HB 1745 2003
1	CHAMBER ACTION
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6	The Committee on Finance & Tax recommends the following:
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8	Committee Substitute
9	Remove the entire bill and insert:
10	A bill to be entitled
11	An act relating to higher education finance policy;
12	amending s. 1009.21, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
13	determination of resident status for tuition purposes;
14	providing for reclassification; providing for
15	classification of certain graduate teaching assistants or
16	graduate research assistants; amending s. 1009.23, F.S.;
17	deleting provisions relating to fines assessed by
18	community colleges; amending s. 1009.24, F.S.; revising
19	provisions relating to undergraduate tuition and fees;
20	authorizing a nonrefundable admissions deposit; amending
21	s. 1009.25, F.S.; revising provisions relating to fee
22	exemptions; amending s. 1009.53, F.S., relating to the
23	Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program; revising
24	provisions relating to payment to postsecondary education
25	institutions; providing for subsidies to institutions;
26	specifying minimum hours for which students must be
27	enrolled; amending s. 1009.531, F.S.; revising initial
28	eligibility criteria; providing eligibility period for
29	students who enlist in the United States Armed Forces;
30	providing for additional weighting for certain courses;
31	amending s. 1009.532, F.S.; revising eligibility criteria
32	to renew a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship; revising
33	provisions relating to number of credit hours for which a
34	scholarship may be received; amending s. 1009.534, F.S.;
35	revising initial eligibility criteria for a Florida
36	Academic Scholarship; revising provisions relating to the
37	amount of a scholarship; authorizing cash payments;
38	revising renewal criteria; amending s. 1009.535, F.S.;
39	revising initial eligibility criteria for a Florida
40	Medallion Scholarship; revising provisions relating to the
41	amount of a scholarship; authorizing cash payments;
42	revising renewal criteria; amending s. 1009.536, F.S.;
43	revising the types of programs for which a Florida Gold
44	Seal Vocational Scholarship may be used; requiring the
45	State Board of Education to identify such programs;
46	revising provisions relating to the amount of a
47	scholarship; authorizing cash payments; revising renewal
48	criteria; revising provisions relating to number of
49	credits for which a scholarship may be received; revising
50	provisions relating to transfer to a Florida Medallion
51	Scholarship; creating s. 1009.5365, F.S.; providing for
52	subsidies to public postsecondary education institutions;
53	providing requirements for establishing the amount of
54	subsidies; repealing s. 1009.538, F.S., relating to
55	calculation of awards for Florida Bright Futures
56	Scholarship recipients attending nonpublic institutions;
57	repealing s. 1009.539, F.S., relating to the Florida
58	Bright Futures Scholarship Testing Program; requiring the
59	State Board of Education to submit to the Legislature a
60	plan regarding tuition and funding for excess hours;
61	amending s. 1002.41, F.S.; correcting a cross reference;
62	providing an effective date.
63
64	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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66	Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) of
67	section 1009.21, Florida Statutes, are amended, paragraph (d) is
68	added to said subsection, and paragraph (k) is added to
69	subsection (10) of said section, to read:
70	1009.21 Determination of resident status for tuition
71	purposes.--Students shall be classified as residents or
72	nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in community
73	colleges and state universities.
74	(2)(a) To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes:
75	1. A person or, if that person is a dependent child, his
76	or her parent or parents must have established legal residence
77	in this state and must have maintained legal residence in this
78	state for at least 12 months immediately prior to his or her
79	initial enrollment at a Florida postsecondary education
80	institution. For purposes of this section, the term “initial
81	enrollment” is defined as the first day of classqualification.
82	2. Every applicant for admission to an institution of
83	higher education shall be required to make a statement as to his
84	or her length of residence in the state and, further, shall
85	establish that his or her presence or, if the applicant is a
86	dependent child, the presence of his or her parent or parents in
87	the state currently is, and during the requisite 12-month
88	qualifying period was, for the purpose of maintaining a bona
89	fide domicile, rather than for the purpose of maintaining a mere
90	temporary residence or abode incident to enrollment in an
91	institution of higher education.
92	(b) However, with respect to a dependent child living with
93	an adult relative other than the child's parent, such child may
94	qualify as a resident for tuition purposes if the adult relative
95	is a legal resident who has maintained legal residence in this
96	state for at least 12 months immediately prior to the child's
97	initial enrollment at a Florida postsecondary education
98	institutionqualification, provided the child has resided
99	continuously with such relative for the 5 years immediately
100	prior to the child's initial enrollmentqualification, during
101	which time the adult relative has exercised day-to-day care,
102	supervision, and control of the child.
103	(d) A person who is classified as a nonresident for
104	tuition purposes may become eligible for reclassification as a
105	resident for tuition purposes if that person or, if that person
106	is a dependent child, his or her parent presents documentation
107	that supports permanent residency in this state, such as
108	documentation of permanent full-time employment for the previous
109	12 months or the purchase of a home in this state and residence
110	therein for the prior 12 months.
111	(10) The following persons shall be classified as
112	residents for tuition purposes:
113	(k) A graduate teaching assistant or graduate research
114	assistant while employed by a state university, when such
115	employment is at least one-half time in a teaching or research
116	assistant position that relates to the graduate assistant’s
117	degree program.
118	Section 2. Subsection (12) of section 1009.23, Florida
119	Statutes, is amended to read:
120	1009.23 Community college student fees.--
121	(12) In addition to tuition, out-of-state, financial aid,
122	capital improvement, student activity and service, and
123	technology fees authorized in this section, each community
124	college board of trustees is authorized to establish fee
125	schedules for the following user fees and fines: laboratory
126	fees; parking fees and fines; library fees and fines; fees and
127	fines relating to facilities and equipment use or damage; access
128	or identification card fees; duplicating, photocopying, binding,
129	or microfilming fees; standardized testing fees; diploma
130	replacement fees; transcript fees; application fees; graduation
131	fees; and late fees related to registration and payment. Such
132	user fees and finesshall not exceed the cost of the services
133	provided and shall only be charged to persons receiving the
134	service. A community college may not charge any fee except as
135	authorized by law or rules of the State Board of Education.
136	Parking fee revenues may be pledged by a community college board
137	of trustees as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of
138	debt, including lease-purchase agreements and revenue bonds with
139	terms not exceeding 20 years and not exceeding the useful life
140	of the asset being financed. Community colleges shall use the
141	services of the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of
142	Administration to issue any revenue bonds authorized by the
143	provisions of this subsection. Any such bonds issued by the
144	Division of Bond Finance shall be in compliance with the
145	provisions of the State Bond Act. Bonds issued pursuant to the
146	State Bond Act shall be validated in the manner established in
147	chapter 75. The complaint for such validation shall be filed in
148	the circuit court of the county where the seat of state
149	government is situated, the notice required to be published by
150	s. 75.06 shall be published only in the county where the
151	complaint is filed, and the complaint and order of the circuit
152	court shall be served only on the state attorney of the circuit
153	in which the action is pending.
154	Section 3. Subsections (3) and (13) of section 1009.24,
155	Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
156	1009.24 State university student fees.--
157	(3) Within proviso in the General Appropriations Act and
158	law, each board of trustees shall set university tuition and
159	fees. The sum of the activity and service, health, and athletic
160	fees a student is required to pay to register for a course shall
161	not exceed 40 percent of the tuition established in law or in
162	the General Appropriations Act. No university shall be required
163	to lower any fee in effect on the effective date of this act in
164	order to comply with this subsection. Within the 40 percent cap,
165	universities may not increase the aggregate sum of activity and
166	service, health, and athletic fees more than 5 percent per year
167	unless specifically authorized in law or in the General
168	Appropriations Act. This subsection does not prohibit a
169	university from increasing or assessing optional fees related to
170	specific activities if payment of such fees is not required as a
171	part of registration for courses. Except as otherwise provided
172	by law, the sum of nonresident tuition and out-of-state fees
173	charged to undergraduates shall be sufficient to defray the full
174	cost of undergraduate education.
175	(13) Each university board of trustees is authorized to
176	establish a nonrefundable admissions deposit for undergraduate,
177	graduate, and professional degree programs in an amount not to
178	exceed $200. The admissions deposit shall be imposed at the time
179	of an applicant’s acceptance to the university and shall be
180	applied toward tuition upon enrollment. In the event the
181	applicant does not enroll in the university, the admissions
182	deposit shall be deposited in an auxiliary account of the
183	university and used to expand financial assistance,
184	scholarships, and student academic and career counseling
185	services at the university. A university board of trustees that
186	establishes an admissions deposit pursuant to this subsection
187	must also adopt policies that provide for the waiver of such
188	deposit on the basis of financial hardship.The board of
189	trustees of the University of Florida is authorized to establish
190	an admissions deposit fee for the University of Florida College
191	of Dentistry in an amount not to exceed $200.
192	Section 4. Paragraphs (b) and (e) of subsection (2) of
193	section 1009.25, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
194	1009.25 Fee exemptions.--
195	(2) The following students are exempt from the payment of
196	tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that
197	provides postsecondary career and technical programs, community
198	college, or state university:
199	(b) A student enrolled in an approved apprenticeship
200	program, as defined in s. 446.021, but only with respect to such
201	apprenticeship program.
202	(e) A student enrolled in a workforce development program
203	who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or
204	whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private shelter
205	designed to provide temporary residence for individuals intended
206	to be institutionalized, or a public or private place not
207	designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping
208	accommodation for human beings.
209	Section 5. Section 1009.53, Florida Statutes, is amended
210	to read:
211	1009.53 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.--
212	(1) The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is
213	created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to
214	reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition
215	of high academic achievement and who enrolls in a degree
216	program, certificate program, or applied technology program at
217	an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary education
218	institution within 3 years of graduation from high school.
219	(2) The Bright Futures Scholarship Program consists of
220	three types of scholarshipsawards: the Florida Academic
221	Scholarship, the Florida Medallion Scholarship, and the Florida
222	Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
223	(3) The Department of Education shall administer the
224	Bright Futures Scholarship Program according to rules and
225	procedures established by the State Board of Education. A single
226	application must be sufficient for a student to apply for any of
227	the three types of scholarshipsawards. The department must
228	advertise the availability of the scholarship program and must
229	notify students, teachers, parents, guidance counselors, and
230	principals or other relevant school administrators of the
231	criteria and application procedures. The department must begin
232	this process of notification no later than January 1 of each
233	year.
234	(4) Funding for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program
235	must be allocated from the Education Enhancement Trust Fund and
236	must be provided before allocations from that fund are
237	calculated for disbursement to other educational entities.
238	(a) If funds appropriated are not adequate to provide the
239	maximum allowable subsidy for each scholarship recipient,
240	subsidies foraward to each eligible applicant, awards inall
241	three scholarshipscomponents of the programmust be prorated
242	using the same percentage reduction.
243	(b) Notwithstanding s. 216.301, if all funds allocated to
244	the Bright Futures Scholarship Program are not used in any
245	fiscal year, up to 10 percent of the total allocation may be
246	carried forward and used for the programawardsin the following
247	year.
248	(5) The department shall issue subsidiesawardsfrom the
249	scholarship program annually. Annual awards may be for up to 45
250	semester credit hours or the equivalent. Before the registration
251	period each semester,The department shall transmit payment for
252	each subsidyawardto the president or director of the
253	postsecondary education institution, or his or her
254	representative pursuant to the provisions of this section and s.
255	1009.5365, except that the department may withhold payment if
256	the receiving institution fails to report or to make refunds to
257	the department as required in this section.
258	(a) Within 30 days after the end of regular registration
259	each semester, the educational institution shall certify to the
260	department the eligibility status of each student who receives a
261	scholarshipan award. After the end of the drop and add period,
262	an institution is not required to reevaluate or revise a
263	student's eligibility status, but must make a refund to the
264	department if the institution receives a subsidy fora student
265	who receives a scholarship andan award disbursementterminates
266	enrollment for any reason during an academic term and a refund
267	is permitted by the institution's refund policy.
268	(b) An institution that receives funds from the program
269	shall certify to the department the amount of funds disbursed to
270	each student and shall remit to the department any undisbursed
271	advances within 60 days after the end of regular registration.
272	(c) Each institution that receives moneys through this
273	program shall prepare an annual report that includes an annual
274	financial audit, conducted by an independent certified public
275	accountant or the Auditor General. The report shall include an
276	audit of the institution's administration of the program and a
277	complete accounting of the moneys for the program. This report
278	must be submitted to the department annually by AprilMarch1.
279	The department may conduct its own annual audit of an
280	institution's administration of the program. The department may
281	request a refund of any moneys overpaid to the institution for
282	the program. The department may suspend or revoke an
283	institution's eligibility to receive future moneys for the
284	program if the department finds that an institution has not
285	complied with this section. The institution must remit within 60
286	days any refund requested in accordance with this subsection.
287	(6) A student must be enrolled for at least 6 semester
288	credit hours or the equivalent in quarter hours or clock hours
289	per term to receive a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
290	enrolled in 6 to 8 semester credit hours may receive up to one-
291	half of the maximum award; a student enrolled in 9 to 11 credit
292	hours may receive up to three-fourths of the maximum award; and
293	a student enrolled in 12 or more credit hours may receive up to
294	the full award.
295	(7) A student may receive only one type of award from the
296	Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Programat a time, but may
297	transfer from one type of scholarshipawardto another through
298	the renewal application process, if the student's eligibility
299	status changes. However, a student is not eligible to transfer
300	from a Florida Medallion Scholarship or a Florida Gold Seal
301	Vocational Scholarship to a Florida Academic Scholarship. A
302	student who receives a scholarshipan awardfrom the program may
303	also receive a federal family education loan or a federal direct
304	loan, and the value of the scholarshipawardmust be considered
305	in the certification or calculation of the student's loan
306	eligibility.
307	(8) If a recipient transfers from one eligible institution
308	to another and continues to meet eligibility requirements, the
309	scholarshipawardmust be transferred with the student.
310	(9) A student may use a scholarshipan awardfor summer
311	term enrollment if funds are available.
312	(10) Funds from any scholarship within the Florida Bright
313	Futures Scholarship Program may not be used to pay for remedial
314	or college-preparatory coursework.
315	Section 6. Section 1009.531, Florida Statutes, is amended
316	to read:
317	1009.531 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
318	student initial eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
319	(1) To be eligible for an initial scholarshipawardfrom
320	any of the three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright
321	Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:
322	(a) Be a Florida resident as defined in s. 1009.40 and
323	rules of the State Board of Education.
324	(b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
325	equivalent as described in s. 1003.43 or s. 1003.45 unless:
326	1. The student is enrolled full time in the early
327	admission program of an eligible postsecondary education
328	institution or completes a home education program according to
329	s. 1002.41; or
330	2. The student earns a high school diploma from a non-
331	Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who is on
332	military or public service assignment away from Florida.
333	(c) Be accepted by and enroll in an eligible Florida
334	public or independent postsecondary education institution.
335	(d) Be enrolled for at least 6 semester credit hours or
336	the equivalent in quarter hours or clock hours.
337	(d)(e)Not have been found guilty of, or plead nolo
338	contendere to, a felony charge, unless the student has been
339	granted clemency by the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the
340	Executive Office of Clemency.
341	(e)(f)Apply for a scholarship from the program by high
342	school graduation.
343	(f) Beginning with initial scholarships to be issued for
344	the 2004-2005 academic year, submit to the United States
345	Department of Education a completed Free Application for Federal
346	Student Aid.
347	(2) A student is eligible to accept an initial scholarship
348	awardfor 3 years following high school graduation and to accept
349	a renewal of the scholarshipawardfor 7 years following high
350	school graduation. A student who applies for a Florida Bright
351	Futures Scholarshipan awardby high school graduation and who
352	meets all other eligibility requirements, but who does not
353	accept his or her scholarshipaward, may reinstatereapply
354	during subsequent application periods up to 3 years after high
355	school graduation. For a student who enlists in the United
356	States Armed Forces directly out of high school, the 3-year
357	eligibility period for initial use of the scholarship and the 7-
358	year renewal period shall begin upon the date of the student’s
359	separation from active duty. For a student who is receiving a
360	Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and who discontinues his or
361	her education to enlist in the United States Armed Forces, the
362	remainder of the student’s 7-year renewal period shall commence
363	upon the date of the student’s separation from active duty. To
364	be eligible for the extension of periods for initial use and
365	renewal of a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship pursuant to this
366	subsection, a student must have been discharged or released from
367	active duty under conditions other than dishonorable.
368	(3) For purposes of calculating the grade point average to
369	be used in determining initial eligibility for a Florida Bright
370	Futures Scholarship, the department shall assign additional
371	weights to grades earned in the following courses:
372	(a) Courses identified in the course code directory as
373	Advanced Placement, pre-International Baccalaureate, or
374	International Baccalaureate, International General Certificate
375	of Secondary Education, or Advanced International Certificate of
376	Education.
377	(b) Courses designated as academic dual enrollment courses
378	in the statewide course numbering system.
379
380	The department may assign additional weights to courses, other
381	than those described in paragraphs (a) and (b), that are
382	identified by the Department of Education as containing rigorous
383	academic curriculum and performance standards. The additional
384	weight assigned to a course pursuant to this subsection shall
385	not exceed 0.5 per course. The weighted system shall be
386	developed and distributed to all high schools in the state prior
387	to January 1, 1998. The department may determine a student's
388	eligibility status during the senior year before graduation and
389	may inform the student of the scholarshipawardat that time.
390	(4) Each school district shall annually provide to each
391	high school student a complete and accurate Florida Bright
392	Futures Scholarship Evaluation Report and Key. The report shall
393	be disseminated at the beginning of each school year. The report
394	must include all high school coursework attempted, the number of
395	credits earned toward each type of scholarshipaward, and the
396	calculation of the grade point average for each scholarship
397	award. The report must also identify all requirements not met
398	per scholarshipaward, including the grade point average
399	requirement, as well as identify the scholarshipsawardsfor
400	which the student has met the academic requirements. The student
401	report cards must contain a disclosure that the grade point
402	average calculated for purposes of the Florida Bright Futures
403	Scholarship Program may differ from the grade point average on
404	the report card.
405	(5) A student who wishes to qualify for a particular
406	scholarshipawardwithin the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
407	Program, but who does not meet all of the requirements for that
408	level of scholarshipaward, may, nevertheless, receive the
409	scholarshipawardif the principal of the student's school or
410	the district superintendent verifies that the deficiency is
411	caused by the fact that school district personnel provided
412	inaccurate or incomplete information to the student. The school
413	district must provide a means for the student to correct the
414	deficiencies and the student must correct them, either by
415	completing comparable work at the postsecondary institution or
416	by completing a directed individualized study program developed
417	and administered by the school district. If the student does not
418	complete the requirements by December 31 immediately following
419	high school graduation, the student is ineligible to participate
420	in the program.
421	Section 7. Section 1009.532, Florida Statutes, is amended
422	to read:
423	1009.532 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
424	student eligibility requirements for renewal of a scholarship
425	awards.--
426	(1) To be eligible to renew a scholarship from any of the
427	three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright Futures
428	Scholarship Program, a student must:
429	(a) Complete at least 12 semester credit hours or the
430	equivalent for each termin the last academic year in which the
431	student earned a scholarship or a prorated number of hours if
432	the student received a scholarship for less than full-time
433	enrollment.
434	(b) Maintain the cumulative grade point average required
435	by the scholarship program, except that:
436	1. If a recipient's grades fall beneath the average
437	required to renew a Florida Academic Scholarship, but are
438	sufficient to renew a Florida Medallion Scholarship or a Florida
439	Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship, the Department of Education
440	may grant a renewal as a Florida Medallion Scholarshipfrom one
441	of those other scholarship programs, if the student meets the
442	renewal eligibility requirements; or
443	2. If, at any time during the eligibility period, a
444	student's grades are insufficient to renew the scholarship, the
445	student may restore eligibility by improving the grade point
446	average to the required level. A student is eligible for such a
447	restorationreinstatementonly once. The Legislature encourages
448	education institutions to assist students to calculate whether
449	or not it is possible to raise the grade point average during
450	the summer term. If the institution determines that it is
451	possible, the education institution may so inform the
452	department, which may reserve the student's scholarshipawardif
453	funds are available. The renewal of the scholarship, however,
454	must not be granted until the student achieves the required
455	cumulative grade point average. If the summer term is not
456	sufficient to raise the grade point average to the required
457	renewal level, the student's next opportunity for restoration of
458	the scholarshiprenewalis the fall semester of the following
459	academic year.
460	(2)(a) A student who received his or her initial Florida
461	Bright Futures Scholarship prior to the 2003-2004 academic year
462	andis enrolled in a program that terminates in an associate
463	degree or a baccalaureate degree may receive a scholarshipan
464	awardfor a maximum of 110 percent of the number of credit hours
465	required to complete the program. A student who received his or
466	her initial Florida Bright Futures Scholarship prior to the
467	2003-2004 academic year andis enrolled in a program that
468	terminates in a technical certificate may receive a scholarship
469	an award for a maximum of 110 percent ofthe credit hours or
470	clock hours required to complete the program up to 90 credit
471	hours. A student who transfers from one of these program levels
472	to another becomes eligible for the higher of the two credit
473	hour limits.
474	(b) Beginning with students who receive an initial Florida
475	Bright Futures Scholarship in the 2003-2004 academic year and
476	thereafter, a student who is enrolled in a program that
477	terminates in an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree may
478	receive a scholarship for the number of credit hours required to
479	complete the program and a student who is enrolled in a program
480	that terminates in a technical certificate may receive a
481	scholarship for the number of credit hours or clock hours
482	required to complete the program up to 90 credit hours. A
483	student who transfers from one of these program levels to
484	another becomes eligible for the higher of the two credit hour
485	limits.
486	Section 8. Section 1009.534, Florida Statutes, is amended
487	to read:
488	1009.534 Florida Academic ScholarshipScholars award.--
489	(1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic
490	ScholarshipScholars awardif the student meets the general
491	eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
492	Scholarship Program and the student:
493	(a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
494	calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or its equivalent, in high
495	school courses that are designated by the State Board of
496	Education as college-preparatory academic courses; and has
497	attained at least a score of 1270the score identified by rules
498	of the State Board of Educationon the combined verbal and
499	quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
500	Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recenteredScholastic
501	Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
502	equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program or an equivalent
503	examination as determined by the State Board of Education; or
504	(b) Has attended a home education program pursuant
505	accordingto s. 1002.41 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed
506	the International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn
507	the International Baccalaureate Diploma or has completed the
508	Advanced International Certificate of Education curriculum but
509	failed to earn the Advanced International Certificate of
510	Education Diploma, and has attained at least the score
511	identified by rules of the State BoardDepartmentof Education
512	on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
513	Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
514	Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
515	or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program or an
516	equivalent examination; or
517	(c) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate
518	Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office; or
519	(d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
520	programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
521	scholar or finalist; or
522	(e) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
523	Recognition Program as a scholar recipient; or
524	(f) Has been awarded an Advanced International Certificate
525	of Education Diploma from the University of Cambridge
526	International Examinations Office.
527
528	A student must complete a program of community service work, as
529	approved by the district school board or the administrators of a
530	nonpublic school, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours of
531	service work and require the student to identify a social
532	problem that interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her
533	personal involvement in addressing the problem, and, through
534	papers or other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or
535	her experience.
536	(2) A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a public
537	postsecondary education institution is eligible for a
538	scholarship that covers 100 percent of tuition and fees plusan
539	award equal to the amount required to pay tuition, fees, and
540	$600 for college-related expenses annually. For purposes of this
541	scholarship, the term “fees” includes the following fees:
542	financial aid fee; capital improvement fee; building fee;
543	Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee; activity and service fee;
544	health fee; athletic fee; and lab fees not to exceed $300 per
545	term.A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic postsecondary
546	education institution is eligible for a scholarshipan award
547	equal to the amount that the state provides as a Florida
548	Academic Scholars Bright Futures subsidy towould be required to
549	pay for the average tuition and fees ofa public postsecondary
550	education institution at the comparable level, plus the annual
551	$600. A student who is enrolled in a public postsecondary
552	education institution and chooses to receive the Florida Bright
553	Futures Scholarship as a cash payment for expenses associated
554	with postsecondary education is eligible for the amount of the
555	Florida Bright Futures subsidy the state provides the public
556	postsecondary education institution that the student attends.
557	(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) and
558	effective with scholarships for the 2007-2008 academic year and
559	thereafter, the Legislature shall establish in the General
560	Appropriations Act the amount a student shall receive for a
561	Florida Academic Scholarship.
562	(4)(3) To be eligible to renewfor a renewal award asa
563	Florida Academic ScholarshipScholar, a student must maintain
564	the equivalent of a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a
565	4.0 scale for all postsecondary education coursework attempted
566	with an opportunity for one restorationreinstatementas
567	provided in this chapter.
568	(5)(4)In each school district, the Florida Academic
569	Scholar with the highest academic ranking as determined by the
570	department shall receive an additional award of$1,500 for
571	college-related expenses,. This award must befunded from the
572	Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
573	Section 9. Section 1009.535, Florida Statutes, is amended
574	to read:
575	1009.535 Florida Medallion ScholarshipScholars award.--
576	(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section,a
577	student is eligible for a Florida Medallion ScholarshipScholars
578	awardif the student meets the general eligibility requirements
579	for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and the
580	student:
581	(a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0 as
582	calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or the equivalent, in high
583	school courses that are designated by the State Board of
584	Education as college-preparatory academic courses; and has
585	attained at least the score identified by rules of the State
586	Board of Education on the combined verbal and quantitative parts
587	of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test,
588	or the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
589	Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the ACT
590	Assessment Program; or
591	(b) Has attended a home education program pursuant
592	accordingto s. 1002.41 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed
593	the International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn
594	the International Baccalaureate Diploma or has completed the
595	Advanced International Certificate of Education curriculum but
596	failed to earn the Advanced International Certificate of
597	Education Diploma, and has attained at least the score
598	identified by rules of the State BoardDepartmentof Education
599	on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
600	Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
601	Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
602	or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program; or
603	(c) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
604	program of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
605	scholar or finalist but has not completed a program of community
606	service as provided in s. 1009.534; or
607	(d) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
608	Recognition Program as a scholar, but has not completed a
609	program of community service as provided in s. 1009.534.
610	(2) A Florida Medallion Scholar is eligible for a
611	scholarship that coversan award equal to the amount required to
612	pay75 percent of tuition and fees, if the student is enrolled
613	in a public postsecondary education institution. For purposes of
614	this scholarship, the term “fees” includes the following fees:
615	financial aid fee; capital improvement fee; building fee;
616	Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee; activity and service fee;
617	health fee; athletic fee; and lab fees not to exceed $300 per
618	term.A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic postsecondary
619	education institution is eligible for a scholarshipan award
620	equal to the amount that the state provides as a Florida
621	Medallion Scholars Bright Futures subsidy towould be required
622	to pay 75 percent of the tuition and fees ofa public
623	postsecondary education institution at the comparable level. A
624	student who is enrolled in a public postsecondary education
625	institution and chooses to receive the Florida Bright Futures
626	Scholarship as a cash payment for expenses associated with
627	postsecondary education is eligible for the amount of the
628	Florida Bright Futures subsidy the state provides the public
629	postsecondary education institution that the student attends.
630	(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) and
631	effective with scholarships for the 2007-2008 academic year and
632	thereafter, the Legislature shall establish in the General
633	Appropriations Act the amount a student shall receive for a
634	Florida Medallion Scholarship.
635	(4)(3) To be eligible to renewfor a renewal award asa
636	Florida Medallion ScholarshipScholar, a student must maintain
637	the equivalent of a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a
638	4.0 scale for all postsecondary education coursework attempted
639	with an opportunity for restorationreinstatementone time as
640	provided in this chapter.
641	(5) Notwithstanding the provisions relating to test scores
642	in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b), beginning with initial Florida
643	Medallion Scholarships for the 2004-2005 academic year and
644	thereafter, a student who has completed a college-preparatory
645	curriculum must score a minimum of 1050 on the combined verbal
646	and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Assessment Test of the
647	College Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the ACT
648	Assessment Program or an equivalent examination as determined by
649	the State Board of Education, to satisfy the test score
650	requirement for a scholarship pursuant to this section. A
651	student who is unable to document completion of a college-
652	preparatory curriculum must score a minimum of 1150 on the
653	combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
654	Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
655	equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program or an equivalent
656	examination as determined by the State Board of Education, to
657	satisfy the test score requirement for a scholarship pursuant to
658	this section.
659	Section 10. Section 1009.536, Florida Statutes, is amended
660	to read:
661	1009.536 Florida Gold Seal Vocational ScholarshipScholars
662	award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational ScholarshipScholars
663	awardis created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
664	Program to recognize and reward academic achievement and career
665	and technical preparation by high school students who wish to
666	continue their education. Beginning with the fall term of the
667	2005-2006 academic year, a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
668	Scholarship may not be used at a baccalaureate degree granting
669	institution unless the scholarship is a renewal of a scholarship
670	issued prior to that term or the student is enrolled in a
671	program that has been identified by the State Board of Education
672	as a program that serves as a continuation of a specific
673	secondary or postsecondary career and technical program or a
674	job-preparatory career education program as described in
675	paragraph (1)(a). The State Board of Education shall publish a
676	list of such programs no later than December 31, 2004.
677	(1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
678	Vocational ScholarshipScholars awardif the student meets the
679	general eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
680	Scholarship Program and the student:
681	(a) Completes the secondary school portion of a sequential
682	program of studies that requires at least three secondary school
683	career and technical credits taken over at least 2 academic
684	years, and is continued in a planned, related postsecondary
685	education program. If the student's school does not offer such a
686	two-plus-two or tech-prep program, the student must complete a
687	job-preparatory career education program selected by the
688	Workforce Estimating Conference or Workforce Florida, Inc., for
689	its ability to provide high-wage employment in an occupation
690	with high potential for employment opportunities. On-the-job
691	training may not be substituted for any of the three required
692	career and technical credits.
693	(b) Demonstrates readiness for postsecondary education by
694	earning a passing score on the Florida College Entry Level
695	Placement Test or its equivalent as identified by the Department
696	of Education.
697	(c) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point
698	average of 3.0, as calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, on all
699	subjects required for a standard high school diploma, excluding
700	elective courses.
701	(d) Earns a minimum unweighted grade point average of 3.5
702	on a 4.0 scale for secondary career and technical courses
703	comprising the career and technical program.
704	(2) A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar is eligible for
705	a scholarship that coversan award equal to the amount required
706	to pay75 percent of tuition and fees, if the student is
707	enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution. For
708	purposes of this scholarship, the term “fees” includes the
709	following fees: financial aid fee; capital improvement fee;
710	building fee; Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee; activity and
711	service fee; health fee; athletic fee; and lab fees not to
712	exceed $300 per term.A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
713	postsecondary education institution is eligible for a
714	scholarshipan award equal to the amount that the state provides
715	as a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Bright Futures
716	subsidy towould be required to pay 75 percent of the tuition
717	and mandatory fees ofa public postsecondary education
718	institution at the comparable level. A student who is enrolled
719	in a public postsecondary education institution and chooses to
720	receive the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship as a cash payment
721	for expenses associated with postsecondary education is eligible
722	for the amount of the Florida Bright Futures subsidy the state
723	provides the public postsecondary education institution that the
724	student attends.
725	(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) and
726	effective with scholarships for the 2007-2008 academic year and
727	thereafter, the Legislature shall establish in the General
728	Appropriations Act the amount a student shall receive for a
729	Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
730	(4)(3) To renewbe eligible for a renewal award asa
731	Florida Gold Seal Vocational ScholarshipScholar, a student must
732	maintain the equivalent of a cumulative grade point average of
733	2.75 on a 4.0 scale for all postsecondary education coursework
734	attempted with an opportunity for restorationreinstatementone
735	time as provided in this chapter.
736	(5)(a)(4) A student who received his or her initial
737	Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship prior to the 2003-2004
738	academic yearmay earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
739	Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
740	required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the
741	equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Scholar who has a cumulative
742	grade point average of 2.75 in all postsecondary education work
743	attempted may apply for a Florida Medallion Scholars award at
744	any renewal period. All other provisions of that program apply,
745	and the credit-hour limitation must be calculated by subtracting
746	from the student's total eligibility the number of credit hours
747	the student attempted while earning the Gold Seal Vocational
748	Scholarship.
749	(b) Beginning with students who receive an initial Florida
750	Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship in the 2003-2004 academic year
751	and thereafter, a student may receive a Florida Gold Seal
752	Vocational Scholarship for the number of credit hours or clock
753	hours required to complete the program up to 90 credit hours.
754	(6) Upon successful completion of an associate degree
755	program or admission to the upper division of a state
756	university, or the equivalent as determined by the State Board
757	of Education, a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar who meets
758	the scholarship renewal criteria in subsection (4) and enrolls
759	in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible postsecondary
760	education institution is eligible to transfer to the Florida
761	Medallion Scholarship component of the Florida Bright Futures
762	Scholarship Program. Other than initial eligibility criteria,
763	all other provisions of that component apply.
764	Section 11. Section 1009.5365, Florida Statutes, is
765	created to read:
766	1009.5365 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship subsidy to
767	public postsecondary education institutions.--
768	(1) Beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, the state
769	shall provide a Florida Bright Futures subsidy from the
770	Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to public postsecondary
771	education institutions for each Florida Bright Futures
772	Scholarship recipient attending the institution.
773	(2) The amount of the subsidy per term for full-time
774	enrollment shall be established in the General Appropriations
775	Act. The subsidy shall be prorated for students who attend less
776	than full time. The subsidy for a student who enrolls for 9 to
777	11 semester credit hours per term, or the equivalent in quarter
778	or contact hours, shall be three-quarters of the amount
779	specified in the General Appropriations Act. The subsidy for a
780	student who enrolls for 6 to 8 semester credit hours per term,
781	or the equivalent in quarter or contact hours, shall be one-half
782	of the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act.
783	(3) To assist public postsecondary education institutions
784	in planning and budgeting, the amount of each Florida Bright
785	Futures subsidy set in the General Appropriations Act shall be
786	no less than the amount set in the General Appropriations Act
787	the prior year.
788	(4) The Department of Education shall distribute the
789	Florida Bright Futures subsidy to each public postsecondary
790	education institution upon certification from the institution of
791	the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship recipients enrolled and
792	in attendance at the institution. The certification must include
793	sufficient information to permit the department to prorate the
794	subsidies for students who attend less than full time.
795	(5) The State Board of Education may adopt rules pursuant
796	to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement provisions of this
797	section.
798	Section 12. Sections 1009.538 and 1009.539, Florida
799	Statutes, are repealed.
800	Section 13. The State Board of Education shall recommend
801	to the Legislature by December 31, 2003, a plan that provides
802	for increased tuition and reduced funding for credit hours taken
803	by a student when such credit hours exceed the number of credit
804	hours required for completion of the diploma, certificate, or
805	degree program in which the student is enrolled. The degree
806	programs addressed in the plan must include the associate,
807	baccalaureate, graduate, and professional levels.
808	Section 14. Subsection (5) of section 1002.41, Florida
809	Statutes, is amended to read:
810	1002.41 Home education programs.--
811	(5) Home education students may participate in the Bright
812	Futures Scholarship Program in accordance with the provisions of
813	chapter 1009ss. 1009.53-1009.539.
814	Section 15. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.
815