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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to requirements for high school graduation

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or the high school equivalency diploma; amending ss.

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1003.428 and 1003.435, F.S.; requiring that, as a

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prerequisite to graduating or receiving a high school

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equivalency diploma, a high school student or candidate

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for the equivalency diploma register or preregister to

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vote if qualified to do so; providing for certain

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exceptions to the requirement; providing an effective

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date.

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

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     Section 1.  Subsection (1) of section 1003.428, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     1003.428  General requirements for high school graduation;

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revised.--

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     (1)(a) Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to s.

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1003.429, beginning with students entering their first year of

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high school in the 2007-2008 school year, graduation requires the

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successful completion of a minimum of 24 credits, an

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International Baccalaureate curriculum, or an Advanced

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International Certificate of Education curriculum. Students must

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be advised of eligibility requirements for state scholarship

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programs and postsecondary admissions.

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     (b) Beginning with students entering their first year of

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high school in the 2008-2009 school year, graduation requires

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that a student register or preregister to vote pursuant to s.

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97.041 if the student qualifies to do so. However, upon written

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request by a student's parent or guardian, the student shall be

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excused from this requirement, or, if a student is 18 years of

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age or older or an emancipated minor, he or she shall be allowed

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to opt out of this requirement.

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     Section 2.  Subsection (2) of section 1003.435, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     1003.435  High school equivalency diploma program.--

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     (2)  The department may award high school equivalency

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diplomas to candidates who meet the performance standards

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prescribed by the State Board of Education. Each candidate for a

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high school equivalency diploma who qualifies to register or

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preregister to vote pursuant to s. 97.041 must do so. However,

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upon written request by the candidate's parent or guardian, the

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candidate shall be excused from this requirement, or, if the

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candidate is 18 years of age or older or an emancipated minor, he

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or she shall be allowed to opt out of this requirement.

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     Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.