Senate Bill sb1228c1

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
    Florida Senate - 2004                  CS for SB's 1228 & 2080

    By the Committee on Education; and Senators Wilson, Diaz de la
    Portilla and Campbell




    304-2458-04

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to resident status for tuition

  3         purposes; amending s. 1009.21, F.S.;

  4         classifying as residents for tuition purposes

  5         certain active duty members of a foreign

  6         nation's military, dependent children of

  7         certain active duty members of the United

  8         States Armed Services, and certain employees of

  9         international multilateral organizations;

10         providing an exemption from payment of

11         nonresident tuition at community colleges and

12         state universities for certain students meeting

13         eligibility criteria; reenacting s.

14         1009.40(1)(a), F.S., relating to general

15         requirements for eligibility for state

16         financial aid, to incorporate the amendment to

17         s. 1009.21, F.S., in a reference; providing an

18         effective date.

19  

20  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

21  

22         Section 1.  Section 1009.21, Florida Statutes, is

23  amended to read:

24         1009.21  Determination of resident status for tuition

25  purposes; exemption.--Students shall be classified as

26  residents or nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition

27  in community colleges and state universities.

28         (1)  As used in this section:

29         (a)  The term "dependent child" means any person,

30  whether or not living with his or her parent, who is eligible

31  

                                  1

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2004                  CS for SB's 1228 & 2080
    304-2458-04




 1  to be claimed by his or her parent as a dependent under the

 2  federal income tax code.

 3         (b)  The term "institution of higher education" means

 4  any public community college or state university.

 5         (c)  A "legal resident" or "resident" is a person who

 6  has maintained his or her residence in this state for the

 7  preceding year, has purchased a home which is occupied by him

 8  or her as his or her residence, or has established a domicile

 9  in this state pursuant to s. 222.17.

10         (d)  The term "parent" means the natural or adoptive

11  parent or legal guardian of a dependent child.

12         (e)  A "resident for tuition purposes" is a person who

13  qualifies as provided in subsection (2) for the in-state

14  tuition rate; a "nonresident for tuition purposes" is a person

15  who does not qualify for the in-state tuition rate.

16         (2)(a)  To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes:

17         1.  A person or, if that person is a dependent child,

18  his or her parent or parents must have established legal

19  residence in this state and must have maintained legal

20  residence in this state for at least 12 months immediately

21  prior to his or her qualification.

22         2.  Every applicant for admission to an institution of

23  higher education shall be required to make a statement as to

24  his or her length of residence in the state and, further,

25  shall establish that his or her presence or, if the applicant

26  is a dependent child, the presence of his or her parent or

27  parents in the state currently is, and during the requisite

28  12-month qualifying period was, for the purpose of maintaining

29  a bona fide domicile, rather than for the purpose of

30  maintaining a mere temporary residence or abode incident to

31  enrollment in an institution of higher education.

                                  2

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2004                  CS for SB's 1228 & 2080
    304-2458-04




 1         (b)  However, with respect to a dependent child living

 2  with an adult relative other than the child's parent, such

 3  child may qualify as a resident for tuition purposes if the

 4  adult relative is a legal resident who has maintained legal

 5  residence in this state for at least 12 months immediately

 6  prior to the child's qualification, provided the child has

 7  resided continuously with such relative for the 5 years

 8  immediately prior to the child's qualification, during which

 9  time the adult relative has exercised day-to-day care,

10  supervision, and control of the child.

11         (c)  The legal residence of a dependent child whose

12  parents are divorced, separated, or otherwise living apart

13  will be deemed to be this state if either parent is a legal

14  resident of this state, regardless of which parent is entitled

15  to claim, and does in fact claim, the minor as a dependent

16  pursuant to federal individual income tax provisions.

17         (3)  An individual shall not be classified as a

18  resident for tuition purposes and, thus, shall not be eligible

19  to receive the in-state tuition rate until he or she has

20  provided such evidence related to legal residence and its

21  duration as may be required by officials of the institution of

22  higher education from which he or she seeks the in-state

23  tuition rate.

24         (4)  With respect to a dependent child, the legal

25  residence of such individual's parent or parents is prima

26  facie evidence of the individual's legal residence, which

27  evidence may be reinforced or rebutted, relative to the age

28  and general circumstances of the individual, by the other

29  evidence of legal residence required of or presented by the

30  individual. However, the legal residence of an individual

31  whose parent or parents are domiciled outside this state is

                                  3

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2004                  CS for SB's 1228 & 2080
    304-2458-04




 1  not prima facie evidence of the individual's legal residence

 2  if that individual has lived in this state for 5 consecutive

 3  years prior to enrolling or reregistering at the institution

 4  of higher education at which resident status for tuition

 5  purposes is sought.

 6         (5)  In making a domiciliary determination related to

 7  the classification of a person as a resident or nonresident

 8  for tuition purposes, the domicile of a married person,

 9  irrespective of sex, shall be determined, as in the case of an

10  unmarried person, by reference to all relevant evidence of

11  domiciliary intent.  For the purposes of this section:

12         (a)  A person shall not be precluded from establishing

13  or maintaining legal residence in this state and subsequently

14  qualifying or continuing to qualify as a resident for tuition

15  purposes solely by reason of marriage to a person domiciled

16  outside this state, even when that person's spouse continues

17  to be domiciled outside of this state, provided such person

18  maintains his or her legal residence in this state.

19         (b)  A person shall not be deemed to have established

20  or maintained a legal residence in this state and subsequently

21  to have qualified or continued to qualify as a resident for

22  tuition purposes solely by reason of marriage to a person

23  domiciled in this state.

24         (c)  In determining the domicile of a married person,

25  irrespective of sex, the fact of the marriage and the place of

26  domicile of such person's spouse shall be deemed relevant

27  evidence to be considered in ascertaining domiciliary intent.

28         (6)  Any nonresident person, irrespective of sex, who

29  marries a legal resident of this state or marries a person who

30  later becomes a legal resident may, upon becoming a legal

31  resident of this state, accede to the benefit of the spouse's

                                  4

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2004                  CS for SB's 1228 & 2080
    304-2458-04




 1  immediately precedent duration as a legal resident for

 2  purposes of satisfying the 12-month durational requirement of

 3  this section.

 4         (7)  A person shall not lose his or her resident status

 5  for tuition purposes solely by reason of serving, or, if such

 6  person is a dependent child, by reason of his or her parent's

 7  or parents' serving, in the Armed Forces outside this state.

 8         (8)  A person who has been properly classified as a

 9  resident for tuition purposes but who, while enrolled in an

10  institution of higher education in this state, loses his or

11  her resident tuition status because the person or, if he or

12  she is a dependent child, the person's parent or parents

13  establish domicile or legal residence elsewhere shall continue

14  to enjoy the in-state tuition rate for a statutory grace

15  period, which period shall be measured from the date on which

16  the circumstances arose that culminated in the loss of

17  resident tuition status and shall continue for 12 months.

18  However, if the 12-month grace period ends during a semester

19  or academic term for which such former resident is enrolled,

20  such grace period shall be extended to the end of that

21  semester or academic term.

22         (9)  Any person who ceases to be enrolled at or who

23  graduates from an institution of higher education while

24  classified as a resident for tuition purposes and who

25  subsequently abandons his or her domicile in this state shall

26  be permitted to reenroll at an institution of higher education

27  in this state as a resident for tuition purposes without the

28  necessity of meeting the 12-month durational requirement of

29  this section if that person has reestablished his or her

30  domicile in this state within 12 months of such abandonment

31  and continuously maintains the reestablished domicile during

                                  5

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2004                  CS for SB's 1228 & 2080
    304-2458-04




 1  the period of enrollment. The benefit of this subsection shall

 2  not be accorded more than once to any one person.

 3         (10)  The following persons shall be classified as

 4  residents for tuition purposes:

 5         (a)  Active duty members of the Armed Services of the

 6  United States residing or stationed in this state, their

 7  spouses, and dependent children, and active members of the

 8  Florida National Guard who qualify under s. 250.10(7) and (8)

 9  for the tuition assistance program.

10         (b)  Active duty members of the Armed Services of the

11  United States and their spouses and dependent children

12  attending a public community college or state university

13  within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are

14  stationed, if such military establishment is within a county

15  contiguous to Florida.

16         (c)  United States citizens living on the Isthmus of

17  Panama, who have completed 12 consecutive months of college

18  work at the Florida State University Panama Canal Branch, and

19  their spouses and dependent children.

20         (d)  Full-time instructional and administrative

21  personnel employed by state public schools, community

22  colleges, and institutions of higher education, as defined in

23  s. 1000.04, and their spouses and dependent children.

24         (e)  Students from Latin America and the Caribbean who

25  receive scholarships from the federal or state government.

26  Any student classified pursuant to this paragraph shall

27  attend, on a full-time basis, a Florida institution of higher

28  education.

29         (f)  Southern Regional Education Board's Academic

30  Common Market graduate students attending Florida's state

31  universities.

                                  6

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2004                  CS for SB's 1228 & 2080
    304-2458-04




 1         (g)  Full-time employees of state agencies or political

 2  subdivisions of the state when the student fees are paid by

 3  the state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of

 4  job-related law enforcement or corrections training.

 5         (h)  McKnight Doctoral Fellows and Finalists who are

 6  United States citizens.

 7         (i)  United States citizens living outside the United

 8  States who are teaching at a Department of Defense Dependent

 9  School or in an American International School and who enroll

10  in a graduate level education program which leads to a Florida

11  teaching certificate.

12         (j)  Active duty members of the Canadian military

13  residing or stationed in this state under the North American

14  Air Defense (NORAD) agreement, and their spouses and dependent

15  children, attending a community college or state university

16  within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are

17  stationed.

18         (k)  Active duty members of a foreign nation's military

19  serving as liaison officers and residing or stationed in this

20  state, and their spouses and dependent children, attending a

21  community college or state university within 50 miles of the

22  military establishment where they are stationed.

23         (l)  Full-time employees of international multilateral

24  organizations based in Florida which are recognized by the

25  United States Department of State and their spouses and

26  dependent children.

27         (11)  A student, other than a nonimmigrant alien within

28  the meaning of 8 U.S.C. s. 1101(a)(15), who meets all of the

29  following requirements shall be exempt from paying nonresident

30  tuition at community colleges and state universities:

31  

                                  7

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2004                  CS for SB's 1228 & 2080
    304-2458-04




 1         (a)  Has resided in Florida with a parent as defined in

 2  paragraph (1)(d) for at least 3 consecutive years immediately

 3  preceding the date the student received a high school diploma

 4  or its equivalent and has attended a Florida high school for

 5  at least 3 consecutive school years during such time.

 6         (b)  Has provided to a community college or a state

 7  university an affidavit stating that the student will file an

 8  application to become a permanent resident of the United

 9  States at the earliest opportunity he or she is eligible to do

10  so.

11         (12)(11)  The State Board of Education shall by rule

12  designate classifications of students as residents or

13  nonresidents for tuition purposes at community colleges and

14  state universities.

15         Section 2.  For the purpose of incorporating the

16  amendment to section 1009.21, Florida Statutes, in a reference

17  thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 1009.40,

18  Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:

19         1009.40  General requirements for student eligibility

20  for state financial aid.--

21         (1)(a)  The general requirements for eligibility of

22  students for state financial aid awards consist of the

23  following:

24         1.  Achievement of the academic requirements of and

25  acceptance at a state university or community college; a

26  nursing diploma school approved by the Florida Board of

27  Nursing; a Florida college, university, or community college

28  which is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the

29  State Board of Education; any Florida institution the credits

30  of which are acceptable for transfer to state universities;

31  any technical center; or any private technical institution

                                  8

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2004                  CS for SB's 1228 & 2080
    304-2458-04




 1  accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the State

 2  Board of Education.

 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. 1009.50, s. 1009.51, s. 1009.52, s. 1009.53, s. 1009.54,

 6  s. 1009.56, s. 1009.57, s. 1009.60, s. 1009.62, s. 1009.63, s.

 7  1009.68, s. 1009.72, s. 1009.73, s. 1009.76, s. 1009.77, or s.

 8  1009.89. Residency in this state must be for purposes other

 9  than to obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of

10  receiving state financial aid awards shall be determined in

11  the same manner as resident status for tuition purposes

12  pursuant to s. 1009.21 and rules of the State Board of

13  Education.

14         3.  Submission of certification attesting to the

15  accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information

16  provided to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive

17  state financial aid awards. Falsification of such information

18  shall result in the denial of any pending application and

19  revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no

20  further payments shall be made. Additionally, students who

21  knowingly make false statements in order to receive state

22  financial aid awards shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the

23  second degree subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall

24  be required to return all state financial aid awards

25  wrongfully obtained.

26         Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

27  law.

28  

29  

30  

31  

                                  9

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2004                  CS for SB's 1228 & 2080
    304-2458-04




 1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
 2                    Senate Bills 1228 and 2080

 3                                 

 4  Combines the provisions of Senate Bills 1228 and 2080.

 5  Provides resident status for purposes of assessing tuition in
    community colleges and state universities to:
 6  
         active duty members of a foreign nation's military and
 7       their spouses and dependent children, at schools within
         50 miles of the military establishment where they are
 8       stationed

 9       full-time employees of recognized international
         multilateral organizations based in Florida and their
10       spouses and dependent children

11       dependent children of U.S. Armed Services members who are
         stationed in counties contiguous to Florida, at schools
12       within 50 miles of the military establishment where they
         are stationed.
13  
    Exempts any student from paying nonresident tuition, provided
14  that the student has resided in Florida for 3 consecutive
    years with a parent, while attending a Florida high school,
15  immediately prior to receiving a high school diploma or its
    equivalent and has provided an affidavit promising to file an
16  application to become a permanent U.S. resident at the
    earliest opportunity.
17  

18  

19  

20  

21  

22  

23  

24  

25  

26  

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  

                                  10

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.