculation, fees, and $600 for college-related expenses
20 annually. Until July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a
21 nonpublic postsecondary education institution is eligible for
22 an award equal to the amount that would be required to pay for
23 the average matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary
24 education institution at the comparable level, plus the annual
25 $600. Effective July 1, 2006, a student is eligible to receive
26 a maximum annual award of $3,200 or the amount established in
27 the General Appropriations Act.
28 (3) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida
29 Academic Scholar, a student must maintain the equivalent of a
30 grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all
31 postsecondary education work attempted, with an opportunity
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1 for one restoration reinstatement as provided in this chapter
2 act.
3 (4) In each school district, the Florida Academic
4 Scholar with the highest academic ranking shall be designated
5 as an Academic Top Scholar and shall be entitled to receive an
6 additional award of $1,500 for college-related expenses. This
7 award must be funded from the Florida Bright Futures
8 Scholarship Program.
9 Section 7. Section 240.40206, Florida Statutes, is
10 amended to read:
11 240.40206 Florida Medallion Merit Scholars award.--
12 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Medallion
13 Merit Scholars award if the student meets the general
14 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
15 Scholarship Program and the student:
16 (a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0
17 as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or the equivalent, in
18 high school courses that are designated by the Department of
19 Education adopted by the Board of Regents and recommended by
20 the State Board of Community Colleges as college-preparatory
21 academic courses; and
22 (b) has attained at least the score identified by
23 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
24 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
25 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
26 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
27 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or
28 (b)(c) Has attended a home education program according
29 to s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
30 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
31 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
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1 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
2 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
3 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
4 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
5 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
6 College Testing Program; or.
7 (c) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
8 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
9 scholar or finalist but has not completed a program of
10 community service as provided in s. 240.40205; or
11 (d) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
12 Recognition Program as a scholar recipient, but has not
13 completed a program of community service as provided in s.
14 240.40205.
15 (2) Until July 1, 2006, a Florida Medallion Merit
16 Scholar is eligible for an award equal to the amount required
17 to pay 75 percent of matriculation and fees, if the student is
18 enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution.
19 Until July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
20 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
21 equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent
22 of the matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary
23 education institution at the comparable level. Effective July
24 1, 2006, a student is eligible to receive a maximum annual
25 award of $2,000 or the amount established in the General
26 Appropriations Act, if the student is enrolled in a public
27 university or other eligible 4-year college or university that
28 grants baccalaureate degrees or higher. Effective July 1,
29 2006, a student who is enrolled in a public community college,
30 a nonpublic 2-year college, or a public technical center or
31 eligible nonpublic school is eligible to receive a maximum
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1 annual award of $1,500 or the amount established in the
2 General Appropriations Act.
3 (3) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida
4 Medallion Merit Scholar, a student must maintain the
5 equivalent of a grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for
6 all postsecondary education work attempted, with an
7 opportunity for restoration reinstatement one time as provided
8 in this chapter act.
9 Section 8. Section 240.40207, Florida Statutes, is
10 amended to read:
11 240.40207 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
12 award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is
13 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
14 to recognize and reward academic achievement and vocational
15 preparation by high school students who wish to continue their
16 education.
17 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
18 Vocational Scholars award if the student meets the general
19 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
20 Scholarship Program and the student:
21 (a) Completes the secondary school portion of a
22 sequential program of studies that requires at least three
23 consecutive secondary school vocational credits. taken over at
24 least 2 academic years, and is continued in a planned, related
25 postsecondary education program. If the student's school does
26 not offer such a two-plus-two or tech-prep program, the
27 student must complete a job-preparatory career education
28 program selected by the Workforce Estimating Conference or
29 Workforce Florida, Inc., for its ability to provide high-wage
30 employment in an occupation with high potential for employment
31
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1 opportunities. On-the-job training may not be substituted for
2 any of the three required vocational credits.
3 (b) Demonstrates readiness for postsecondary education
4 by earning a passing score on the Florida College Entry Level
5 Placement Test or its equivalent as identified by the
6 Department of Education.
7 (c) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point
8 average of 3.0, as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, on all
9 subjects required for a standard high school diploma,
10 excluding elective courses.
11 (d) Earns a minimum unweighted grade point average of
12 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for secondary vocational courses comprising
13 the vocational program.
14 (e) Completes the requirements of a vocational-ready
15 diploma program, as defined by rules of the State Board of
16 Education.
17 (2) Until July 1, 2006, a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
18 Scholar is eligible for an award equal to the amount required
19 to pay 75 percent of matriculation and fees, if the student is
20 enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution.
21 Until July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
22 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
23 equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent
24 of the matriculation and mandatory fees of a public
25 postsecondary education institution at the comparable level.
26 Effective July 1, 2006, a student is eligible to receive a
27 maximum annual award of $2,000 or the amount established in
28 the General Appropriations Act, if the student is enrolled in
29 a public university or other eligible 4-year college or
30 university that grants baccalaureate degrees or higher.
31 Effective July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a public
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1 community college, a nonpublic 2-year college, or a public
2 technical center or eligible nonpublic school is eligible to
3 receive a maximum annual award of $1,500 or the amount
4 established in the General Appropriations Act.
5 (3) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida
6 Gold Seal Vocational Scholar, a student must maintain the
7 equivalent of a grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for
8 all postsecondary education work attempted, with an
9 opportunity for restoration reinstatement one time as provided
10 in this chapter act.
11 (4) A student may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
12 Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
13 required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the
14 equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar who meets
15 all renewal requirements for a Florida Medallion Scholars
16 award has a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all
17 postsecondary education work attempted may apply for a Florida
18 Medallion Merit Scholars award at any renewal period, or the
19 department may transfer the student to the Florida Medallion
20 Scholars award during any renewal period. All other provisions
21 of that program apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be
22 calculated by subtracting from the student's total eligibility
23 the number of credit hours the student attempted while earning
24 the Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
25 Section 9. Section 240.40209, Florida Statutes, is
26 amended to read:
27 240.40209 Bright Futures Scholarship recipients
28 attending nonpublic institutions; calculation of
29 awards.--Notwithstanding ss. 240.40201, 240.40205, 240.40206,
30 and 240.40207, a student who receives any award under the
31 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, who is enrolled in
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Florida Senate - 2002 SB 1506
4-1492-02 See HB
1 a nonpublic postsecondary education institution, and who is
2 assessed tuition and fees that are the same as those of a
3 full-time student at that institution, shall receive a fixed
4 award calculated by using the average matriculation and fee
5 calculation as prescribed by the Department of Education for
6 full-time attendance at a public postsecondary education
7 institution at the comparable level. If the student is
8 enrolled part-time and is assessed tuition and fees at a
9 reduced level, the award shall be either one-half of the
10 maximum award or three-fourths of the maximum award, depending
11 on the level of fees assessed.
12 Section 10. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and
13 subsection (4) of section 240.404, Florida Statutes, are
14 amended to read:
15 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
16 for state financial aid.--
17 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of
18 students for state financial aid awards consist of the
19 following:
20 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
21 acceptance at a state university or community college; a
22 nursing diploma school approved by the Florida Board of
23 Nursing; a Florida college, university, or community college
24 which is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the
25 United States Department of Education a member of the
26 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; any
27 Florida institution the credits of which are acceptable for
28 transfer to state universities; any area technical center; or
29 any private vocational-technical institution accredited by an
30 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
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Florida Senate - 2002 SB 1506
4-1492-02 See HB
1 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
2 Postsecondary Accreditation.
3 2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
4 preceding the award of aid for a program established pursuant
5 to s. 240.409, s. 240.4095, s. 240.4097, s. 240.412, s.
6 240.4125, s. 240.413, s. 240.4987, s. 240.605, or s. 240.606.
7 Residency in this state must be for purposes other than to
8 obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of receiving
9 state financial aid awards shall be determined in the same
10 manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s.
11 240.1201 and rules of the State Board of Education. A person
12 who has been properly classified as a resident by a
13 postsecondary education institution for initial receipt of
14 state-funded student financial assistance and found to be
15 eligible to participate in a financial assistance program may
16 continue to qualify as a resident for state-funded financial
17 aid programs if the student maintains continuous enrollment at
18 the postsecondary education institution, with no break in
19 enrollment greater than 12 consecutive months.
20 3. Submission of certification attesting to the
21 accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information
22 provided to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive
23 state financial aid awards. Falsification of such information
24 shall result in the denial of any pending application and
25 revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no
26 further payments shall be made. Additionally, students who
27 knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
28 financial aid awards shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
29 second degree subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall
30 be required to return all state financial aid awards
31 wrongfully obtained.
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Florida Senate - 2002 SB 1506
4-1492-02 See HB
1 4. Completion of the Free Application for Federal
2 Student Aid provided by the United States Department of
3 Education and submitted as required by the Florida Department
4 of Education.
5 (4) Effective July 1, 2006, a student is not eligible
6 to receive more than one state scholarship or state grant in
7 the same term, except that a student who qualifies for both a
8 merit-based scholarship and a need-based grant may receive
9 both types of awards. A No student is not shall be eligible to
10 receive more than one state scholarship that is based on
11 academic merit. Students who qualify for more than one such
12 scholarship shall be notified of all awards for which they
13 qualify and shall be provided the opportunity to accept one of
14 their choosing.
15 Section 11. Section 240.40208, Florida Statutes, is
16 repealed.
17 Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.
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Florida Senate - 2002 SB 1506
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1 *****************************************
2 LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY
3 Revises the eligibility period for the Florida Bright
Futures Scholarship Program. Redesignates the Florida
4 Merit Scholarship as the Florida Medallion Scholarship.
Deletes provisions relating to maximum awards. Defines
5 the term "public service assignment." Revises application
dates and provides for initial acceptance of a
6 scholarship. Defines renewal, reinstatement, and
restoration and revises conditions for eligibility.
7 Provides conditions for awards to students in programs
that confer postbaccalaureate degrees. Revises provisions
8 relating to eligible postsecondary education
institutions. Designates award levels for a Florida
9 Academic Scholarship, Florida Medallion Scholarship, and
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship. Revises certain
10 eligibility requirements for receipt of awards and
provides for transfer of certain awards. Provides for the
11 calculation of certain awards by the Department of
Education. Revises general requirements for eligibility
12 for state financial aid. Provides certain limitations on
eligibility for various state scholarships and grants.
13 Eliminates obsolete provisions and updates provisions
relating to a transition from certain scholarships to the
14 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
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