HB 0021CS

CHAMBER ACTION




1The Education Appropriations Committee recommends the following:
2
3     Council/Committee Substitute
4     Remove the entire bill and insert:
5
A bill to be entitled
6An act relating to student financial assistance; providing
7legislative intent to expand access to postsecondary
8education and reduce student indebtedness; requiring each
9state university and community college to report
10information relating to certain funds used to provide
11financial assistance to certain students; prohibiting the
12use of such funds to provide financial assistance to
13specified foreign students; defining the term "eligible
14Florida resident"; providing for the redirection of funds
15to provide additional need-based financial assistance to
16eligible Florida residents; requiring a report by state
17universities and community colleges; providing an
18effective date.
19
20Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
21
22     Section 1.  (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature to use
23a portion of the state's limited resources to expand access to
24postsecondary education and to reduce student indebtedness by
25increasing need-based financial assistance for Florida
26residents. Expanding access and increasing financial assistance
27will encourage Florida residents to pursue postsecondary
28education, which will produce economic benefits for the state by
29increasing the levels of higher educational attainment and
30earning potential of Florida's citizenry.
31     (2)  By December 31, 2005, each state university and
32community college shall report to the President of the Senate
33and the Speaker of the House of Representatives:
34     (a)  The total amount of state funds appropriated directly
35or indirectly to the institution and tuition and fee revenues
36generated by Florida residents that was used to provide
37financial assistance during the 2003-2004 academic year to
38students holding F-1 or M-1 visas.
39     (b)  The total amount of state funds appropriated directly
40or indirectly to the institution and tuition and fee revenues
41generated by Florida residents that was used to provide need-
42based financial assistance during the 2003-2004 academic year to
43students classified as residents for tuition purposes pursuant
44to s. 1009.21, Florida Statutes.
45     (3)  Effective for the 2006-2007 academic year and each
46year thereafter:
47     (a)  A state university or community college shall not use
48state funds appropriated directly or indirectly to the
49institution or tuition or fee revenues generated by Florida
50residents to provide financial assistance to any student holding
51an F-1 or M-1 visa.
52     (b)  The amount of funds reported pursuant to paragraph
53(2)(a) shall be used by an institution to provide additional
54need-based financial assistance to eligible Florida residents.
55If the unmet need for eligible Florida residents is fully
56satisfied without reliance on loans, any remaining funds shall
57be used to provide merit-based financial assistance to eligible
58Florida residents.
59     (4)  For purposes of this section, "eligible Florida
60resident" means a student classified at the time of initial
61enrollment at a state university or community college as a
62resident for tuition purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21, Florida
63Statutes.
64     (5)  Funds redirected pursuant to this section shall be
65additional funds for need-based financial assistance for
66eligible Florida residents and shall not be used to reduce or
67supplant the level of funding for need-based financial
68assistance for such students.
69     (6)  For purposes of this section, financial assistance
70does not include compensation paid to students for
71assistantships or participation in work-study programs.
72     (7)  Each state university and community college shall
73report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
74House of Representatives by July 1, 2007, the number of Florida
75residents benefiting from the use of financial assistance
76provided from the funds redirected pursuant to this section.
77     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.


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