Senate Bill sb2440
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Florida Senate - 2002 SB 2440
By Senator Campbell
33-702A-02
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to students in community
3 college and area technical center aviation
4 programs; creating a low interest rate loan
5 program; providing maximum loan amounts and the
6 interest rate on loans; providing eligibility
7 criteria; providing for loan repayment;
8 authorizing certain funding; providing an
9 effective date.
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11 WHEREAS, vocational programs offered through community
12 colleges and area technical centers are intended to be
13 cost-effective preparations for participants to receive
14 training that will enable them to become productive members of
15 the workforce, and
16 WHEREAS, students in aviation programs such as pilot
17 training and aviation maintenance incur high expenses not
18 customarily experienced by students in other programs, and
19 WHEREAS, the high cost of aviation programs denies
20 access to these programs to qualified individuals who are
21 economically disadvantaged, and
22 WHEREAS, minorities and women are underrepresented in
23 community college and area technical center aviation programs,
24 and
25 WHEREAS, low interest rate loans would provide equal
26 opportunities for participants, and
27 WHEREAS, there is a great need for additional workers
28 trained in aviation programs and it is a benefit to the
29 aviation industry to have a qualified workforce representing
30 the people of Florida, and
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Florida Senate - 2002 SB 2440
33-702A-02
1 WHEREAS, aviation is vital to sustaining Florida's
2 economy, NOW, THEREFORE,
3
4 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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6 Section 1. There is created a low interest rate loan
7 program for students enrolled in aviation programs in
8 Florida's public community colleges and area technical
9 centers.
10 (1) A student is eligible for a loan as
11 follows: during a student's first term in an aviation
12 program, in an amount equal to 30 percent of registration,
13 matriculation, and laboratory fees; during a student's second
14 term in an aviation program, in an amount up to 50 percent of
15 registration, matriculation, and laboratory fees; during a
16 student's third term in an aviation program, in an amount up
17 to 70 percent of registration, matriculation, and laboratory
18 fees; and during a student's fourth and any subsequent term in
19 an aviation program, in an amount up to 90 percent of
20 registration, matriculation, and laboratory fees. If funds are
21 insufficient to make loans available to students in the full
22 amount authorized by this section, a community college or an
23 area technical center shall make loans to all eligible
24 students on a pro rata basis.
25 (2) To enable the Department of Education to collect
26 demographic data on students participating in the program,
27 each student must fill out a Free Application For Federal
28 Student Aid.
29 (3) In order to maintain eligibility for a low
30 interest rate loan following the first term in an aviation
31 program, a student must:
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Florida Senate - 2002 SB 2440
33-702A-02
1 (a) Be enrolled for at least 6 semester credit hours
2 or the equivalent per term.
3 (b) Maintain a grade point average of no less than 3.0
4 in aviation classes, including flight classes.
5 (c) Be making satisfactory progress, as determined by
6 standards of the respective community college or area
7 technical center, toward successful completion of the aviation
8 program.
9 (d) If enrolled in a pilot training program, be able
10 to hold a second-class medical certificate issued by an
11 aviation medical examiner.
12 (e) Be subject to all current Federal Aviation
13 Administration qualifications and requirements.
14 (4) Loan repayment must begin no later than 6 months
15 after the student leaves the program, and interest on the loan
16 shall remain at 3 percent for the first 3 years beginning with
17 the inception of the loan. Interest rates shall increase at
18 the rate of 1 percent each year thereafter until the loan is
19 fully repaid.
20 (5) Application for participation in the low interest
21 rate loan program and loan repayment shall be administered by
22 the community college or area technical center in which a
23 student is enrolled.
24 (6) From the 25 percent of financial aid fees
25 authorized pursuant to section 240.35(11)(c), Florida
26 Statutes, community colleges may provide low interest rate
27 loans to implement the provisions of this section.
28 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.
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Florida Senate - 2002 SB 2440
33-702A-02
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2 SENATE SUMMARY
3 Creates a low-interest loan program for aviation students
in community colleges. Prescribes maximum loan amounts
4 and interest rates on loans. Requires certain academic
and other criteria to be met for continued aid
5 eligibility.
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