1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to postsecondary education funding; |
3 | amending s. 1009.21, F.S., relating to determination of |
4 | resident status for tuition purposes; revising |
5 | definitions; revising provisions relating to qualification |
6 | as a resident for tuition purposes; providing for |
7 | reclassification of status; providing duties of |
8 | institutions of higher education; amending s. 1009.24, |
9 | F.S.; revising maximum annual adjustments to out-of-state |
10 | fees or tuition for graduate programs at state |
11 | universities; amending s. 1009.53, F.S., relating to the |
12 | Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program; revising |
13 | provisions relating to a refund to the Department of |
14 | Education of funds received by a postsecondary educational |
15 | institution for certain courses; prohibiting the use of |
16 | funds for certain purposes; requiring the department and |
17 | institutions to notify students of certain information; |
18 | amending s. 1009.532, F.S., relating to the Florida Bright |
19 | Futures Scholarship Program; revising credit-hour |
20 | requirements for renewal of a scholarship; providing for |
21 | restoration of eligibility; requiring the department and |
22 | institutions to notify students of certain information; |
23 | amending s. 1009.55, F.S.; limiting eligibility for the |
24 | Rosewood Family Scholarship Program to direct descendants; |
25 | deleting obsolete language; amending ss. 1009.57, 1009.58, |
26 | 1009.59, and 1009.60, F.S.; revising provisions relating |
27 | to the Florida Teacher Scholarship and Forgivable Loan |
28 | Program, the Critical Teacher Shortage Tuition |
29 | Reimbursement Program, the Critical Teacher Shortage |
30 | Student Loan Forgiveness Program, and the Minority Teacher |
31 | Education Scholars Program; requiring that the amount of |
32 | awards under such programs be prorated based on available |
33 | appropriations and not exceed specified amounts; amending |
34 | s. 1009.605, F.S.; requiring the Florida Fund for Minority |
35 | Teachers, Inc., to submit a report on scholarship |
36 | recipients and remit undistributed funds to the Department |
37 | of Education; amending s. 1009.701, F.S.; requiring |
38 | applicants under the First Generation Matching Grant |
39 | Program to meet specified eligibility requirements; |
40 | amending s. 1009.94, F.S.; providing reporting |
41 | requirements for postsecondary institutions participating |
42 | in certain state student financial assistance programs; |
43 | amending s. 1009.98, F.S.; authorizing the Florida Prepaid |
44 | College Board to provide advance payment contracts based |
45 | on specific increments usable toward an associate or |
46 | baccalaureate degree; providing definitions; providing for |
47 | payments on behalf of qualified beneficiaries with |
48 | contracts purchased prior to July 1, 2009; providing for |
49 | increases in payments; providing an exemption from the |
50 | payment of certain fees; requiring evaluation of the |
51 | actuarial soundness of the Florida Prepaid College Trust |
52 | Fund; creating s. 1011.521, F.S.; authorizing |
53 | appropriations to private colleges and universities for |
54 | specified uses; providing reporting requirements and |
55 | restrictions on expenditures; repealing ss. 1009.76 and |
56 | 1009.765, F.S., relating to Ethics in Business |
57 | scholarships; amending s. 1009.40, F.S.; deleting a cross- |
58 | reference to conform; providing an exemption from |
59 | requirements relating to revenue bonds and debt for the |
60 | rental of space within a specified public health facility; |
61 | providing an effective date. |
62 |
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63 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
64 |
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65 | Section 1. Section 1009.21, Florida Statutes, is amended |
66 | to read: |
67 | 1009.21 Determination of resident status for tuition |
68 | purposes.--Students shall be classified as residents or |
69 | nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in community |
70 | colleges and state universities. |
71 | (1) As used in this section, the term: |
72 | (a) The term "Dependent child" means any person, whether |
73 | or not living with his or her parent, who is eligible to be |
74 | claimed by his or her parent as a dependent under the federal |
75 | income tax code. |
76 | (b) "Initial enrollment" means the first day of class at |
77 | an institution of higher education. |
78 | (c)(b) The term "Institution of higher education" means |
79 | any public community college as defined in s. 1000.21(3) or |
80 | state university as defined in s. 1000.21(6). |
81 | (d)(c) A "Legal resident" or "resident" means is a person |
82 | who has maintained his or her residence in this state for the |
83 | preceding year, has purchased a home which is occupied by him or |
84 | her as his or her residence, or has established a domicile in |
85 | this state pursuant to s. 222.17. |
86 | (e) "Nonresident for tuition purposes" means a person who |
87 | does not qualify for the in-state tuition rate. |
88 | (f)(d) The term "Parent" means the natural or adoptive |
89 | parent or legal guardian of a dependent child. |
90 | (g)(e) A "Resident for tuition purposes" means is a person |
91 | who qualifies as provided in subsection (2) for the in-state |
92 | tuition rate; a "nonresident for tuition purposes" is a person |
93 | who does not qualify for the in-state tuition rate. |
94 | (2)(a) To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes: |
95 | 1. A person or, if that person is a dependent child, his |
96 | or her parent or parents must have established legal residence |
97 | in this state and must have maintained legal residence in this |
98 | state for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to |
99 | his or her initial enrollment in an institution of higher |
100 | education qualification. Legal residence must be established by |
101 | written or electronic verification that includes two or more of |
102 | the following Florida documents that demonstrate clear and |
103 | convincing evidence of continuous residence in the state for at |
104 | least 12 consecutive months prior to the student's initial |
105 | enrollment in an institution of higher education: a voter |
106 | information card pursuant to s. 97.071; a driver's license; an |
107 | identification card issued by the state; a vehicle registration; |
108 | a declaration of domicile; proof of purchase of a permanent |
109 | home; proof of a homestead exemption in the state; a transcript |
110 | from a Florida high school; a Florida high school equivalency |
111 | diploma and transcript; proof of permanent full-time employment; |
112 | proof of 12 consecutive months of payment of utility bills; a |
113 | domicile lease and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; |
114 | or other official state or court documents evidencing legal ties |
115 | to the state. No single piece of evidence shall be conclusive. |
116 | 2. Every applicant for admission to an institution of |
117 | higher education shall be required to make a statement as to his |
118 | or her length of residence in the state and, further, shall |
119 | establish that his or her presence or, if the applicant is a |
120 | dependent child, the presence of his or her parent or parents in |
121 | the state currently is, and during the requisite 12-month |
122 | qualifying period was, for the purpose of maintaining a bona |
123 | fide domicile, rather than for the purpose of maintaining a mere |
124 | temporary residence or abode incident to enrollment in an |
125 | institution of higher education. |
126 | (b) However, with respect to a dependent child living with |
127 | an adult relative other than the child's parent, such child may |
128 | qualify as a resident for tuition purposes if the adult relative |
129 | is a legal resident who has maintained legal residence in this |
130 | state for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to |
131 | the child's initial enrollment in an institution of higher |
132 | education qualification, provided the child has resided |
133 | continuously with such relative for the 5 years immediately |
134 | prior to the child's initial enrollment in an institution of |
135 | higher education qualification, during which time the adult |
136 | relative has exercised day-to-day care, supervision, and control |
137 | of the child. |
138 | (c) The legal residence of a dependent child whose parents |
139 | are divorced, separated, or otherwise living apart will be |
140 | deemed to be this state if either parent is a legal resident of |
141 | this state, regardless of which parent is entitled to claim, and |
142 | does in fact claim, the minor as a dependent pursuant to federal |
143 | individual income tax provisions. |
144 | (d) A person who is classified as a nonresident for |
145 | tuition purposes may become eligible for reclassification as a |
146 | resident for tuition purposes if that person or, if that person |
147 | is a dependent child, his or her parent presents clear and |
148 | convincing evidence that supports permanent residency in this |
149 | state rather than temporary residency for the purpose of |
150 | pursuing an education, such as documentation of full-time |
151 | permanent employment for the prior 12 months or the purchase of |
152 | a home in this state and residence therein for the prior 12 |
153 | months while not enrolled in an institution of higher education. |
154 | If a person who is a dependent child and his or her parent move |
155 | to this state while such child is a high school student and the |
156 | child graduates from a high school in this state, the child may |
157 | become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition |
158 | purposes when the parent qualifies for permanent residency. |
159 | (3)(a) An individual shall not be classified as a resident |
160 | for tuition purposes and, thus, shall not be eligible to receive |
161 | the in-state tuition rate until he or she has provided such |
162 | evidence related to legal residence and its duration or, if that |
163 | individual is a dependent child, documentation of his or her |
164 | parent's legal residence and its duration, as well as |
165 | documentation confirming his or her status as a dependent child, |
166 | as may be required by law and by officials of the institution of |
167 | higher education from which he or she seeks the in-state tuition |
168 | rate. The documentation shall provide clear and convincing |
169 | evidence that residency in this state was for a minimum of 12 |
170 | consecutive months prior to the student's initial enrollment in |
171 | an institution of higher education. No single piece of evidence |
172 | shall be conclusive. |
173 | (b) Each institution of higher learning shall: |
174 | 1. Determine whether an applicant who has been granted |
175 | admission to that institution is a dependent child. |
176 | 2. Affirmatively determine that an applicant who has been |
177 | granted admission to that institution as a Florida resident |
178 | meets the residency requirements of this section at the time of |
179 | initial enrollment. |
180 | (4) With respect to a dependent child, the legal residence |
181 | of the dependent child's such individual's parent or parents is |
182 | prima facie evidence of the dependent child's individual's legal |
183 | residence, which evidence may be reinforced or rebutted, |
184 | relative to the age and general circumstances of the dependent |
185 | child individual, by the other evidence of legal residence |
186 | required of or presented by the dependent child individual. |
187 | However, the legal residence of a dependent child's an |
188 | individual whose parent or parents who are domiciled outside |
189 | this state is not prima facie evidence of the dependent child's |
190 | individual's legal residence if that dependent child individual |
191 | has lived in this state for 5 consecutive years prior to |
192 | enrolling or reregistering at the institution of higher |
193 | education at which resident status for tuition purposes is |
194 | sought. |
195 | (5) In making a domiciliary determination related to the |
196 | classification of a person as a resident or nonresident for |
197 | tuition purposes, the domicile of a married person, irrespective |
198 | of sex, shall be determined, as in the case of an unmarried |
199 | person, by reference to all relevant evidence of domiciliary |
200 | intent. For the purposes of this section: |
201 | (a) A person shall not be precluded from establishing or |
202 | maintaining legal residence in this state and subsequently |
203 | qualifying or continuing to qualify as a resident for tuition |
204 | purposes solely by reason of marriage to a person domiciled |
205 | outside this state, even when that person's spouse continues to |
206 | be domiciled outside of this state, provided such person |
207 | maintains his or her legal residence in this state. |
208 | (b) A person shall not be deemed to have established or |
209 | maintained a legal residence in this state and subsequently to |
210 | have qualified or continued to qualify as a resident for tuition |
211 | purposes solely by reason of marriage to a person domiciled in |
212 | this state. |
213 | (c) In determining the domicile of a married person, |
214 | irrespective of sex, the fact of the marriage and the place of |
215 | domicile of such person's spouse shall be deemed relevant |
216 | evidence to be considered in ascertaining domiciliary intent. |
217 | (6) Any nonresident person, irrespective of sex, who |
218 | marries a legal resident of this state or marries a person who |
219 | later becomes a legal resident may, upon becoming a legal |
220 | resident of this state, accede to the benefit of the spouse's |
221 | immediately precedent duration as a legal resident for purposes |
222 | of satisfying the 12-month durational requirement of this |
223 | section. |
224 | (7) A person shall not lose his or her resident status for |
225 | tuition purposes solely by reason of serving, or, if such person |
226 | is a dependent child, by reason of his or her parent's or |
227 | parents' serving, in the Armed Forces outside this state. |
228 | (8) A person who has been properly classified as a |
229 | resident for tuition purposes but who, while enrolled in an |
230 | institution of higher education in this state, loses his or her |
231 | resident tuition status because the person or, if he or she is a |
232 | dependent child, the person's parent or parents establish |
233 | domicile or legal residence elsewhere shall continue to enjoy |
234 | the in-state tuition rate for a statutory grace period, which |
235 | period shall be measured from the date on which the |
236 | circumstances arose that culminated in the loss of resident |
237 | tuition status and shall continue for 12 months. However, if the |
238 | 12-month grace period ends during a semester or academic term |
239 | for which such former resident is enrolled, such grace period |
240 | shall be extended to the end of that semester or academic term. |
241 | (9) Any person who ceases to be enrolled at or who |
242 | graduates from an institution of higher education while |
243 | classified as a resident for tuition purposes and who |
244 | subsequently abandons his or her domicile in this state shall be |
245 | permitted to reenroll at an institution of higher education in |
246 | this state as a resident for tuition purposes without the |
247 | necessity of meeting the 12-month durational requirement of this |
248 | section if that person has reestablished his or her domicile in |
249 | this state within 12 months of such abandonment and continuously |
250 | maintains the reestablished domicile during the period of |
251 | enrollment. The benefit of this subsection shall not be accorded |
252 | more than once to any one person. |
253 | (10) The following persons shall be classified as |
254 | residents for tuition purposes: |
255 | (a) Active duty members of the Armed Services of the |
256 | United States residing or stationed in this state, their |
257 | spouses, and dependent children, and active members of the |
258 | Florida National Guard who qualify under s. 250.10(7) and (8) |
259 | for the tuition assistance program. |
260 | (b) Active duty members of the Armed Services of the |
261 | United States and their spouses and dependents attending a |
262 | public community college or state university within 50 miles of |
263 | the military establishment where they are stationed, if such |
264 | military establishment is within a county contiguous to Florida. |
265 | (c) United States citizens living on the Isthmus of |
266 | Panama, who have completed 12 consecutive months of college work |
267 | at the Florida State University Panama Canal Branch, and their |
268 | spouses and dependent children. |
269 | (d) Full-time instructional and administrative personnel |
270 | employed by state public schools, community colleges, and |
271 | institutions of higher education, as defined in s. 1000.04, and |
272 | their spouses and dependent children. |
273 | (e) Students from Latin America and the Caribbean who |
274 | receive scholarships from the federal or state government. Any |
275 | student classified pursuant to this paragraph shall attend, on a |
276 | full-time basis, a Florida institution of higher education. |
277 | (f) Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common |
278 | Market graduate students attending Florida's state universities. |
279 | (g) Full-time employees of state agencies or political |
280 | subdivisions of the state when the student fees are paid by the |
281 | state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of job- |
282 | related law enforcement or corrections training. |
283 | (h) McKnight Doctoral Fellows and Finalists who are United |
284 | States citizens. |
285 | (i) United States citizens living outside the United |
286 | States who are teaching at a Department of Defense Dependent |
287 | School or in an American International School and who enroll in |
288 | a graduate level education program which leads to a Florida |
289 | teaching certificate. |
290 | (j) Active duty members of the Canadian military residing |
291 | or stationed in this state under the North American Air Defense |
292 | (NORAD) agreement, and their spouses and dependent children, |
293 | attending a community college or state university within 50 |
294 | miles of the military establishment where they are stationed. |
295 | (k) Active duty members of a foreign nation's military who |
296 | are serving as liaison officers and are residing or stationed in |
297 | this state, and their spouses and dependent children, attending |
298 | a community college or state university within 50 miles of the |
299 | military establishment where the foreign liaison officer is |
300 | stationed. |
301 | (11) The State Board of Education and the Board of |
302 | Governors shall adopt rules to implement this section. |
303 | Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section |
304 | 1009.24, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
305 | 1009.24 State university student fees.-- |
306 | (4) |
307 | (c) The Board of Governors, or the board's designee, may |
308 | establish tuition for graduate and professional programs, and |
309 | out-of-state fees for all programs. The sum of tuition and out- |
310 | of-state fees assessed to nonresident students must be |
311 | sufficient to offset the full instructional cost of serving such |
312 | students. However, adjustments to out-of-state fees or tuition |
313 | for graduate programs and pursuant to this section may not |
314 | exceed 10 percent in any year, and adjustments to out-of-state |
315 | fees or tuition for professional programs may not exceed 15 |
316 | percent in any year. |
317 | Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section |
318 | 1009.53, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (11) is |
319 | added to that section, to read: |
320 | 1009.53 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.-- |
321 | (5) The department shall issue awards from the scholarship |
322 | program annually. Annual awards may be for up to 45 semester |
323 | credit hours or the equivalent. Before the registration period |
324 | each semester, the department shall transmit payment for each |
325 | award to the president or director of the postsecondary |
326 | education institution, or his or her representative, except that |
327 | the department may withhold payment if the receiving institution |
328 | fails to report or to make refunds to the department as required |
329 | in this section. |
330 | (a) Within 30 days after the end of regular registration |
331 | each semester, the educational institution shall certify to the |
332 | department the eligibility status of each student who receives |
333 | an award. After the end of the drop and add period, an |
334 | institution is not required to reevaluate or revise a student's |
335 | eligibility status; however, an institution but must make a |
336 | refund to the department within 30 days after the end of the |
337 | semester of any funds received for courses dropped by students |
338 | after the end of the drop and add period or courses from which |
339 | students withdraw after the end of the drop and add period |
340 | unless a student has dropped or withdrawn from the course due to |
341 | a verifiable illness or other documented emergency if a student |
342 | who receives an award disbursement terminates enrollment for any |
343 | reason during an academic term and a refund is permitted by the |
344 | institution's refund policy. |
345 | (11) Funds for any scholarship within the Florida Bright |
346 | Futures Scholarship Program may not be used to pay for courses |
347 | dropped after the end of the drop and add period or courses from |
348 | which students withdraw after the end of the drop and add period |
349 | except as otherwise provided in this section. The department |
350 | shall notify eligible recipients of the provisions of this |
351 | subsection. Each institution shall notify award recipients of |
352 | the provisions of this subsection during the registration |
353 | process. |
354 | Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section |
355 | 1009.532, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
356 | 1009.532 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program; |
357 | student eligibility requirements for renewal awards.-- |
358 | (1) To be eligible to renew a scholarship from any of the |
359 | three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright Futures |
360 | Scholarship Program, a student must: |
361 | (a) Effective with students funded in the 2009-2010 |
362 | academic year and thereafter, earn complete at least 24 12 |
363 | semester credit hours or the equivalent in the last academic |
364 | year in which the student earned a scholarship if the student |
365 | was enrolled full time or earn a prorated number of credit hours |
366 | as determined by the Department of Education if the student was |
367 | enrolled less than full time for any part of the academic year. |
368 | If a student fails to earn the minimum number of hours required |
369 | to renew the scholarship, the student shall lose his or her |
370 | eligibility for renewal for a period equivalent to one academic |
371 | year. The student is eligible to restore the award the following |
372 | academic year if the student earns the hours for which the |
373 | student was enrolled at the level defined by the department and |
374 | meets the grade point average for renewal. A student is eligible |
375 | for such a restoration one time. The department shall notify |
376 | eligible recipients of the requirements of this paragraph. Each |
377 | institution shall notify award recipients of the requirements of |
378 | this paragraph during the registration process. |
379 | Section 5. Subsection (1) and paragraph (c) of subsection |
380 | (2) of section 1009.55, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
381 | 1009.55 Rosewood Family Scholarship Program.-- |
382 | (1) There is created a Rosewood Family Scholarship Program |
383 | for minority persons with preference given to the direct |
384 | descendants of the Rosewood families, not to exceed 25 |
385 | scholarships per year. Funds appropriated by the Legislature for |
386 | the program shall be deposited in the State Student Financial |
387 | Assistance Trust Fund. |
388 | (2) The Rosewood Family Scholarship Program shall be |
389 | administered by the Department of Education. The State Board of |
390 | Education shall adopt rules for administering this program which |
391 | shall at a minimum provide for the following: |
392 | (c) The department shall rank eligible initial applicants |
393 | for the purposes of awarding scholarships with preference being |
394 | given to the direct descendants of the Rosewood families. The |
395 | remaining applicants shall be ranked based on need as determined |
396 | by the Department of Education. |
397 | Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and paragraphs |
398 | (b) and (c) of subsection (3) of section 1009.57, Florida |
399 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
400 | 1009.57 Florida Teacher Scholarship and Forgivable Loan |
401 | Program.-- |
402 | (2) Within the Florida Teacher Scholarship and Forgivable |
403 | Loan Program shall be established the "Chappie" James Most |
404 | Promising Teacher Scholarship which shall be offered to a top |
405 | graduating senior from each public secondary school in the |
406 | state. An additional number of "Chappie" James Most Promising |
407 | Teacher Scholarship awards shall be offered annually to |
408 | graduating seniors from private secondary schools in the state |
409 | which are listed with the Department of Education and accredited |
410 | by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or any other |
411 | private statewide accrediting agency which makes public its |
412 | standards, procedures, and member schools. The private secondary |
413 | schools shall be in compliance with regulations of the Office |
414 | for Civil Rights. The number of awards to private secondary |
415 | school students shall be proportional to the number of awards |
416 | available to public secondary school students and shall be |
417 | calculated as the ratio of the number of private to public |
418 | secondary school seniors in the state multiplied by the number |
419 | of public secondary schools in the state. |
420 | (b) The amount of the scholarship shall be prorated based |
421 | on available appropriations and may not exceed is $1,500 per |
422 | year. The scholarship and may be renewed for 1 year if the |
423 | student earns a 2.5 cumulative grade point average and 12 credit |
424 | hours per term and meets the eligibility requirements for |
425 | renewal of the award. |
426 | (3) |
427 | (b) An undergraduate forgivable loan may be awarded for 2 |
428 | undergraduate years, not to exceed $4,000 per year, or for a |
429 | maximum of 3 years for programs requiring a fifth year of |
430 | instruction to obtain initial teaching certification. The amount |
431 | of the undergraduate forgivable loan shall be prorated based on |
432 | available appropriations and may not exceed $4,000 per year. |
433 | (c) A graduate forgivable loan may be awarded for 2 |
434 | graduate years. The amount of the graduate forgivable loan shall |
435 | be prorated based on available appropriations and may, not to |
436 | exceed $8,000 per year. In addition to meeting criteria |
437 | specified in paragraph (a), a loan recipient at the graduate |
438 | level shall: |
439 | 1. Hold a bachelor's degree from any college or university |
440 | accredited by a regional accrediting association as defined by |
441 | State Board of Education rule. |
442 | 2. Not already hold a teaching certificate resulting from |
443 | an undergraduate degree in education in an area of critical |
444 | teacher shortage as designated by the State Board of Education. |
445 | 3. Not have received an undergraduate forgivable loan as |
446 | provided for in paragraph (b). |
447 | Section 7. Subsection (3) of section 1009.58, Florida |
448 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
449 | 1009.58 Critical teacher shortage tuition reimbursement |
450 | program.-- |
451 | (3) Participants may receive tuition reimbursement |
452 | payments for up to 9 semester hours, or the equivalent in |
453 | quarter hours, per year. The amount of the reimbursement per |
454 | semester hour shall be prorated based on available |
455 | appropriations and may not, at a rate not to exceed $78 per |
456 | semester hour, up to a total of 36 semester hours. All tuition |
457 | reimbursements shall be contingent on passing an approved course |
458 | with a minimum grade of 3.0 or its equivalent. |
459 | Section 8. Subsection (2) of section 1009.59, Florida |
460 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
461 | 1009.59 Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan Forgiveness |
462 | Program.-- |
463 | (2) From the funds available, The Department of Education |
464 | may make loan principal repayments, which shall be prorated |
465 | based on available appropriations as follows: |
466 | (a) Up to $2,500 a year for up to 4 years on behalf of |
467 | selected graduates of state-approved undergraduate postsecondary |
468 | teacher preparation programs, persons certified to teach |
469 | pursuant to any applicable teacher certification requirements, |
470 | or selected teacher preparation graduates from any state |
471 | participating in the Interstate Agreement on the Qualification |
472 | of Educational Personnel. |
473 | (b) Up to $5,000 a year for up to 2 years on behalf of |
474 | selected graduates of state-approved graduate postsecondary |
475 | teacher preparation programs, persons with graduate degrees |
476 | certified to teach pursuant to any applicable teacher |
477 | certification requirements, or selected teacher preparation |
478 | graduates from any state participating in the Interstate |
479 | Agreement on the Qualification of Educational Personnel. |
480 | (c) All repayments shall be contingent on continued proof |
481 | of employment in the designated subject areas in this state and |
482 | shall be made directly to the holder of the loan. The state |
483 | shall not bear responsibility for the collection of any interest |
484 | charges or other remaining balance. In the event that designated |
485 | critical teacher shortage subject areas are changed by the State |
486 | Board of Education, a teacher shall continue to be eligible for |
487 | loan forgiveness as long as he or she continues to teach in the |
488 | subject area for which the original loan repayment was made and |
489 | otherwise meets all conditions of eligibility. |
490 | Section 9. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 1009.60, |
491 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
492 | 1009.60 Minority teacher education scholars |
493 | program.--There is created the minority teacher education |
494 | scholars program, which is a collaborative performance-based |
495 | scholarship program for African-American, Hispanic-American, |
496 | Asian-American, and Native American students. The participants |
497 | in the program include Florida's community colleges and its |
498 | public and private universities that have teacher education |
499 | programs. |
500 | (1) The minority teacher education scholars program shall |
501 | provide an annual scholarship in an amount that shall be |
502 | prorated based on available appropriations and may not exceed of |
503 | $4,000 for each approved minority teacher education scholar who |
504 | is enrolled in one of Florida's public or private universities |
505 | in the junior year and is admitted into a teacher education |
506 | program. |
507 | (3) The total amount appropriated annually for new |
508 | scholarships in the program must be divided by $4,000 and by the |
509 | number of participating colleges and universities. Each |
510 | participating institution has access to the same number of |
511 | scholarships and may award all of them to eligible minority |
512 | students. If a college or university does not award all of its |
513 | scholarships by the date set by the program administration at |
514 | the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., the remaining |
515 | scholarships must be transferred to another institution that has |
516 | eligible students. If the total amount appropriated for new |
517 | scholarships is insufficient to award $4,000 to each eligible |
518 | student, the amount of the scholarship shall be prorated based |
519 | on available appropriations. |
520 | Section 10. Subsection (2) of section 1009.605, Florida |
521 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
522 | 1009.605 Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc.-- |
523 | (2)(a) The corporation shall submit an annual budget |
524 | projection to the Department of Education to be included in the |
525 | annual legislative budget request. The projection must be based |
526 | on a 7-year plan that would be capable of awarding the following |
527 | schedule of scholarships: |
528 | 1.(a) In the initial year, 700 scholarships of $4,000 each |
529 | to scholars in the junior year of college. |
530 | 2.(b) In the second year, 350 scholarships to new scholars |
531 | in their junior year and 700 renewal scholarships to the rising |
532 | seniors. |
533 | 3.(c) In each succeeding year, 350 scholarships to new |
534 | scholars in the junior year and renewal scholarships to the 350 |
535 | rising seniors. |
536 | (b) The corporation shall report to the Department of |
537 | Education, by the date established by the department, the |
538 | eligible students to whom scholarship moneys are disbursed each |
539 | academic term and any other information requested by the |
540 | department in accordance with s. 1009.94. Within 60 days after |
541 | the end of each fiscal year, the corporation shall remit to the |
542 | department any appropriated funds that were not distributed for |
543 | scholarships, less the 5 percent for administration, including |
544 | administration of the required training program, authorized |
545 | pursuant to subsection (3). |
546 | Section 11. Paragraph (e) of subsection (5) of section |
547 | 1009.701, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
548 | 1009.701 First Generation Matching Grant Program.-- |
549 | (5) In order to be eligible to receive a grant pursuant to |
550 | this section, an applicant must: |
551 | (e) Have met the eligibility requirements in s. 1009.50 |
552 | for demonstrated financial need for the Florida Public Student |
553 | Assistance Grant Program by completing the Free Application for |
554 | Federal Student Aid. |
555 | Section 12. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 1009.94, |
556 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
557 | 1009.94 Student financial assistance database.-- |
558 | (2) For purposes of this section, financial assistance |
559 | includes: |
560 | (a) For all students, any scholarship, grant, loan, fee |
561 | waiver, tuition assistance payment, or other form of |
562 | compensation provided from state or federal funds. |
563 | (b) For students attending public institutions, any |
564 | scholarship, grant, loan, fee waiver, tuition assistance |
565 | payment, or other form of compensation supported by |
566 | institutional funds. |
567 | (c) Any financial assistance provided under s. 1009.50, s. |
568 | 1009.505, s. 1009.51, s. 1009.52, s. 1009.53, s. 1009.54, s. |
569 | 1009.55, s. 1009.56, s. 1009.57, s. 1009.60, s. 1009.62, s. |
570 | 1009.63, s. 1009.68, s. 1009.70, s. 1009.701, s. 1009.72, s. |
571 | 1009.73, s. 1009.74, s. 1009.77, s. 1009.89, or s. 1009.891. |
572 | (3) The database must include records on any student |
573 | receiving any form of financial assistance as described in |
574 | subsection (2). Each institution Institutions participating in |
575 | any state financial assistance program under paragraph (2)(c) |
576 | shall annually report submit such information to the Department |
577 | of Education, by the date and in a format prescribed by the |
578 | department and consistent with the provisions of s. 1002.22, the |
579 | eligible students to whom financial assistance is disbursed each |
580 | academic term, the eligibility requirements for recipients, and |
581 | the aggregate demographics of recipients. |
582 | Section 13. Paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (2) |
583 | of section 1009.98, Florida Statutes, are amended, and |
584 | subsection (10) is added to that section, to read: |
585 | 1009.98 Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program.-- |
586 | (2) PREPAID COLLEGE PLANS.--At a minimum, the board shall |
587 | make advance payment contracts available for two independent |
588 | plans to be known as the community college plan and the |
589 | university plan. The board may also make advance payment |
590 | contracts available for a dormitory residence plan. The board |
591 | may restrict the number of participants in the community college |
592 | plan, university plan, and dormitory residence plan, |
593 | respectively. However, any person denied participation solely on |
594 | the basis of such restriction shall be granted priority for |
595 | participation during the succeeding year. |
596 | (a)1. Through the community college plan, the advance |
597 | payment contract may shall provide prepaid registration fees for |
598 | a specified number of undergraduate semester credit hours not to |
599 | exceed the average number of hours required for the conference |
600 | of an associate degree. Qualified beneficiaries shall bear the |
601 | cost of any laboratory fees associated with enrollment in |
602 | specific courses. Each qualified beneficiary shall be classified |
603 | as a resident for tuition purposes, pursuant to s. 1009.21, |
604 | regardless of his or her actual legal residence. |
605 | 2. Effective July 1, 1998, the board may provide advance |
606 | payment contracts for additional fees delineated in s. 1009.23, |
607 | not to exceed the average number of hours required for the |
608 | conference of an associate degree, in conjunction with advance |
609 | payment contracts for registration fees. Community college plan |
610 | contracts purchased prior to July 1, 1998, shall be limited to |
611 | the payment of registration fees as defined in s. 1009.97. |
612 | 3. Effective July 1, 2009, the board may provide an |
613 | advance payment contract for the community college plan covering |
614 | prepaid registration fees and the additional fees delineated in |
615 | s. 1009.23. Such a contract may be offered in specific |
616 | increments usable toward an associate degree. The total number |
617 | of hours purchased for a qualified beneficiary may not exceed |
618 | the average number of hours required for the conference of an |
619 | associate degree. |
620 | (b)1. Through the university plan, the advance payment |
621 | contract may shall provide prepaid registration fees for a |
622 | specified number of undergraduate semester credit hours not to |
623 | exceed the average number of hours required for the conference |
624 | of a baccalaureate degree. Qualified beneficiaries shall bear |
625 | the cost of any laboratory fees associated with enrollment in |
626 | specific courses. Each qualified beneficiary shall be classified |
627 | as a resident for tuition purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21, |
628 | regardless of his or her actual legal residence. |
629 | 2. Effective July 1, 1998, the board may provide advance |
630 | payment contracts for additional fees delineated in s. |
631 | 1009.24(9)-(12), for a specified number of undergraduate |
632 | semester credit hours not to exceed the average number of hours |
633 | required for the conference of a baccalaureate degree, in |
634 | conjunction with advance payment contracts for registration |
635 | fees. Such contracts shall provide prepaid coverage for the sum |
636 | of such fees, to a maximum of 45 percent of the cost of |
637 | registration fees. University plan contracts purchased prior to |
638 | July 1, 1998, shall be limited to the payment of registration |
639 | fees as defined in s. 1009.97. |
640 | 3. Effective July 1, 2007, the board may provide advance |
641 | payment contracts for the tuition differential authorized in s. |
642 | 1009.24(16) for a specified number of undergraduate semester |
643 | credit hours, which may not exceed the average number of hours |
644 | required for the conference of a baccalaureate degree, in |
645 | conjunction with advance payment contracts for registration |
646 | fees. |
647 | 4. Effective July 1, 2009, the board may provide an |
648 | advance payment contract for the university plan covering |
649 | prepaid registration fees, the additional fees delineated in s. |
650 | 1009.24(9)-(12), and the tuition differential authorized in s. |
651 | 1009.24(16). Such a contract may be offered in specific |
652 | increments usable toward a baccalaureate degree. The total |
653 | number of hours purchased for a qualified beneficiary may not |
654 | exceed the average number of hours required for the conference |
655 | of a baccalaureate degree. |
656 | (c) The cost of participation in contracts authorized |
657 | under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) shall be based primarily on |
658 | the current and projected registration fees within the Florida |
659 | Community College System or the State University System, |
660 | respectively, that are included in the plan, the number of |
661 | credit hours or semesters included in the plan, and the number |
662 | of years expected to elapse between the purchase of the plan on |
663 | behalf of a qualified beneficiary and the exercise of the |
664 | benefits provided in the plan by such beneficiary. |
665 | (10) PAYMENTS ON BEHALF OF QUALIFIED BENEFICIARIES.-- |
666 | (a) For the purposes of this subsection: |
667 | 1. "Actuarial reserve" means the amount by which the |
668 | expected value of the assets of the trust fund exceed the |
669 | expected value of the liabilities of the trust fund. |
670 | 2. "Fiscal year" means the state fiscal year pursuant to |
671 | s. 215.01. |
672 | 3. "Local fees" means the fees covered by an advance |
673 | payment contract provided pursuant to subparagraph (2)(b)2. |
674 | 4. "Tuition differential" means the fee covered by an |
675 | advance payment contract provided pursuant to subparagraph |
676 | (2)(b)3. The base rate for the tuition differential for fiscal |
677 | year 2012-2013 is established at $37.03 per credit hour. The |
678 | base rate for the tuition differential in subsequent years is |
679 | the amount paid by the board for the tuition differential for |
680 | the preceding year adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (b)2. |
681 | (b) Effective with the 2009-2010 academic year and each |
682 | academic year thereafter and notwithstanding s. 1009.24, the |
683 | amount paid by the board to any state university on behalf of a |
684 | qualified beneficiary of an advance payment contract whose |
685 | contract was purchased prior to July 1, 2009, shall be as |
686 | follows: |
687 | 1. As to registration fees, if the actuarial reserve is |
688 | less than 5 percent of the expected value of the liabilities of |
689 | the trust fund, the board shall pay the state universities 5.5 |
690 | percent above the amount assessed for registration fees in the |
691 | preceding fiscal year. If the actuarial reserve is between 5 |
692 | percent and 6 percent of the expected value of the liabilities |
693 | of the trust fund, the board shall pay the state universities 6 |
694 | percent above the amount assessed for registration fees in the |
695 | preceding fiscal year. If the actuarial reserve is between 6 |
696 | percent and 7.5 percent of the expected value of the liabilities |
697 | of the trust fund, the board shall pay the state universities |
698 | 6.5 percent above the amount assessed for registration fees in |
699 | the preceding fiscal year. If the actuarial reserve is equal to |
700 | or greater than 7.5 percent of the expected liabilities of the |
701 | trust fund, the board shall pay the state universities 7 percent |
702 | above the amount assessed for registration fees in the preceding |
703 | fiscal year. |
704 | 2. As to the tuition differential, if the actuarial |
705 | reserve is less than 5 percent of the expected value of the |
706 | liabilities of the trust fund, the board shall pay the state |
707 | universities 5.5 percent above the base rate for the tuition |
708 | differential in the preceding fiscal year. If the actuarial |
709 | reserve is between 5 percent and 6 percent of the expected value |
710 | of the liabilities of the trust fund, the board shall pay the |
711 | state universities 6 percent above the base rate for the tuition |
712 | differential in the preceding fiscal year. If the actuarial |
713 | reserve is between 6 percent and 7.5 percent of the expected |
714 | value of the liabilities of the trust fund, the board shall pay |
715 | the state universities 6.5 percent above the base rate for the |
716 | tuition differential in the preceding fiscal year. If the |
717 | actuarial reserve is equal to or greater than 7.5 percent of the |
718 | expected value of the liabilities of the trust fund, the board |
719 | shall pay the state universities 7 percent above the base rate |
720 | for the tuition differential in the preceding fiscal year. |
721 | Qualified beneficiaries of advance payment contracts purchased |
722 | prior to or on July 1, 2007, shall be exempt from paying the |
723 | tuition differential. |
724 | 3. As to local fees, the board shall pay the state |
725 | universities 5 percent above the amount assessed for local fees |
726 | in the preceding fiscal year. |
727 | (c) The board shall pay state universities the actual |
728 | amount assessed in accordance with law for registration fees and |
729 | the tuition differential for advance payment contracts purchased |
730 | on or after July 1, 2009. |
731 | (d) The board shall annually evaluate or cause to be |
732 | evaluated the actuarial soundness of the trust fund. |
733 | Section 14. Section 1011.521, Florida Statutes, is created |
734 | to read: |
735 | 1011.521 Appropriation to private colleges and |
736 | universities.-- |
737 | (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the |
738 | Legislature may provide an annual appropriation to support |
739 | Florida private colleges and universities. Such appropriations |
740 | may be used to provide access to Florida residents seeking a |
741 | postsecondary education, to fulfill the state's need for |
742 | graduates in specific disciplines, and to support medical |
743 | research. |
744 | (2) Each institution receiving an appropriation under this |
745 | section shall submit a proposed expenditure plan to the |
746 | Department of Education by the date and in the format |
747 | established by the department. |
748 | (3) By September 1 of each fiscal year, each institution |
749 | receiving an appropriation under this section shall submit a |
750 | report to the Department of Education detailing expenditures of |
751 | the funds received under this section in the preceding fiscal |
752 | year. Any funds used to provide financial assistance to students |
753 | shall be reported to the department in accordance with s. |
754 | 1009.94. |
755 | (4) An institution may not expend any of the funds |
756 | received under this section for the construction of any |
757 | buildings. |
758 | Section 15. Sections 1009.76 and 1009.765, Florida |
759 | Statutes, are repealed. |
760 | Section 16. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section |
761 | 1009.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
762 | 1009.40 General requirements for student eligibility for |
763 | state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants.-- |
764 | (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of |
765 | students for state financial aid awards and tuition assistance |
766 | grants consist of the following: |
767 | 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and |
768 | acceptance at a state university or community college; a nursing |
769 | diploma school approved by the Florida Board of Nursing; a |
770 | Florida college, university, or community college which is |
771 | accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the State |
772 | Board of Education; any Florida institution the credits of which |
773 | are acceptable for transfer to state universities; any career |
774 | center; or any private career institution accredited by an |
775 | accrediting agency recognized by the State Board of Education. |
776 | 2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year |
777 | preceding the award of aid or a tuition assistance grant for a |
778 | program established pursuant to s. 1009.50, s. 1009.505, s. |
779 | 1009.51, s. 1009.52, s. 1009.53, s. 1009.54, s. 1009.56, s. |
780 | 1009.57, s. 1009.60, s. 1009.62, s. 1009.63, s. 1009.68, s. |
781 | 1009.72, s. 1009.73, s. 1009.76, s. 1009.77, s. 1009.89, or s. |
782 | 1009.891. Residency in this state must be for purposes other |
783 | than to obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of |
784 | receiving state financial aid awards shall be determined in the |
785 | same manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to |
786 | s. 1009.21. |
787 | 3. Submission of certification attesting to the accuracy, |
788 | completeness, and correctness of information provided to |
789 | demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive state financial |
790 | aid awards or tuition assistance grants. Falsification of such |
791 | information shall result in the denial of any pending |
792 | application and revocation of any award or grant currently held |
793 | to the extent that no further payments shall be made. |
794 | Additionally, students who knowingly make false statements in |
795 | order to receive state financial aid awards or tuition |
796 | assistance grants commit a misdemeanor of the second degree |
797 | subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall be required to |
798 | return all state financial aid awards or tuition assistance |
799 | grants wrongfully obtained. |
800 | Section 17. Notwithstanding s. 1010.62, Florida Statutes, |
801 | revenue bonds may be secured by or made payable from lease |
802 | payments from the Miami-Dade County Health Department of the |
803 | Department of Health to Florida International University for |
804 | rental of space within Florida International University's public |
805 | health facility. The Legislature finds that such action is |
806 | consistent with the mission of the university. The financial |
807 | structure of any debt used to fund the public health facility |
808 | must be in conformity with the debt management guidelines of the |
809 | Board of Governors of the State University System and must be |
810 | approved by the Board of Governors pursuant to s. 1010.62, |
811 | Florida Statutes. |
812 | Section 18. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009. |