Florida Senate - 2015                                    SB 1140
       
       
        
       By Senator Montford
       
       
       
       
       
       3-00824-15                                            20151140__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Bright Futures Scholarship
    3         Program; amending s. 1009.531, F.S.; providing that
    4         the initial award and renewal period for students who
    5         are unable to accept an initial award immediately
    6         after completion of high school due to a full-time
    7         religious or service obligation begins upon the
    8         completion of the religious or service obligation;
    9         requiring verification from the entity for which the
   10         student completed such obligation; providing an
   11         effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
   16  1009.531, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   17         1009.531 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
   18  student eligibility requirements for initial awards.—
   19         (2)
   20         (c) A student graduating from high school in the 2012-2013
   21  academic year and thereafter is eligible to accept an initial
   22  award for 2 years following high school graduation and to accept
   23  a renewal award for 5 years following high school graduation. A
   24  student who applies for an award by high school graduation and
   25  who meets all other eligibility requirements, but who does not
   26  accept his or her award, may reapply during subsequent
   27  application periods up to 2 years after high school graduation.
   28  For a student who enlists in the United States Armed Forces
   29  immediately after completion of high school, the 2-year
   30  eligibility period for his or her initial award and the 5-year
   31  renewal period shall begin upon the date of separation from
   32  active duty. For a student who is receiving a Florida Bright
   33  Futures Scholarship award and discontinues his or her education
   34  to enlist in the United States Armed Forces, the remainder of
   35  his or her 5-year renewal period shall commence upon the date of
   36  separation from active duty. For a student who is unable to
   37  accept an initial award immediately after completion of high
   38  school due to a full-time religious or service obligation
   39  lasting at least 18 months, the 2-year eligibility period for
   40  his or her initial award and the 5-year renewal period begin
   41  upon the completion of his or her religious or service
   42  obligation. The full-time religious or service obligation must
   43  be documented in writing and verified by the entity for which
   44  the student completed such obligation. If a course of study is
   45  not completed after 5 academic years, an exception of 1 year to
   46  the renewal timeframe may be granted due to a verifiable illness
   47  or other documented emergency pursuant to s. 1009.40(1)(b)4.
   48         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.