HB 0341 2004
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to student financial assistance; providing
3	legislative intent to expand access to postsecondary
4	education and reduce student indebtedness; requiring each
5	state university and community college to report
6	information relating to certain funds used to provide
7	financial assistance to certain students; prohibiting the
8	use of such funds to provide financial assistance to
9	specified foreign students; providing for the redirection
10	of funds to provide additional need-based financial
11	assistance to students classified as residents for tuition
12	purposes; requiring annual state university and community
13	college reporting; providing an effective date.
14
15	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
16
17	Section 1. (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to use
18	a portion of the state's limited resources to expand access to
19	postsecondary education and to reduce student indebtedness by
20	increasing need-based financial assistance for Florida
21	residents. Expanding access and increasing financial assistance
22	will encourage Florida residents to pursue postsecondary
23	education, which will produce economic benefits for the state by
24	increasing the levels of higher educational attainment and
25	earning potential of Florida's citizenry.
26	(2) By December 31, 2004, each state university and
27	community college shall report to the President of the Senate
28	and the Speaker of the House of Representatives:
29	(a) The total amount of state funds appropriated directly
30	or indirectly to the institution and tuition and fee revenues
31	generated by Florida residents that was used to provide
32	financial assistance during the 2002-2003 academic year to
33	students holding F-1 or M-1 visas.
34	(b) The total amount of state funds appropriated directly
35	or indirectly to the institution and tuition and fee revenues
36	generated by Florida residents that was used to provide need-
37	based financial assistance during the 2002-2003 academic year to
38	students classified as residents for tuition purposes pursuant
39	to s. 1009.21, Florida Statutes.
40	(3) Effective for the 2005-2006 academic year and each
41	year thereafter:
42	(a) A public postsecondary educational institution shall
43	not use state funds appropriated directly or indirectly to the
44	institution or tuition or fee revenues generated by Florida
45	residents to provide financial assistance to any student holding
46	an F-1 or M-1 visa.
47	(b) The amount of funds reported pursuant to paragraph
48	(2)(a) shall be used by an institution to provide additional
49	need-based financial assistance to students classified as
50	residents for tuition purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21, Florida
51	Statutes. If the unmet need for Florida residents is fully
52	satisfied without reliance on loans, any remaining funds shall
53	be used to provide merit-based financial assistance to students
54	classified as residents for tuition purposes.
55	(4) Funds redirected pursuant to this section shall be
56	additional funds for need-based financial assistance for Florida
57	residents and shall not be used to reduce or supplant the level
58	of funding for need-based financial assistance for resident
59	students as reported pursuant to paragraph (2)(b).
60	(5) For purposes of this section, financial assistance
61	does not include compensation paid to students for
62	assistantships or participation in work-study programs.
63	(6) Each state university and community college shall
64	report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
65	House of Representatives by July 1, 2006, and annually
66	thereafter on the number of Florida residents benefiting from
67	the use of financial assistance provided from the funds
68	redirected pursuant to this section.
69	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.