Senate Bill sb1256
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Florida Senate - 2005 SB 1256
By Senator Wise
5-1044-05
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student financial
3 assistance; providing legislative intent;
4 creating the Florida Independent Collegiate
5 Assistance (FICA) Grant Program, for the
6 purpose of providing grants to certain students
7 who attend certain nonpublic institutions of
8 higher education and are enrolled in programs
9 leading to specified occupations; requiring the
10 Department of Education to administer the
11 program; providing for eligibility; defining
12 the term "eligible nonpublic institution of
13 higher education"; providing for rulemaking by
14 the State Board of Education; providing an
15 effective date.
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17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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19 Section 1. Florida Independent Collegiate Assistance
20 Grant Program; legislative intent; creation; administration;
21 eligibility; definitions; rulemaking.--
22 (1) INTENT.--The Legislature finds and declares that
23 residents of this state who seek higher education in the state
24 through nonpublic institutions licensed by the Commission for
25 Independent Education are an integral part of the higher
26 education system in this state. The Legislature finds that a
27 significant number of state residents choose to pursue higher
28 education at these institutions and that these institutions
29 and the students they educate and train make a substantial
30 contribution to the development of the state's economy. The
31 Legislature intends to create a grant program that is not
1
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Florida Senate - 2005 SB 1256
5-1044-05
1 based upon a student's financial need or other criteria upon
2 which most financial-aid programs are based, but to create a
3 tuition-assistance program for state residents.
4 (2) CREATION.--There is created the Florida
5 Independent Collegiate Assistance Grant Program, or FICA Grant
6 Program.
7 (3) ADMINISTRATION.--The Department of Education shall
8 administer the FICA Grant Program.
9 (4) ELIGIBILITY.--The Department of Education shall
10 issue an access grant under the FICA Grant Program to any
11 full-time student who:
12 (a) Meets the requirements for residency for student
13 eligibility as provided in section 1009.40(1)(a)2., Florida
14 Statutes, except as otherwise provided in this section;
15 (b) Is enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student
16 at an eligible nonpublic institution of higher education as
17 defined in this section and is seeking an associate's degree
18 or higher;
19 (c) Is making satisfactory academic progress as
20 defined by the nonpublic institution of higher education in
21 which the student is enrolled; and
22 (d) Is enrolled in an undergraduate degree program
23 that leads to employment in an occupation listed on the
24 Regional Targeted Occupations Lists of the Florida Workforce
25 Board at the time of the student's initial enrollment.
26 (5) DEFINITION.--As used in this section, the term
27 "eligible nonpublic institution of higher education" means an
28 institution:
29 (a) That is licensed by the Commission for Independent
30 Education under chapter 1005, Florida Statutes, and is
31 accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the
2
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Florida Senate - 2005 SB 1256
5-1044-05
1 United States Secretary of Education as a reliable authority
2 as to the quality of education or training offered at its
3 accredited institutions;
4 (b) That has established performance requirements for
5 student achievement which include minimum objective
6 quantitative standards, including, but not limited to,
7 completion rates and placement rates; and
8 (c) Whose students are ineligible to participate in
9 the Access to Better Learning and Education Grant Program
10 (ABLE) or the Florida Resident Access Grant Program (FRAG).
11 (6) RULEMAKING.--The State Board of Education shall
12 adopt rules to administer the Florida Independent Collegiate
13 Assistance Grant Program.
14 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.
15
16 *****************************************
17 SENATE SUMMARY
18 Creates the Florida Independent Collegiate Assistance
(FICA) Grant Program, for the purpose of providing grants
19 to certain students who attend nonpublic institutions of
higher education and are enrolled in programs leading to
20 occupations listed on the Regional Targeted Occupations
Lists of the Florida Workforce Board. Provides for the
21 Department of Education to administer the program.
Provides for eligibility. Defines the term "eligible
22 nonpublic institution of higher education." Provides for
rulemaking by the State Board of Education.
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