Senate Bill sb2672

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    Florida Senate - 2004                                  SB 2672

    By the Committee on Education





    304-1786-04

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to education; amending s.

  3         216.136, F.S.; requiring the Education

  4         Estimating Conference to determine the number

  5         of students qualified for the Access to Better

  6         Learning and Education Grant Program; amending

  7         s. 1007.24, F.S.; providing for colleges and

  8         schools that are eligible to participate in the

  9         Access to Better Learning and Education Grant

10         Program to use the statewide course numbering

11         system; amending s. 1009.21, F.S.; clarifying

12         the definition of the term "dependent child"

13         and defining the term "initial undergraduate

14         enrollment" for purposes of determining a

15         student's resident status for tuition purposes;

16         requiring that a student maintain legal

17         residence in the state for 12 months before

18         initial undergraduate enrollment in order to

19         qualify as a resident; requiring that an

20         institution make certain determinations

21         concerning a student's status as a dependent

22         and state resident; clarifying requirements

23         with respect to a dependent child living with

24         an adult relative, to conform; providing

25         requirements for reclassifying a student as a

26         resident for tuition purposes; amending s.

27         1009.40, F.S.; providing residency requirements

28         for eligibility for a grant under the Access to

29         Better Learning and Education Grant Program;

30         limiting the tuition-assistance grants that may

31         be awarded to students attending nonpublic

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 1         institutions; amending s. 1009.89, F.S.;

 2         revising requirements for the William L. Boyd,

 3         IV, Florida Resident Access Grant Program;

 4         requiring the State Board of Education to adopt

 5         rules to administer accountability and

 6         performance requirements; amending s. 1009.891,

 7         F.S.; providing for nonprofit colleges and

 8         universities to participate in the Access to

 9         Better Learning and Education Grant Program;

10         providing requirements for an institution that

11         has an articulation agreement with the State

12         Board of Education; providing certain

13         limitations on program participation;

14         authorizing the State Board of Education to

15         adopt rules to establish certain compliance

16         timeframes and to administer accountability and

17         performance requirements; requiring a person

18         receiving an access grant to pay tuition;

19         providing an effective date.

20  

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

22  

23         Section 1.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section

24  216.136, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

25         216.136  Consensus estimating conferences; duties and

26  principals.--

27         (4)  EDUCATION ESTIMATING CONFERENCE.--

28         (a)  Duties.--The Education Estimating Conference shall

29  develop such official information relating to the state public

30  and private educational system, including forecasts of student

31  enrollments;, the number of students qualified for state

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 1  financial aid programs, and for the William L. Boyd, IV,

 2  Florida Resident Access Grant Program, and the Access to

 3  Better Learning and Education Grant Program and the

 4  appropriation required to fund the full award amounts for each

 5  program;, fixed capital outlay needs;, and Florida Education

 6  Finance Program formula needs, which as the conference

 7  determines is needed for the state planning and budgeting

 8  system. The conference's initial projections of enrollments in

 9  public schools shall be forwarded by the conference to each

10  school district no later than 2 months prior to the start of

11  the regular session of the Legislature. Each school district

12  may, in writing, request adjustments to the initial

13  projections.  Any adjustment request shall be submitted to the

14  conference no later than 1 month prior to the start of the

15  regular session of the Legislature and shall be considered by

16  the principals of the conference.  A school district may amend

17  its adjustment request, in writing, during the first 3 weeks

18  of the legislative session, and such amended adjustment

19  request shall be considered by the principals of the

20  conference.  For any adjustment so requested, the district

21  shall indicate and explain, using definitions adopted by the

22  conference, the components of anticipated enrollment changes

23  that correspond to continuation of current programs with

24  workload changes; program improvement; program reduction or

25  elimination; initiation of new programs; and any other

26  information that may be needed by the Legislature.  For public

27  schools, the conference shall submit its full-time equivalent

28  student consensus estimate to the Legislature no later than 1

29  month after the start of the regular session of the

30  Legislature. No conference estimate may be changed without the

31  agreement of the full conference.

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 1         Section 2.  Subsection (6) of section 1007.24, Florida

 2  Statutes, is amended to read:

 3         1007.24  Statewide course numbering system.--

 4         (6)  Nonpublic colleges and schools that are fully

 5  accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency

 6  recognized by the United States Department of Education and

 7  that are either eligible to participate in the William L.

 8  Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access Grant Program or the Access

 9  to Better Learning and Education Grant Program, or have been

10  issued a regular license pursuant to s. 1005.31, may

11  participate in the statewide course numbering system pursuant

12  to this section. Participating colleges and schools shall bear

13  the costs associated with inclusion in the system and shall

14  meet the terms and conditions for institutional participation

15  in the system. The department shall adopt a fee schedule that

16  includes the expenses incurred through data processing,

17  faculty task force travel and per diem, and staff and clerical

18  support time. Such fee schedule may differentiate between the

19  costs associated with initial course inclusion in the system

20  and costs associated with subsequent course maintenance in the

21  system. Decisions regarding initial course inclusion and

22  subsequent course maintenance must be made within 360 days

23  after submission of the required materials and fees by the

24  institution. The Department of Education may select a date by

25  which colleges must submit requests for new courses to be

26  included, and may delay review of courses submitted after that

27  date until the next year's cycle. Any college that currently

28  participates in the system, and that participated in the

29  system prior to July 1, 1986, shall not be required to pay the

30  costs associated with initial course inclusion in the system.

31  Fees collected for participation in the statewide course

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 1  numbering system pursuant to the provisions of this section

 2  shall be deposited in the Institutional Assessment Trust Fund.

 3  Any nonpublic, nonprofit college or university that is

 4  eligible to participate in the statewide course numbering

 5  system shall not be required to pay the costs associated with

 6  participation in the system.  No college or school shall

 7  record student transcripts or document courses offered by the

 8  college or school in accordance with this subsection unless

 9  the college or school is actually participating in the system

10  pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education.  Any

11  college or school deemed to be in violation of this section

12  shall be subject to the provisions of s. 1005.38.

13         Section 3.  Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section

14  1009.21, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

15         1009.21  Determination of resident status for tuition

16  purposes.--Students shall be classified as residents or

17  nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in community

18  colleges and state universities.

19         (1)  As used in this section, the term:

20         (a)  The term "Dependent child" means any person,

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

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

23  federal income tax code and who receives at least 51 percent

24  of the true cost-of-living expenses from his or her parent.

25         (b)  The term "Institution of higher education" means

26  any public community college or state university.

27         (c)  A "Legal resident" or "resident" is a person who

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

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

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

31  in this state pursuant to s. 222.17.

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 1         (d)  The term "Parent" means the natural or adoptive

 2  parent or legal guardian of a dependent child.

 3         (e)  A "Resident for tuition purposes" is a person who

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

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

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

 7         (f)  "Initial undergraduate enrollment" means the first

 8  day of class at an institution of higher education.

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

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

11  his or her parent or parents must have established legal

12  residence in this state and must have maintained legal

13  residence in this state for at least 12 months immediately

14  prior to his or her initial undergraduate enrollment at an

15  institution of higher education qualification.

16         2.  Every applicant for admission to an institution of

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

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

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

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

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

22  12-month qualifying period was, for the purpose of maintaining

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

24  maintaining a mere temporary residence or abode incident to

25  enrollment in an institution of higher education.

26         3.  Each institution of higher education must determine

27  whether an applicant granted admission to that institution is

28  a dependent child.

29         4.  Each institution of higher education must

30  affirmatively determine that an applicant granted admission to

31  that institution as a Florida resident meets the residency

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 1  requirements of this section at the time of initial

 2  undergraduate enrollment.

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

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

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

 6  adult relative is a legal resident who has maintained legal

 7  residence in this state for at least 12 months immediately

 8  prior to the child's initial undergraduate enrollment at an

 9  institution of higher education qualification, provided the

10  child has resided continuously with such relative for the 5

11  years immediately prior to the child's initial undergraduate

12  enrollment at an institution of higher education

13  qualification, during which time the adult relative has

14  exercised day-to-day care, supervision, and control of the

15  child.

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

17  parents are divorced, separated, or otherwise living apart

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

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

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

21  pursuant to federal individual income tax provisions.

22         (d)  An undergraduate individual who is classified as a

23  nonresident for tuition purposes may become eligible for

24  reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes only if

25  that individual, or his or her parent if that individual is a

26  dependent child, supports permanent residency in this state by

27  presenting documentation of nontemporary, full-time employment

28  in this state and domicile in this state for 12 months while

29  not enrolled at an institution of higher education.

30         (3)  An individual may shall not be classified as a

31  resident for tuition purposes and, thus, is shall not be

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 1  eligible to receive the in-state tuition rate until he or she

 2  has provided such evidence related to legal residence and its

 3  duration or, if that person is a dependent child,

 4  documentation of his or her parent's legal residence and its

 5  duration, as well as documentation confirming his or her

 6  status as a dependent child, as may be required by law and by

 7  officials of the institution of higher education from which he

 8  or she seeks the in-state tuition rate.

 9         Section 4.  Subsection (1) of section 1009.40, Florida

10  Statutes, is amended, and subsection (5) is added to that

11  section, to read:

12         1009.40  General requirements for student eligibility

13  for state financial aid.--

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

15  students for state financial aid awards consist of the

16  following:

17         1.  Achievement of the academic requirements of and

18  acceptance at a state university or community college; a

19  nursing diploma school approved by the Florida Board of

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

21  which is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the

22  State Board of Education; any Florida institution the credits

23  of which are acceptable for transfer to state universities;

24  any technical center; or any private technical institution

25  accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the State

26  Board of Education.

27         2.  Residency in this state for no less than 1 year

28  preceding the award of aid for a program established pursuant

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

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

31  1009.68, s. 1009.72, s. 1009.73, s. 1009.76, s. 1009.77, or s.

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 1  1009.89, or s. 1009.891. Residency in this state must be for

 2  purposes other than to obtain an education. Resident status

 3  for purposes of receiving state financial aid awards or

 4  tuition assistance grants shall be determined in the same

 5  manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s.

 6  1009.21 and rules of the State Board of Education implementing

 7  s. 1009.21.

 8         3.  Submission of certification attesting to the

 9  accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information

10  provided to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive

11  state financial aid awards. Falsification of such information

12  shall result in the denial of any pending application and

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

14  further payments shall be made. Additionally, students who

15  knowingly make false statements in order to receive state

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

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

18  be required to return all state financial aid awards

19  wrongfully obtained.

20         (b)1.  Eligibility for the renewal of undergraduate

21  financial aid awards shall be evaluated at the end of the

22  second semester or third quarter of each academic year.  As a

23  condition for renewal, a student shall:

24         a.  Have earned a minimum cumulative grade point

25  average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale; and

26         b.  Have earned, for full-time study, 12 credits per

27  term or the equivalent for the number of terms for which aid

28  was received.

29         2.  A student who earns the minimum number of credits

30  required for renewal, but who fails to meet the minimum 2.0

31  cumulative grade point average, may be granted a probationary

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 1  award for up to the equivalent of 1 academic year and shall be

 2  required to earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a

 3  4.0 scale by the end of the probationary period to be eligible

 4  for subsequent renewal.  A student who receives a probationary

 5  award and who fails to meet the conditions for renewal by the

 6  end of his or her probationary period shall be ineligible to

 7  receive additional awards for the equivalent of 1 academic

 8  year following his or her probationary period. Each such

 9  student may, however, reapply for assistance during a

10  subsequent application period and may be eligible for an award

11  if he or she has earned a cumulative grade point average of

12  2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

13         3.  A student who fails to earn the minimum number of

14  credits required for renewal shall lose his or her eligibility

15  for renewal for a period equivalent to 1 academic year.

16  However, the student may reapply during a subsequent

17  application period and may be eligible for an award if he or

18  she has earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0

19  on a 4.0 scale.

20         4.  Students who receive state student aid and

21  subsequently fail to meet state academic progress requirements

22  due to verifiable illness or other emergencies may be granted

23  an exception from the academic requirements.  Such students

24  shall make a written appeal to the institution.  The appeal

25  shall include a description and verification of the

26  circumstances. Verification of illness or other emergencies

27  may include but not be limited to a physician's statement or

28  written statement of a parent or college official.  The

29  institution shall recommend exceptions with necessary

30  documentation to the department.  The department may accept or

31  deny such recommendations for exception from the institution.

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 1         (5)  A student attending a nonpublic for-profit or

 2  nonprofit institution is not eligible to receive more than one

 3  state award that is a tuition-assistance grant.

 4         Section 5.  Section 1009.89, Florida Statutes, is

 5  amended to read:

 6         1009.89  The William L. Boyd, IV, Florida resident

 7  access grants.--

 8         (1)  The Legislature finds and declares that

 9  independent nonprofit colleges and universities eligible to

10  participate in the William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident

11  Access Grant Program are an integral part of the higher

12  education system in this state and that a significant number

13  of state residents choose this form of higher education. The

14  Legislature further finds that a strong and viable system of

15  independent nonprofit colleges and universities reduces the

16  tax burden on the citizens of the state. Because the William

17  L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access Grant Program is not

18  related to a student's financial need or other criteria upon

19  which financial aid programs are based, it is the intent of

20  the Legislature that the William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident

21  Access Grant Program not be considered a financial aid program

22  but rather a tuition assistance program for its citizens.

23         (2)  The William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access

24  Grant Program shall be administered by the Department of

25  Education. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for

26  the administration of the program.

27         (3)  The department shall issue through the program a

28  William L. Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grant to any

29  full-time degree-seeking undergraduate student registered at

30  an independent nonprofit college or university which is

31  located in and chartered by the state; which is accredited by

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 1  the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of

 2  Colleges and Schools; which grants baccalaureate degrees;

 3  which is not a Florida state university or Florida state

 4  community college; and which has a secular purpose, so long as

 5  the receipt of state aid by students at the institution would

 6  not have the primary effect of advancing or impeding religion

 7  or result in an excessive entanglement between the state and

 8  any religious sect; and which is an active participant in the

 9  statewide course numbering system as provided in s. 1007.24 or

10  is a party to the articulation agreement between the

11  independent colleges and universities in Florida and the State

12  Board of Education. Any independent college or university that

13  was eligible to receive tuition vouchers on January 1, 1989,

14  and which continues to meet the criteria under which its

15  eligibility was established, shall remain eligible to receive

16  William L. Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grant payments.

17         (4)  The Legislature may place accountability and

18  performance requirements in the General Appropriations Act, an

19  act implementing the General Appropriations Act, or other

20  legislation deemed appropriate as a condition for continued

21  participation by an institution or individual student in the

22  William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access Grant Program.

23  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement

24  such requirements and may require the submission of data to

25  the Florida Education and Training Placement Information

26  Program.

27         (5)(4)  A person is eligible to receive such William L.

28  Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grant if:

29         (a)  He or she meets the general requirements,

30  including residency, for student eligibility as provided in s.

31  1009.40, except as otherwise provided in this section; and

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 1         (b)1.  He or she is enrolled as a full-time

 2  undergraduate student at an eligible college or university;

 3         2.  He or she is not enrolled in a program of study

 4  leading to a degree in theology or divinity; and

 5         3.  He or she is making satisfactory academic progress

 6  as defined by the college or university in which he or she is

 7  enrolled.

 8         (6)(5)(a)  Funding for the William L. Boyd, IV, Florida

 9  Resident Access Grant Program shall be based on a formula

10  composed of planned enrollment and the state cost of funding

11  undergraduate enrollment at public institutions pursuant to s.

12  1011.90. The amount of the William L. Boyd, IV, Florida

13  resident access grant issued to a full-time student shall be

14  an amount as specified in the General Appropriations Act. The

15  William L. Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grant may be paid

16  on a prorated basis in advance of the registration period. The

17  department shall make such payments to the college or

18  university in which the student is enrolled for credit to the

19  student's account for payment of tuition and fees.

20  Institutions shall certify to the department the amount of

21  funds disbursed to each student and shall remit to the

22  department any undisbursed advances or refunds within 60 days

23  of the end of regular registration. Students shall not be

24  eligible to receive the award for more than 9 semesters or 14

25  quarters, except as otherwise provided in s. 1009.40(3).

26         (b)  If the combined amount of the William L. Boyd, IV,

27  Florida resident access grant issued pursuant to this act and

28  all other scholarships and grants for tuition or fees exceeds

29  the amount charged to the student for tuition and fees, the

30  department shall reduce the William L. Boyd, IV, Florida

31  

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 1  resident access grant issued pursuant to this act by an amount

 2  equal to such excess.

 3         (7)(6)  Funds appropriated by the Legislature for the

 4  William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access Grant Program

 5  shall be deposited in the State Student Financial Assistance

 6  Trust Fund. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and

 7  pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the

 8  end of any fiscal year which has been allocated to the William

 9  L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access Grant Program shall

10  remain therein and shall be available for carrying out the

11  purposes of this section. If the number of eligible students

12  exceeds the total authorized in the General Appropriations

13  Act, an institution may use its own resources to assure that

14  each eligible student receives the full benefit of the grant

15  amount authorized.

16         Section 6.  Section 1009.891, Florida Statutes, is

17  amended to read:

18         1009.891  The Access to Better Learning and Education

19  Grant Program.--

20         (1)  The Legislature finds and declares that

21  independent for-profit and nonprofit colleges and universities

22  eligible to participate in the Access to Better Learning and

23  Education Grant Program are an integral part of the higher

24  education system in this state and that a significant number

25  of state residents choose this form of higher education. The

26  Legislature further finds that strong, viable independent

27  for-profit and nonprofit colleges and universities reduce the

28  tax burden on the residents of the state. Because the Access

29  to Better Learning and Education Grant Program is not related

30  to a student's financial need or other criteria upon which

31  financial aid programs are based, it is the intent of the

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 1  Legislature that the Access to Better Learning and Education

 2  Grant Program not be considered a financial aid program but

 3  rather a tuition assistance program for state residents.

 4         (2)  The Access to Better Learning and Education Grant

 5  Program shall be administered by the Department of Education.

 6  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for

 7  administering the program.

 8         (3)(a)  The department shall issue an access grant to

 9  any full-time student seeking a baccalaureate degree who:

10         1.  Is registered at a for-profit college or university

11  that is located in and chartered by the state and that is

12  accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern

13  Association of Colleges and Schools; or who

14         2.  Is registered at a nonprofit college or university

15  that is chartered out of the state, that has been located in

16  the state for 10 years or more, and that is accredited by the

17  Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges

18  and Schools, the Middle States Association of Colleges and

19  Schools, the North Central Association of Colleges and

20  Schools, or the New England Association of Schools and

21  Colleges, the Northwest Association of Schools, Colleges, and

22  Universities, or the Western Association of Schools and

23  Colleges; or

24         3.  Is registered at an institution that is licensed by

25  the Commission for Independent Education, offers secular

26  degrees, and is an active participant in an articulation

27  agreement with the State Board of Education or has been an

28  active participant in the statewide common course numbering

29  system in s. 1007.24 for 5 years. The articulation agreement

30  must ensure the uniform transferability of course credit

31  between public and participating nonpublic institutions.

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 1  Active participation in the statewide common course numbering

 2  system is defined as all of the institution's courses related

 3  to a secular baccalaureate degree, including the general

 4  education component, electives, and courses required for the

 5  secular degree, have been properly evaluated and approved and

 6  are currently listed in the statewide common course numbering

 7  system. Calculation of the 5 years of participation begins

 8  when the institution is listed by the Department of Education

 9  as a participating institution, but awards may be made only to

10  students in secular baccalaureate degree programs having

11  courses that comply with this subparagraph. The State Board of

12  Education may establish by rule an appropriate timeframe for

13  the courses associated with a new secular baccalaureate degree

14  program at a participating institution to be brought into

15  compliance with this subparagraph without affecting the

16  eligibility of students in other degree programs.

17         (b)  Each institution qualifying under paragraph (a)

18  must grant and Schools; that grants baccalaureate degrees;

19  that is not be a Florida state university or Florida state

20  community college; and have that has a secular purpose, if the

21  receipt of state aid by students at the institution would not

22  have the primary effect of advancing or impeding religion or

23  result in an excessive entanglement between the state and any

24  religious sect.

25         (c)  Institutions participating in the Access to Better

26  Learning and Education Grant Program may not participate in

27  the Florida Resident Access Grant Program.

28         (d)  Institutions eligible for the Access to Better

29  Learning and Education Grant Program in the initial year of

30  funding shall include only those for-profit colleges or

31  universities identified in this subsection. Nonprofit colleges

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 1  or universities identified in this subsection shall be

 2  eligible for financial support in the second year of funding.

 3         (4)  The Legislature may place accountability and

 4  performance requirements in the General Appropriations Act, an

 5  act implementing the General Appropriations Act, or other

 6  legislation deemed appropriate as a condition for continued

 7  participation by an institution or individual student in the

 8  Access to Better Learning and Education Grant Program. The

 9  State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement such

10  requirements and may require the submission of data to the

11  Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program.

12         (5)(4)  A person is eligible to receive an access grant

13  if:

14         (a)  He or she meets the general requirements,

15  including residency, for student eligibility as provided in s.

16  1009.40 and Rule 6c-7.005, Florida Administrative Code, except

17  as otherwise provided in this section; and

18         (b)1.  He or she is enrolled as a full-time

19  undergraduate student at an eligible college or university in

20  a program of study leading to a baccalaureate degree;

21         2.  He or she is not enrolled in a program of study

22  leading to a degree in theology or divinity; and

23         3.  He or she is making satisfactory academic progress

24  as defined by the college or university in which he or she is

25  enrolled.

26  

27  The person must pay tuition and is not eligible to receive

28  reimbursement for tuition from any government or private

29  source.

30         (6)(5)(a)  The amount of the access grant issued to a

31  full-time student shall be an amount specified in the General

                                  17

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






    Florida Senate - 2004                                  SB 2672
    304-1786-04




 1  Appropriations Act. The access grant may be paid on a prorated

 2  basis in advance of the registration period. The department

 3  shall make payments to the college or university in which the

 4  student is enrolled for credit to the student's account for

 5  payment of tuition and fees. Institutions shall certify to the

 6  department the amount of funds disbursed to each student and

 7  shall remit to the department any undisbursed advances or

 8  refunds within 60 days after the end of regular registration.

 9  A student may not receive the award for more than 9 semesters

10  or 14 quarters, except as otherwise provided in s. 1009.40(3).

11         (b)  If the combined amount of the access grant issued

12  pursuant to this section and all other scholarships and grants

13  for tuition or fees exceeds the amount charged to the student

14  for tuition and fees, the department shall reduce the grant

15  issued under this section by an amount equal to the excess.

16         (7)(6)  If the number of eligible students exceeds the

17  total authorized in the General Appropriations Act, an

18  institution may use its own resources to assure that each

19  eligible student receives the full benefit of the grant amount

20  authorized.

21         (8)(7)  This section shall be implemented only to the

22  extent specifically funded and authorized by law.

23         Section 7.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.

24  

25            *****************************************

26                          SENATE SUMMARY

27    Revises various eligibility requirements of the Access to
      Better Learning and Education Grant Program and
28    authorizes additional institutions to participate in the
      program. Clarifies provisions for determining a student's
29    status as a dependent and as a state resident. Revises
      requirements of the William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident
30    Access Grant Program. Authorizes the State Board of
      Education to adopt rules. (See bill for details.)
31  

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