Senate Bill sb0504
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Florida Senate - 2006 SB 504
By Senator Wise
5-402-06
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to financial assistance for
3 postsecondary students; creating s. 1009.892,
4 F.S.; creating the Florida Reimbursement Grant
5 Program to Provide Postsecondary
6 Psycho-Academic Testing to Students with
7 Disabilities; providing for rulemaking by the
8 State Board of Education; providing that the
9 Department of Education shall administer the
10 program; providing legislative intent;
11 providing eligibility requirements; prescribing
12 a limit on testing costs; providing that the
13 cost of psycho-academic testing is part of the
14 student's attendance cost; requiring a student
15 who applies for such a grant to apply for a
16 Pell Grant; providing that Pell Grant
17 entitlement must be considered in determining a
18 student's monetary need for a grant under this
19 section; requiring participating institutions
20 to report specified information to the
21 department; requiring that the amount of such
22 grants be specified in the General
23 Appropriations Act; providing procedures;
24 requiring participating institutions to return
25 undisbursed grant moneys to the department;
26 providing that the act be implemented only to
27 the extent that it is funded and authorized;
28 providing an effective date.
29
30 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Florida Senate - 2006 SB 504
5-402-06
1 Section 1. Section 1009.892, Florida Statutes, is
2 created to read:
3 1009.892 Florida Reimbursement Grant Program to
4 Provide Postsecondary Psycho-Academic Testing to Students with
5 Disabilities.--
6 (1) There is created the Florida Reimbursement Grant
7 Program to Provide Postsecondary Psycho-Academic Testing for
8 Students with Disabilities. The State Board of Education shall
9 adopt rules for administering the program, and the department
10 shall administer the program. It is the intent of the
11 Legislature that this program provide to eligible students
12 with disabilities reimbursement for postsecondary
13 psycho-academic testing conducted by postsecondary
14 institutions to assist in providing the appropriate
15 accommodations and services for students who have specified
16 learning and cognitive disabilities.
17 (2)(a) A grant may be made under this section only to
18 an eligible student with disabilities who:
19 1. Is enrolled in a degree, certificate, or diploma
20 program;
21 2. Is enrolled in at least 6 semester hours per term,
22 or the equivalent thereof, at a state university, community
23 college, or private postsecondary institution in this state
24 which requires documentation for accommodations for
25 disabilities;
26 3. Meets the general requirements for student
27 eligibility as provided in s. 1009.40, except as otherwise
28 provided in this section; and
29 4. Has a disability or disabilities as documented
30 under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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Florida Senate - 2006 SB 504
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1 (b) The grants shall be awarded annually for the cost
2 of placement testing required by participating institutions,
3 and the postsecondary institution shall determine the cost in
4 an amount not to exceed $1,000.
5 (c) Any required psycho-academic testing for students
6 with disabilities must be considered a part of the student's
7 cost of attendance. An eligible student with a disability who
8 applies for a Florida Reimbursement Grant to Provide
9 Postsecondary Psycho-Academic Testing for Students with
10 Disabilities must also apply for the Pell Grant. A student's
11 entitlement to a Pell Grant must be considered in determining
12 need when conducting an assessment of the financial resources
13 available to the student. The participating institution shall
14 defer the cost of required placement testing for eligible
15 students.
16 (3) Each participating institution shall report to the
17 department, by a date stipulated by the department, the number
18 of eligible students to whom grant moneys are disbursed each
19 academic term and the necessary demographic and eligibility
20 data concerning such students.
21 (4)(a) The amount that may be awarded for each grant
22 under this section must be specified in the General
23 Appropriations Act. The funds appropriated for such grants
24 must be transmitted to the president of an eligible
25 institution, or to his or her designated representative, in
26 advance of the registration period.
27 (b) A student's eligibility to receive a disbursement
28 under this section shall be determined by each institution as
29 of the end of its regular registration period, inclusive of a
30 drop-add period. The institution need not reevaluate a
31 student's eligibility status after that date for purposes of
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Florida Senate - 2006 SB 504
5-402-06
1 changing eligibility determinations previously made. The
2 institution in which an eligible student is enrolled shall
3 notify the student of the amount of his or her award.
4 (c) Each participating institution shall certify to
5 the department the amount of funds disbursed to each eligible
6 student under this section and shall remit to the department
7 any undisbursed advances or refunds within 60 days after the
8 end of regular registration.
9 (5) This section shall be implemented only to the
10 extent specifically funded and authorized by law.
11 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.
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14 SENATE SUMMARY
15 Creates the Florida Reimbursement Grant Program to
Provide Postsecondary Psycho-Academic Testing to Students
16 with Disabilities, which is to be administered by the
Department of Education. Provides for rulemaking by the
17 State Board of Education. Provides legislative intent.
Provides eligibility requirements. Prescribes a limit on
18 testing costs. Provides that the cost of testing is part
of the student's attendance cost. Requires a student who
19 applies for such a grant to apply for a Pell Grant.
Provides that Pell Grant entitlement must be considered
20 in determining a student's monetary need for a grant
under the act. Requires participating institutions to
21 report specified information to the department. Requires
that the amount of such grants be specified in the
22 General Appropriations Act. Provides procedures. Requires
participating institutions to return undisbursed grant
23 moneys to the department. Provides that the act be
implemented only to the extent that it is funded and
24 authorized.
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