HB 0991 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to nurses; amending s. 121.091, F.S.;
3	increasing the period of time which members of the Florida
4	Retirement System who are employed as registered nurses
5	may participate in the DROP; providing a statement of
6	proper and legitimate state purpose; providing an
7	appropriation to the Department of Health; requiring
8	private match of appropriated funds; providing for grants
9	to hospitals for nurse recruitment and retention;
10	providing for rules; providing eligibility criteria;
11	amending s. 464.009, F.S.; requiring applicants for
12	nursing licensure by endorsement to demonstrate the
13	ability to communicate in the English language; amending
14	s. 1009.66, F.S.; providing that applicant awards under
15	the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program shall be on a
16	first-come, first-served basis; providing an effective
17	date.
18
19	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21	Section 1. Subsection (13) of section 121.091, Florida
22	Statutes, is amended to read:
23	121.091 Benefits payable under the system.--Benefits may
24	not be paid under this section unless the member has terminated
25	employment as provided in s. 121.021(39)(a) or begun
26	participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Program as
27	provided in subsection (13), and a proper application has been
28	filed in the manner prescribed by the department. The department
29	may cancel an application for retirement benefits when the
30	member or beneficiary fails to timely provide the information
31	and documents required by this chapter and the department's
32	rules. The department shall adopt rules establishing procedures
33	for application for retirement benefits and for the cancellation
34	of such application when the required information or documents
35	are not received.
36	(13) DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM.--In general, and
37	subject to the provisions of this section, the Deferred
38	Retirement Option Program, hereinafter referred to as the DROP,
39	is a program under which an eligible member of the Florida
40	Retirement System may elect to participate, deferring receipt of
41	retirement benefits while continuing employment with his or her
42	Florida Retirement System employer. The deferred monthly
43	benefits shall accrue in the System Trust Fund on behalf of the
44	participant, plus interest compounded monthly, for the specified
45	period of the DROP participation, as provided in paragraph (c).
46	Upon termination of employment, the participant shall receive
47	the total DROP benefits and begin to receive the previously
48	determined normal retirement benefits. Participation in the DROP
49	does not guarantee employment for the specified period of DROP.
50	(a) Eligibility of member to participate in the DROP.--All
51	active Florida Retirement System members in a regularly
52	established position, and all active members of either the
53	Teachers' Retirement System established in chapter 238 or the
54	State and County Officers' and Employees' Retirement System
55	established in chapter 122 which systems are consolidated within
56	the Florida Retirement System under s. 121.011, are eligible to
57	elect participation in the DROP provided that:
58	1. The member is not a renewed member of the Florida
59	Retirement System under s. 121.122, or a member of the State
60	Community College System Optional Retirement Program under s.
61	121.051, the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program
62	under s. 121.055, or the optional retirement program for the
63	State University System under s. 121.35.
64	2. Except as provided in subparagraph 6., election to
65	participate is made within 12 months immediately following the
66	date on which the member first reaches normal retirement date,
67	or, for a member who reaches normal retirement date based on
68	service before he or she reaches age 62, or age 55 for Special
69	Risk Class members, election to participate may be deferred to
70	the 12 months immediately following the date the member attains
71	57, or age 52 for Special Risk Class members. For a member who
72	first reached normal retirement date or the deferred eligibility
73	date described above prior to the effective date of this
74	section, election to participate shall be made within 12 months
75	after the effective date of this section. A member who fails to
76	make an election within such 12-month limitation period shall
77	forfeit all rights to participate in the DROP. The member shall
78	advise his or her employer and the division in writing of the
79	date on which the DROP shall begin. Such beginning date may be
80	subsequent to the 12-month election period, but must be within
81	the 60-month or, with respect to members who are registered
82	nurses licensed under part I of chapter 464 whose continuing
83	employment in an active status is deemed essential by their
84	employer, the 96-monthlimitation period as provided in
85	subparagraph (b)1. When establishing eligibility of the member
86	to participate in the DROP for the 60-month or, with respect to
87	members who are registered nurses licensed under part I of
88	chapter 464 whose continuing employment in an active status is
89	deemed essential by their employer, the 96-monthmaximum
90	participation period, the member may elect to include or exclude
91	any optional service credit purchased by the member from the
92	total service used to establish the normal retirement date. A
93	member with dual normal retirement dates shall be eligible to
94	elect to participate in DROP within 12 months after attaining
95	normal retirement date in either class.
96	3. The employer of a member electing to participate in the
97	DROP, or employers if dually employed, shall acknowledge in
98	writing to the division the date the member's participation in
99	the DROP begins and the date the member's employment and DROP
100	participation will terminate.
101	4. Simultaneous employment of a participant by additional
102	Florida Retirement System employers subsequent to the
103	commencement of participation in the DROP shall be permissible
104	provided such employers acknowledge in writing a DROP
105	termination date no later than the participant's existing
106	termination date or the 60-monthlimitation period as provided
107	in subparagraph (b)1.
108	5. A DROP participant may change employers while
109	participating in the DROP, subject to the following:
110	a. A change of employment must take place without a break
111	in service so that the member receives salary for each month of
112	continuous DROP participation. If a member receives no salary
113	during a month, DROP participation shall cease unless the
114	employer verifies a continuation of the employment relationship
115	for such participant pursuant to s. 121.021(39)(b).
116	b. Such participant and new employer shall notify the
117	division on forms required by the division as to the identity of
118	the new employer.
119	c. The new employer shall acknowledge, in writing, the
120	participant's DROP termination date, which may be extended but
121	not beyond the original 60-month or, with respect to members who
122	are registered nurses licensed under part I of chapter 464 whose
123	continuing employment in an active status is deemed essential by
124	their employer, the 96-monthperiod provided in subparagraph
125	(b)1., shall acknowledge liability for any additional retirement
126	contributions and interest required if the participant fails to
127	timely terminate employment, and shall be subject to the
128	adjustment required in sub-subparagraph (c)5.d.
129	6. Effective July 1, 2001, for instructional personnel as
130	defined in s. 1012.01(2), election to participate in the DROP
131	shall be made at any time following the date on which the member
132	first reaches normal retirement date. The member shall advise
133	his or her employer and the division in writing of the date on
134	which the Deferred Retirement Option Program shall begin. When
135	establishing eligibility of the member to participate in the
136	DROP for the 60-month or, with respect to members who are
137	registered nurses licensed under part I of chapter 464 whose
138	continuing employment in an active status is deemed essential by
139	their employer, the 96-monthmaximum participation period, as
140	provided in subparagraph (b)1., the member may elect to include
141	or exclude any optional service credit purchased by the member
142	from the total service used to establish the normal retirement
143	date. A member with dual normal retirement dates shall be
144	eligible to elect to participate in either class.
145	(b) Participation in the DROP.--
146	1. An eligible member may elect to participate in the DROP
147	for a period not to exceed a maximum of 60 calendar months or,
148	with respect to members who are registered nurses licensed under
149	part I of chapter 464 whose continuing employment in an active
150	status is deemed essential by their employer, 96 calendar months
151	immediately following the date on which the member first reaches
152	his or her normal retirement date or the date to which he or she
153	is eligible to defer his or her election to participate as
154	provided in subparagraph (a)2. However, a member who has reached
155	normal retirement date prior to the effective date of the DROP
156	shall be eligible to participate in the DROP for a period of
157	time not to exceed 60 calendar months or, with respect to
158	members who are registered nurses licensed under part I of
159	chapter 464 whose continuing employment in an active status is
160	deemed essential by their employer, 96 calendar months
161	immediately following the effective date of the DROP, except a
162	member of the Special Risk Class who has reached normal
163	retirement date prior to the effective date of the DROP and
164	whose total accrued value exceeds 75 percent of average final
165	compensation as of his or her effective date of retirement shall
166	be eligible to participate in the DROP for no more than 36
167	calendar months immediately following the effective date of the
168	DROP.
169	2. Upon deciding to participate in the DROP, the member
170	shall submit, on forms required by the division:
171	a. A written election to participate in the DROP;
172	b. Selection of the DROP participation and termination
173	dates, which satisfy the limitations stated in paragraph (a) and
174	subparagraph 1. Such termination date shall be in a binding
175	letter of resignation with the employer, establishing a deferred
176	termination date. The member may change the termination date
177	within the limitations of subparagraph 1., but only with the
178	written approval of his or her employer;
179	c. A properly completed DROP application for service
180	retirement as provided in this section; and
181	d. Any other information required by the division.
182	3. The DROP participant shall be a retiree under the
183	Florida Retirement System for all purposes, except for paragraph
184	(5)(f) and subsection (9) and ss. 112.3173, 112.363, 121.053,
185	and 121.122. However, participation in the DROP does not alter
186	the participant's employment status and such employee shall not
187	be deemed retired from employment until his or her deferred
188	resignation is effective and termination occurs as provided in
189	s. 121.021(39).
190	4. Elected officers shall be eligible to participate in
191	the DROP subject to the following:
192	a. An elected officer who reaches normal retirement date
193	during a term of office may defer the election to participate in
194	the DROP until the next succeeding term in that office. Such
195	elected officer who exercises this option may participate in the
196	DROP for up to 60 calendar months or a period of no longer than
197	such succeeding term of office, whichever is less.
198	b. An elected or a nonelected participant may run for a
199	term of office while participating in DROP and, if elected,
200	extend the DROP termination date accordingly, except, however,
201	if such additional term of office exceeds the 60-month or, with
202	respect to members who are registered nurses licensed under part
203	I of chapter 464 whose continuing employment in an active status
204	is deemed essential by their employer, the 96-monthlimitation
205	established in subparagraph 1., and the officer does not resign
206	from office within such 60-monthlimitation, the retirement and
207	the participant's DROP shall be null and void as provided in
208	sub-subparagraph (c)5.d.
209	c. An elected officer who is dually employed and elects to
210	participate in DROP shall be required to satisfy the definition
211	of termination within the 60-monthlimitation period as provided
212	in subparagraph 1. for the nonelected position and may continue
213	employment as an elected officer as provided in s. 121.053. The
214	elected officer will be enrolled as a renewed member in the
215	Elected Officers' Class or the Regular Class, as provided in ss.
216	121.053 and 121.22, on the first day of the month after
217	termination of employment in the nonelected position and
218	termination of DROP. Distribution of the DROP benefits shall be
219	made as provided in paragraph (c).
220	(c) Benefits payable under the DROP.--
221	1. Effective with the date of DROP participation, the
222	member's initial normal monthly benefit, including creditable
223	service, optional form of payment, and average final
224	compensation, and the effective date of retirement shall be
225	fixed. The beneficiary established under the Florida Retirement
226	System shall be the beneficiary eligible to receive any DROP
227	benefits payable if the DROP participant dies prior to the
228	completion of the period of DROP participation. In the event a
229	joint annuitant predeceases the member, the member may name a
230	beneficiary to receive accumulated DROP benefits payable. Such
231	retirement benefit, the annual cost of living adjustments
232	provided in s. 121.101, and interest shall accrue monthly in the
233	System Trust Fund. Such interest shall accrue at an effective
234	annual rate of 6.5 percent compounded monthly, on the prior
235	month's accumulated ending balance, up to the month of
236	termination or death.
237	2. Each employee who elects to participate in the DROP
238	shall be allowed to elect to receive a lump-sum payment for
239	accrued annual leave earned in accordance with agency policy
240	upon beginning participation in the DROP. Such accumulated leave
241	payment certified to the division upon commencement of DROP
242	shall be included in the calculation of the member's average
243	final compensation. The employee electing such lump-sum payment
244	upon beginning participation in DROP will not be eligible to
245	receive a second lump-sum payment upon termination, except to
246	the extent the employee has earned additional annual leave which
247	combined with the original payment does not exceed the maximum
248	lump-sum payment allowed by the employing agency's policy or
249	rules. Such early lump-sum payment shall be based on the hourly
250	wage of the employee at the time he or she begins participation
251	in the DROP. If the member elects to wait and receive such lump-
252	sum payment upon termination of DROP and termination of
253	employment with the employer, any accumulated leave payment made
254	at that time cannot be included in the member's retirement
255	benefit, which was determined and fixed by law when the employee
256	elected to participate in the DROP.
257	3. The effective date of DROP participation and the
258	effective date of retirement of a DROP participant shall be the
259	first day of the month selected by the member to begin
260	participation in the DROP, provided such date is properly
261	established, with the written confirmation of the employer, and
262	the approval of the division, on forms required by the division.
263	4. Normal retirement benefits and interest thereon shall
264	continue to accrue in the DROP until the established termination
265	date of the DROP, or until the participant terminates employment
266	or dies prior to such date. Although individual DROP accounts
267	shall not be established, a separate accounting of each
268	participant's accrued benefits under the DROP shall be
269	calculated and provided to participants.
270	5. At the conclusion of the participant's DROP, the
271	division shall distribute the participant's total accumulated
272	DROP benefits, subject to the following provisions:
273	a. The division shall receive verification by the
274	participant's employer or employers that such participant has
275	terminated employment as provided in s. 121.021(39)(b).
276	b. The terminated DROP participant or, if deceased, such
277	participant's named beneficiary, shall elect on forms provided
278	by the division to receive payment of the DROP benefits in
279	accordance with one of the options listed below. For a
280	participant or beneficiary who fails to elect a method of
281	payment within 60 days of termination of the DROP, the division
282	will pay a lump sum as provided in sub-sub-subparagraph (I).
283	(I) Lump sum.--All accrued DROP benefits, plus interest,
284	less withholding taxes remitted to the Internal Revenue Service,
285	shall be paid to the DROP participant or surviving beneficiary.
286	(II) Direct rollover.--All accrued DROP benefits, plus
287	interest, shall be paid from the DROP directly to the custodian
288	of an eligible retirement plan as defined in s. 402(c)(8)(B) of
289	the Internal Revenue Code. However, in the case of an eligible
290	rollover distribution to the surviving spouse of a deceased
291	participant, an eligible retirement plan is an individual
292	retirement account or an individual retirement annuity as
293	described in s. 402(c)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code.
294	(III) Partial lump sum.--A portion of the accrued DROP
295	benefits shall be paid to the DROP participant or surviving
296	spouse, less withholding taxes remitted to the Internal Revenue
297	Service, and the remaining DROP benefits shall be transferred
298	directly to the custodian of an eligible retirement plan as
299	defined in s. 402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code.
300	However, in the case of an eligible rollover distribution to the
301	surviving spouse of a deceased participant, an eligible
302	retirement plan is an individual retirement account or an
303	individual retirement annuity as described in s. 402(c)(9) of
304	the Internal Revenue Code. The proportions shall be specified by
305	the DROP participant or surviving beneficiary.
306	c. The form of payment selected by the DROP participant or
307	surviving beneficiary complies with the minimum distribution
308	requirements of the Internal Revenue Code.
309	d. A DROP participant who fails to terminate employment as
310	defined in s. 121.021(39)(b) shall be deemed not to be retired,
311	and the DROP election shall be null and void. Florida Retirement
312	System membership shall be reestablished retroactively to the
313	date of the commencement of the DROP, and each employer with
314	whom the participant continues employment shall be required to
315	pay to the System Trust Fund the difference between the DROP
316	contributions paid in paragraph (i) and the contributions
317	required for the applicable Florida Retirement System class of
318	membership during the period the member participated in the
319	DROP, plus 6.5 percent interest compounded annually.
320	6. The accrued benefits of any DROP participant, and any
321	contributions accumulated under such program, shall not be
322	subject to assignment, execution, attachment, or to any legal
323	process whatsoever, except for qualified domestic relations
324	orders by a court of competent jurisdiction, income deduction
325	orders as provided in s. 61.1301, and federal income tax levies.
326	7. DROP participants shall not be eligible for disability
327	retirement benefits as provided in subsection (4).
328	(d) Death benefits under the DROP.--
329	1. Upon the death of a DROP participant, the named
330	beneficiary shall be entitled to apply for and receive the
331	accrued benefits in the DROP as provided in sub-subparagraph
332	(c)5.b.
333	2. The normal retirement benefit accrued to the DROP
334	during the month of a participant's death shall be the final
335	monthly benefit credited for such DROP participant.
336	3. Eligibility to participate in the DROP terminates upon
337	death of the participant. If the participant dies on or after
338	the effective date of enrollment in the DROP, but prior to the
339	first monthly benefit being credited to the DROP, Florida
340	Retirement System benefits shall be paid in accordance with
341	subparagraph (7)(c)1. or subparagraph 2.
342	4. A DROP participants' survivors shall not be eligible to
343	receive Florida Retirement System death benefits as provided in
344	paragraph (7)(d).
345	(e) Cost-of-living adjustment.--On each July 1, the
346	participants' normal retirement benefit shall be increased as
347	provided in s. 121.101.
348	(f) Retiree health insurance subsidy.--DROP participants
349	are not eligible to apply for the retiree health insurance
350	subsidy payments as provided in s. 112.363 until such
351	participants have terminated employment and participation in the
352	DROP.
353	(g) Renewed membership.--DROP participants shall not be
354	eligible for renewed membership in the Florida Retirement System
355	under ss. 121.053 and 121.122 until termination of employment is
356	effectuated as provided in s. 121.021(39)(b).
357	(h) Employment limitation after DROP participation.--Upon
358	satisfying the definition of termination of employment as
359	provided in s. 121.021(39)(b), DROP participants shall be
360	subject to such reemployment limitations as other retirees.
361	Reemployment restrictions applicable to retirees as provided in
362	subsection (9) shall not apply to DROP participants until their
363	employment and participation in the DROP are terminated.
364	(i) Contributions.--
365	1. All employers paying the salary of a DROP participant
366	filling a regularly established position shall contribute 8.0
367	percent of such participant's gross compensation for the period
368	of July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2003, and 11.56 percent of
369	such compensation thereafter, which shall constitute the entire
370	employer DROP contribution with respect to such participant.
371	Such contributions, payable to the System Trust Fund in the same
372	manner as required in s. 121.071, shall be made as appropriate
373	for each pay period and are in addition to contributions
374	required for social security and the Retiree Health Insurance
375	Subsidy Trust Fund. Such employer, social security, and health
376	insurance subsidy contributions are not included in the DROP.
377	2. The employer shall, in addition to subparagraph 1.,
378	also withhold one-half of the entire social security
379	contribution required for the participant. Contributions for
380	social security by each participant and each employer, in the
381	amount required for social security coverage as now or hereafter
382	provided by the federal Social Security Act, shall be in
383	addition to contributions specified in subparagraph 1.
384	3. All employers paying the salary of a DROP participant
385	filling a regularly established position shall contribute the
386	percent of such participant's gross compensation required in s.
387	121.071(4), which shall constitute the employer's health
388	insurance subsidy contribution with respect to such participant.
389	Such contributions shall be deposited by the administrator in
390	the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.
391	(j) Forfeiture of retirement benefits.--Nothing in this
392	section shall be construed to remove DROP participants from the
393	scope of s. 8(d), Art. II of the State Constitution, s.
394	112.3173, and paragraph (5)(f). DROP participants who commit a
395	specified felony offense while employed will be subject to
396	forfeiture of all retirement benefits, including DROP benefits,
397	pursuant to those provisions of law.
398	(k) Administration of program.--The division shall make
399	such rules as are necessary for the effective and efficient
400	administration of this subsection. The division shall not be
401	required to advise members of the federal tax consequences of an
402	election related to the DROP but may advise members to seek
403	independent advice.
404	Section 2. The Legislature finds that a proper and
405	legitimate state purpose is served when employees and retirees
406	of the state and of its political subdivisions, and the
407	dependents, survivors, and beneficiaries of such employees and
408	retirees, are extended the basic protections afforded by
409	governmental retirement systems that provide fair and adequate
410	benefits and that are managed, administered, and funded in an
411	actuarially sound manner, as required by s. 14, Art. X of the
412	State Constitution and part VII of chapter 112, Florida
413	Statutes. Therefore, the Legislature hereby determines and
414	declares that the provisions of this act fulfill an important
415	state interest.
416	Section 3. (1) The sum of $1 million is appropriated from
417	the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Health. Moneys in
418	this appropriation shall be used by that department to make
419	grants to local not-for-profit hospitals for nurse retention and
420	out-of-state recruitment activities during the 2003-2004 fiscal
421	year. These moneys are subject to a one-for-one match from
422	sources other than the government of this state or one of its
423	political subdivisions. Moneys not matched by September 30,
424	2003, revert to the General Revenue Fund.
425	(2) The Department of Health shall accept requests for
426	grants under this act beginning July 1, 2003. The department
427	shall determine grant amounts beginning October 1, 2003, once
428	the amount of the appropriation in subsection (1) which has been
429	matched by additional moneys is determined and the department
430	can determine the amount of grant moneys available.
431	(3) The department shall by rule adopt criteria for grant
432	awards. In addition to other criteria, the department shall
433	require that a hospital have experienced an average vacancy rate
434	among nursing positions during the preceding 12 months of 20
435	percent or more. If the amount available for distribution is
436	less than the aggregate amount of requests that meet the
437	department's criteria, the department shall make grants pro
438	rata.
439	Section 4. Section 464.009, Florida Statutes, is amended
440	to read:
441	464.009 Licensure by endorsement.--
442	(1)(a)The department shall issue the appropriate license
443	by endorsement to practice professional or practical nursing to
444	an applicant who, upon applying to the department and remitting
445	a fee set by the board not to exceed $100, demonstrates to the
446	board that he or she:
447	1.(a)Holds a valid license to practice professional or
448	practical nursing in another state or territory of the United
449	States, provided that, when the applicant secured his or her
450	original license, the requirements for licensure were
451	substantially equivalent to or more stringent than those
452	existing in Florida at that time;
453	2.(b)Meets the qualifications for licensure in s. 464.008
454	and has successfully completed a state, regional, or national
455	examination which is substantially equivalent to or more
456	stringent than the examination given by the department; or
457	3.(c)Has actively practiced nursing in another state,
458	jurisdiction, or territory of the United States for 2 of the
459	preceding 3 years without having his or her license acted
460	against by the licensing authority of any jurisdiction.
461	Applicants who become licensed pursuant to this subparagraph
462	paragraphmust complete within 6 months after licensure a
463	Florida laws and rules course that is approved by the board.
464	Once the department has received the results of the national
465	criminal history check and has determined that the applicant has
466	no criminal history, the appropriate license by endorsement
467	shall be issued to the applicant. This subparagraphparagraphis
468	repealed July 1, 2004, unless reenacted by the Legislature.
469	(b)(2)Such examinations and requirements from other
470	states and territories of the United States shall be presumed to
471	be substantially equivalent to or more stringent than those in
472	this state. Such presumption shall not arise until January 1,
473	1980. However, the board may, by rule, specify states and
474	territories the examinations and requirements of which shall not
475	be presumed to be substantially equivalent to those of this
476	state.
477	(2) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1), the
478	applicant must:
479	(a) Have the ability to communicate in the English
480	language, which may be determined by an examination given by the
481	department.
482	(b)(3)The applicant mustSubmit to the department a set
483	of fingerprints on a form and under procedures specified by the
484	department, along with a payment in an amount equal to the costs
485	incurred by the Department of Health for the criminal background
486	check of the applicant. The Department of Health shall submit
487	the fingerprints provided by the applicant to the Florida
488	Department of Law Enforcement for a statewide criminal history
489	check, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement shall
490	forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
491	for a national criminal history check of the applicant. The
492	Department of Health shall review the results of the criminal
493	history check, issue a license to an applicant who has met all
494	of the other requirements for licensure and has no criminal
495	history, and shall refer all applicants with criminal histories
496	back to the board for determination as to whether a license
497	should be issued and under what conditions.
498	(3)(4)The department shall not issue a license by
499	endorsement to any applicant who is under investigation in
500	another state, jurisdiction, or territory of the United States
501	for an act which would constitute a violation of this part or
502	chapter 456 until such time as the investigation is complete, at
503	which time the provisions of s. 464.018 shall apply.
504	(4)(5)The department shall develop an electronic
505	applicant notification process and provide electronic
506	notification when the application has been received and when
507	background screenings have been completed, and shall issue a
508	license within 30 days after completion of all required data
509	collection and verification. This 30-day period to issue a
510	license shall be tolled if the applicant must appear before the
511	board due to information provided on the application or obtained
512	through screening and data collection and verification
513	procedures.
514	Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
515	1009.66, Florida Statutes, as amended by section 3 of chapter
516	2002-400, Laws of Florida, and section 71 of chapter 2002-402,
517	Laws of Florida, is amended to read:
518	1009.66 Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program.--
519	(7)(a) Funds contained in the Nursing Student Loan
520	Forgiveness Trust Fund which are to be used for loan forgiveness
521	for those nurses employed by hospitals, birth centers, and
522	nursing homes must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by
523	contributions from the employing institutions, except that this
524	provision shall not apply to state-operated medical and health
525	care facilities, public schools, county health departments,
526	federally sponsored community health centers, teaching hospitals
527	as defined in s. 408.07, family practice teaching hospitals as
528	defined in s. 395.805, or specialty hospitals for children as
529	used in s. 409.9119. An estimate of the annual trust fund
530	dollars shall be made at the beginning of the fiscal year based
531	on historic expenditures from the trust fund. Applicant requests
532	shall be reviewed on a quarterly basis, and applicant awards
533	shall be based on a first-come, first-served basisthe following
534	priority of employeruntil all such estimated trust funds are
535	awarded: state-operated medical and health care facilities;
536	public schools; county health departments; federally sponsored
537	community health centers; teaching hospitals as defined in s.
538	408.07; family practice teaching hospitals as defined in s.
539	395.805; specialty hospitals for children as used in s.
540	409.9119; and other hospitals, birth centers, and nursing homes.
541	Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.