Florida Senate - 2021                                      SB 86
       
       
        
       By Senator Baxley
       
       
       
       
       
       12-00821G-21                                            202186__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to student financial aid; amending s.
    3         1009.25, F.S.; making technical changes; amending s.
    4         1009.40, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made
    5         by the act; requiring that eligibility for state
    6         financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants be
    7         reevaluated each term and identify students’ program
    8         of study; providing additional eligibility criteria
    9         for financial aid awards and tuition assistance
   10         grants, beginning with a specified academic year;
   11         providing that eligibility for such funds is
   12         contingent on enrollment in certain career certificate
   13         or degree programs; providing that students who have
   14         not yet been admitted to such a program are eligible
   15         to receive certain funding; creating s. 1009.46, F.S.;
   16         providing the duties of postsecondary educational
   17         institutions with regard to financial aid and tuition
   18         assistance programs; specifying penalties for
   19         noncompliance; requiring the Board of Governors and
   20         the State Board of Education to each approve, by a
   21         specified date, a list of career certificate and
   22         undergraduate and graduate degree programs that they
   23         determine lead directly to employment; requiring that
   24         each list include specified information; requiring
   25         each list to include programs from independent
   26         colleges and universities; requiring that the lists be
   27         updated annually; amending s. 1009.50, F.S.; revising
   28         the formula for calculating how Florida Public Student
   29         Assistance Grant Program funds are distributed;
   30         deleting a provision authorizing Florida Public
   31         Student Assistance Grant Program funds to be deposited
   32         in the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund;
   33         deleting a provision requiring any balance in the
   34         trust fund which was allocated to the Florida Public
   35         Student Assistance Grant Program at the end of the
   36         fiscal year to remain therein; amending s. 1009.505,
   37         F.S.; deleting a provision authorizing Florida Public
   38         Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance
   39         Grant Program funds to be deposited in the trust fund;
   40         deleting a provision requiring any balance in the
   41         trust fund which was allocated to the Florida Public
   42         Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance
   43         Grant Program at the end of the fiscal year to remain
   44         therein; amending s. 1009.51, F.S.; revising the
   45         formula for calculating how Florida Private Student
   46         Assistance Grant Program funds are distributed;
   47         deleting a provision authorizing Florida Private
   48         Student Assistance Grant Program funds to be deposited
   49         in the trust fund; deleting a provision requiring any
   50         balance in the trust fund which was allocated to the
   51         Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program at
   52         the end of the fiscal year to remain therein; amending
   53         s. 1009.52, F.S.; revising the formula for how Florida
   54         Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program funds
   55         are distributed; deleting a provision authorizing
   56         Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program
   57         funds to be deposited in the trust fund; deleting a
   58         provision requiring any balance in the trust fund
   59         which was allocated to the Florida Postsecondary
   60         Student Assistance Grant Program at the end of the
   61         fiscal year to remain therein; amending s. 1009.53,
   62         F.S.; requiring the Department of Education to
   63         advertise the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
   64         Program to specified persons no later than September 1
   65         of each year; deleting a provision authorizing unused
   66         Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program funds to be
   67         carried forward; deleting a provision authorizing
   68         certain students to receive specified loans; amending
   69         s. 1009.532, F.S.; requiring, beginning with a
   70         specified academic year, that the maximum number of
   71         credit hours which can be awarded under the Florida
   72         Bright Futures Scholarship Program be reduced by the
   73         number of postsecondary credit hours the student has
   74         earned from certain articulated acceleration
   75         mechanisms; amending s. 1009.534, F.S.; revising and
   76         expanding eligibility requirements of the Florida
   77         Academic Scholars award; providing that a Florida
   78         Academic Scholar is eligible for an award equal to the
   79         amount specified in the General Appropriations Act;
   80         amending s. 1009.5341, F.S.; authorizing a Bright
   81         Futures Scholarship recipient to apply the unused
   82         portion of a Florida Academic Scholars award or
   83         Florida Medallion Scholars award toward graduate study
   84         for a specified academic year; authorizing a Bright
   85         Futures Scholarship recipient to apply the unused
   86         portion of a Florida Academic Scholars award or
   87         Florida Medallion Scholars award toward graduate study
   88         in a specified degree field, paid at the undergraduate
   89         rate, beginning with a specified academic year;
   90         amending s. 1009.535, F.S.; revising and expanding
   91         eligibility for Florida Medallion Scholars awards;
   92         providing that the amount of Florida Medallion
   93         Scholars’ awards is as specified in the General
   94         Appropriations Act; creating s. 1009.71, F.S.;
   95         establishing the Florida Bright Opportunities Grant
   96         Program; requiring the program to be administered by
   97         the participating institutions subject to state board
   98         rules; providing the purpose of the program;
   99         specifying eligibility requirements for the program;
  100         prohibiting institutions from imposing additional
  101         eligibility requirements on students; requiring the
  102         program to cover remaining tuition and fees for
  103         eligible students after the application of all other
  104         federal and state financial aid, with a stipend for
  105         books as specified in the General Appropriations Act;
  106         requiring program awards to be allocated on a first
  107         come, first-served basis; requiring returning students
  108         to receive priority over new students; providing the
  109         duration of the award; requiring funds to be
  110         distributed to eligible institutions based on a
  111         formula approved by the state board; requiring the
  112         formula to consider specified criteria; requiring
  113         grants to be transmitted to institutions in advance of
  114         the registration period; requiring institutions to
  115         notify students of award amounts; requiring
  116         institutions to determine the eligibility status of
  117         each student at a specified time; prohibiting
  118         institutions from being required to reevaluate student
  119         eligibility after the specified time; requiring
  120         institutions to report specified information to the
  121         department; requiring institutions to remit to the
  122         department any undisbursed advances within a specified
  123         timeframe; requiring the state board to adopt rules;
  124         creating s. 1009.711, F.S.; establishing the Florida
  125         Endeavor Scholarship Program; requiring the award to
  126         cover tuition and registration fees for eligible
  127         students at a Florida College System institution, a
  128         career center, or a charter technical career center;
  129         specifying eligibility for students without a high
  130         school credential; requiring enrollment in specified
  131         programs; requiring completion of specified clock
  132         hours and a minimum postsecondary grade point average;
  133         requiring program awards to be allocated on a first
  134         come, first-served basis; requiring returning students
  135         to be given priority over new students; providing the
  136         duration of the award; requiring funds to be
  137         distributed to eligible institutions based on a
  138         formula approved by the state board; requiring the
  139         formula to consider specified criteria; requiring
  140         grants to be transmitted to institutions in advance of
  141         the registration period; requiring institutions to
  142         notify students of award amounts; requiring
  143         institutions to determine the eligibility status of
  144         each student at a specified time; prohibiting
  145         institutions from being required to reevaluate student
  146         eligibility after the specified time; requiring
  147         institutions to report specified information to the
  148         department; requiring institutions to remit to the
  149         department any undisbursed advances within a specified
  150         timeframe; requiring the state board to adopt rules;
  151         amending s. 1009.893, F.S.; requiring a student who
  152         enrolls in a baccalaureate degree program in specified
  153         academic years to comply with certain requirements to
  154         attain a Benacquisto Scholarship; providing that the
  155         amount awarded under the program will be as specified
  156         in the General Appropriations Act; providing an
  157         effective date.
  158          
  159  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
  160  
  161         Section 1. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1) of
  162  section 1009.25, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  163         1009.25 Fee exemptions.—
  164         (1) The following students are exempt from the payment of
  165  tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that
  166  provides workforce education programs, Florida College System
  167  institution, or state university:
  168         (c) A student who is, or was at the time he or she reached
  169  18 years of age, in the custody of the Department of Children
  170  and Families or who, after spending at least 6 months in the
  171  custody of the department after reaching 16 years of age, was
  172  placed in a guardianship by the court. Such exemption includes
  173  fees associated with enrollment in applied academics for adult
  174  education instruction. The exemption remains valid until the
  175  student reaches 28 years of age.
  176         (d) A student who is, or was at the time he or she reached
  177  18 years of age, in the custody of a relative or nonrelative
  178  under s. 39.5085 or s. 39.6225 or who was adopted from the
  179  Department of Children and Families after May 5, 1997. Such
  180  exemption includes fees associated with enrollment in applied
  181  academics for adult education instruction. The exemption remains
  182  valid until the student reaches 28 years of age.
  183         Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
  184  1009.40, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (c) is
  185  added to that subsection, to read:
  186         1009.40 General requirements for student eligibility for
  187  state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants.—
  188         (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of students
  189  for state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants
  190  consist of the following:
  191         1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
  192  acceptance at a state university or Florida College System
  193  institution; a nursing diploma school approved by the Florida
  194  Board of Nursing; a Florida college or university which is
  195  accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the State
  196  Board of Education; a Florida institution the credits of which
  197  are acceptable for transfer to state universities; a career
  198  center; or a private career institution accredited by an
  199  accrediting agency recognized by the State Board of Education.
  200         2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
  201  preceding the award of aid or a tuition assistance grant for a
  202  program established pursuant to s. 1009.50, s. 1009.505, s.
  203  1009.51, s. 1009.52, s. 1009.53, s. 1009.60, s. 1009.62, s.
  204  1009.71, s. 1009.711, s. 1009.72, s. 1009.73, s. 1009.75, s.
  205  1009.77, s. 1009.89, or s. 1009.891, or s. 1009.894. Residency
  206  in this state must be for purposes other than to obtain an
  207  education. Resident status for purposes of receiving state
  208  financial aid awards shall be determined in the same manner as
  209  resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21.
  210         3. Submission of certification attesting to the accuracy,
  211  completeness, and correctness of information provided to
  212  demonstrate a student’s eligibility to receive state financial
  213  aid awards or tuition assistance grants. Falsification of such
  214  information shall result in the denial of a pending application
  215  and revocation of an award or grant currently held to the extent
  216  that no further payments shall be made. Additionally, students
  217  who knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
  218  financial aid awards or tuition assistance grants commit a
  219  misdemeanor of the second degree subject to the provisions of s.
  220  837.06 and shall be required to return all state financial aid
  221  awards or tuition assistance grants wrongfully obtained.
  222         (c)Eligibility for state financial aid awards and tuition
  223  assistance grants must be reevaluated each term based on the
  224  program of study to which the student has been admitted and in
  225  which he or she is enrolled. Beginning with the 2022-2023
  226  academic year and thereafter, eligibility for such awards and
  227  grants is contingent on the student’s enrollment in a career
  228  certificate or degree program on an approved list developed
  229  pursuant to s. 1009.46(2)(a).
  230         1.A student who has been admitted to such a program:
  231         a.Is eligible to receive an award for each term that he or
  232  she is enrolled in the program.
  233         b.Is ineligible to receive funding for each term that he
  234  or she is enrolled in a program that is not on an approved list.
  235         2.A student who has not yet been admitted to a program is
  236  eligible to receive funding for up to 60 credit hours or until
  237  he or she is enrolled in a program that is not on an approved
  238  list, whichever comes first.
  239         3.The program of study identified on an approved list
  240  shall apply to a student if the program to which the he or she
  241  is admitted is on an approved list at the time of admittance to
  242  the program or at the time he or she initially entered an
  243  eligible Florida postsecondary institution.
  244         Section 3. Section 1009.46, Florida Statutes, is created to
  245  read:
  246         1009.46 Duties of postsecondary educational institutions
  247  for state financial aid and tuition assistance programs.
  248         (1)(a)Each postsecondary educational institution that
  249  receives state funds for state financial aid and tuition
  250  assistance programs shall:
  251         1.Complete and return the annual application for state aid
  252  funds in the format and by the date established by the
  253  department;
  254         2.Maintain complete, accurate, and auditable student
  255  records documenting the institution’s administration of state
  256  financial aid and tuition assistance funds;
  257         3.Verify eligibility of enrolled students with the
  258  department each academic term;
  259         4.Verify eligibility of enrolled students by reporting the
  260  program of study to the department using the most recent
  261  classification instruction program taxonomy for the certificate
  262  or degree level as developed by the United States Department of
  263  Education’s National Center for Education Statistics;
  264         5.Disburse state financial aid and tuition assistance to
  265  eligible students;
  266         6.Notify students annually regarding the renewal
  267  requirements for each state-funded award for which they are
  268  eligible;
  269         7.Complete and return to the department in the format and
  270  by the date established by the department all reports for the
  271  administration of state funds;
  272         8.Complete and return to the department in the format and
  273  by the date established by the department all legislatively
  274  required reports;
  275         9.Retain required records for the later of 5 years or
  276  until such records are audited and any audit exceptions are
  277  resolved; and
  278         10.Refund to the department any undisbursed advances
  279  within 60 days after the end of the regular registration each
  280  fall and spring term, within 30 days after the end of the summer
  281  term, or within 60 days after the date that a student’s
  282  ineligibility is determined.
  283         (b)These requirements do not preclude higher standards
  284  specified in other sections of this part or rules of the state
  285  board.
  286         (c)An institution that fails to perform its duties in
  287  administering state financial aid or tuition assistance programs
  288  must be placed on probation by the department.
  289         1.The department shall provide allocations on a
  290  reimbursement basis to a participating institution that fails to
  291  timely remit undisbursed funds for the previous academic year.
  292         2.The department may suspend or revoke an institution’s
  293  eligibility to participate in state-funded programs if the
  294  institution fails to provide the required audits, fails to
  295  resolve audit findings, or fails to timely provide statutorily
  296  required reports by established deadlines.
  297         (2)(a)By December 31, 2021, the Board of Governors and the
  298  State Board of Education shall each approve a list of career
  299  certificate and undergraduate and graduate degree programs
  300  offered by a district career center, charter technical career
  301  center, Florida College System institution, or state university,
  302  as applicable, which lead directly to employment.
  303         (b)In determining which programs will be included on a
  304  list, the Board of Governors and the State Board of Education
  305  shall consider national, state, and regional industry demand for
  306  certificateholders and graduates of such degree programs. For
  307  each certificate and degree program listed, the Board of
  308  Governors and the State Board of Education must identify
  309  occupations, current job openings, estimates of job growth, and
  310  employment wages. Each approved list must also include
  311  appropriate certificate and degree programs offered by eligible
  312  independent colleges and universities.
  313         (c)Each approved list must be updated by each December 31.
  314         Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) and subsection
  315  (5) of section 1009.50, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  316         1009.50 Florida Public Student Assistance Grant Program;
  317  eligibility for grants.—
  318         (4)(a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Public
  319  Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to
  320  eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by
  321  the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least
  322  the prior year’s distribution of funds and, the number of
  323  eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the
  324  standardization of the expected family contribution, and
  325  provisions for unused funds. The formula must account for
  326  changes in the number of eligible students across all student
  327  assistance grant programs established pursuant to this section
  328  and ss. 1009.505, 1009.51, and 1009.52.
  329         (5)Funds appropriated by the Legislature for state student
  330  assistance grants may be deposited in the State Student
  331  Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and
  332  pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end
  333  of any fiscal year which has been allocated to the Florida
  334  Public Student Assistance Grant Program shall remain therein and
  335  shall be available for carrying out the purposes of this
  336  section.
  337         Section 5. Subsection (5) of section 1009.505, Florida
  338  Statutes, is amended to read:
  339         1009.505 Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education
  340  Student Assistance Grant Program.—
  341         (5) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for state student
  342  assistance grants may be deposited in the State Student
  343  Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and
  344  pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end
  345  of any fiscal year which has been allocated to the Florida
  346  Public Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant
  347  Program shall remain therein and shall be available for carrying
  348  out the purposes of this section.
  349         Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) and subsection
  350  (5) of section 1009.51, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  351         1009.51 Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program;
  352  eligibility for grants.—
  353         (4)(a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Private
  354  Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to
  355  eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by
  356  the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least
  357  the prior year’s distribution of funds and, the number of
  358  eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the
  359  standardization of the expected family contribution, and
  360  provisions for unused funds. The formula must account for
  361  changes in the number of eligible students across all student
  362  assistance grant programs established pursuant to this section
  363  and ss. 1009.50, 1009.505, and 1009.52.
  364         (5) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for Florida
  365  private student assistance grants may be deposited in the State
  366  Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding s.
  367  216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust
  368  fund at the end of any fiscal year which has been allocated to
  369  the Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program shall
  370  remain therein and shall be available for carrying out the
  371  purposes of this section and as otherwise provided by law.
  372         Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) and subsection
  373  (6) of section 1009.52, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  374         1009.52 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant
  375  Program; eligibility for grants.—
  376         (4)(a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Postsecondary
  377  Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to
  378  eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by
  379  the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least
  380  the prior year’s distribution of funds and, the number of
  381  eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the
  382  standardization of the expected family contribution, and
  383  provisions for unused funds. The formula must account for
  384  changes in the number of eligible students across all student
  385  assistance grant programs established pursuant to this section
  386  and ss. 1009.50, 1009.505, and 1009.51.
  387         (6) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for Florida
  388  postsecondary student assistance grants may be deposited in the
  389  State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding
  390  s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust
  391  fund at the end of any fiscal year which has been allocated to
  392  the Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program shall
  393  remain therein and shall be available for carrying out the
  394  purposes of this section and as otherwise provided by law.
  395         Section 8. Subsections (3), (4), and (7) of section
  396  1009.53, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  397         1009.53 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.—
  398         (3) The Department of Education shall administer the Bright
  399  Futures Scholarship Program according to rules and procedures
  400  established by the State Board of Education. A single
  401  application must be sufficient for a student to apply for any of
  402  the awards. The department shall advertise the availability of
  403  the scholarship program and shall notify students, teachers,
  404  parents, certified school counselors, and principals or other
  405  relevant school administrators of the criteria and application
  406  procedures. The department must begin this process of
  407  notification no later than September January 1 of each year.
  408         (4) Funding for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program must
  409  be allocated from the Education Enhancement Trust Fund and must
  410  be provided before allocations from that fund are calculated for
  411  disbursement to other educational entities.
  412         (a) If funds appropriated are not adequate to provide the
  413  maximum allowable award to each eligible applicant, awards in
  414  all components of the program must be prorated using the same
  415  percentage reduction.
  416         (b) Notwithstanding s. 216.301, if all funds allocated to
  417  the Bright Futures Scholarship Program are not used in any
  418  fiscal year, up to 10 percent of the total allocation may be
  419  carried forward and used for awards in the following year.
  420         (7) A student may receive only one type of award from the
  421  Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program at any given time,
  422  but may transfer from one type of award to another through the
  423  renewal application process, if the student’s eligibility status
  424  changes. However, a student is not eligible to transfer from a
  425  Florida Medallion Scholarship, a Florida Gold Seal CAPE
  426  Scholarship, or a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship to a
  427  Florida Academic Scholarship. A student who receives an award
  428  from the program may also receive a federal family education
  429  loan or a federal direct loan, and the value of the award must
  430  be considered in the certification or calculation of the
  431  student’s loan eligibility.
  432         Section 9. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (3) of
  433  section 1009.532, Florida Statutes, to read:
  434         1009.532 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
  435  student eligibility requirements for renewal awards.—
  436         (3) 
  437         (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), beginning with students
  438  initially funded in the 2022-2023 academic year, the maximum
  439  number of credit hours which can be awarded must be reduced by
  440  the number of postsecondary credit hours the student has earned
  441  from articulated acceleration mechanisms under s. 1007.27.
  442         Section 10. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1009.534,
  443  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  444         1009.534 Florida Academic Scholars award.—
  445         (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic Scholars
  446  award if he or she meets the general eligibility requirements
  447  for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and:
  448         (a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
  449  calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or its equivalent, in high
  450  school courses that are designated by the State Board of
  451  Education as college-preparatory academic courses and has
  452  attained at least the score required under s. 1009.531(6)(a) on
  453  the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
  454  Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
  455  Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
  456  or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
  457         (b) Has attended a home education program according to s.
  458  1002.41 during grades 11 and 12, has completed the International
  459  Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the International
  460  Baccalaureate Diploma, or has completed the Advanced
  461  International Certificate of Education curriculum but failed to
  462  earn the Advanced International Certificate of Education
  463  Diploma, and has attained at least the score required under s.
  464  1009.531(6)(a) on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of
  465  the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
  466  the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
  467  Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the ACT
  468  Assessment Program;
  469         (c) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma
  470  from the International Baccalaureate Office or an Advanced
  471  International Certificate of Education Diploma from the
  472  University of Cambridge International Examinations Office;
  473         (d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
  474  programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
  475  scholar or finalist; or
  476         (e) Has been granted academic honors by one or more of the
  477  College Board National Recognition Programs for students from
  478  underrepresented communities; or recognized by the National
  479  Hispanic Recognition Program as a scholar recipient
  480         (f) For a high school student who graduated in the 2021
  481  2022 academic year and thereafter:
  482         1. Has earned an associate degree with a minimum
  483  postsecondary cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0
  484  scale before graduating from high school; or
  485         2. Has earned a College Board Advanced Placement Capstone
  486  Diploma with scores of 4 or higher on six Advanced Placement
  487  examinations.
  488  
  489  The student must complete a program of volunteer service work,
  490  as approved by the district school board, the administrators of
  491  a nonpublic school, or the Department of Education for home
  492  education program students, which must include a minimum of 75
  493  hours of service work for high school students graduating in the
  494  2010-2011 academic year and 100 hours of service work for high
  495  school students graduating in the 2011-2012 academic year and
  496  thereafter. The student must identify a social or civic issue or
  497  a professional area that interests him or her, develop a plan
  498  for his or her personal involvement in addressing the issue or
  499  learning about the area, and, through papers or other
  500  presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her experience.
  501  Except for credit earned through service-learning courses
  502  adopted pursuant to s. 1003.497, the student may not receive
  503  remuneration or academic credit for the volunteer service work
  504  performed. Such work may include, but is not limited to, a
  505  business or governmental internship, work for a nonprofit
  506  community service organization, or activities on behalf of a
  507  candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer service must
  508  be documented in writing, and the document must be signed by the
  509  student, the student’s parent or guardian, and a representative
  510  of the organization for which the student performed the
  511  volunteer service work.
  512         (2) A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a
  513  certificate, diploma, associate, or baccalaureate degree program
  514  at a public or nonpublic postsecondary education institution is
  515  eligible for an award equal to the amount specified necessary to
  516  pay 100 percent of tuition and fees established under ss.
  517  1009.22(3), (5), (6), and (7); 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8), (10),
  518  and (11); and 1009.24(4), (7)-(13), (14)(r), and (16), as
  519  applicable, and is eligible for an additional stipend for
  520  textbooks, to assist with the payment of educational expenses as
  521  funds are specifically appropriated in the General
  522  Appropriations Act to assist with the payment of educational
  523  expenses.
  524         Section 11. Section 1009.5341, Florida Statutes, is amended
  525  to read:
  526         1009.5341 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship awards for
  527  graduate study.—
  528         (1) For the 2021-2022 academic year, Florida Bright Futures
  529  Scholarship recipients who graduate in the 2010-2011 academic
  530  year and thereafter with a baccalaureate degree in 7 semesters,
  531  or the equivalent or fewer hours, and wish to pursue graduate
  532  study may apply the unused portion of their Florida Academic
  533  Scholars award or Florida Medallion Scholars award toward 1
  534  semester of graduate study, not to exceed 15 semester hours paid
  535  at the undergraduate rate. A baccalaureate degree may include,
  536  but is not limited to, college credits earned through
  537  articulated acceleration mechanisms pursuant to s. 1007.27.
  538         (2) Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, a Bright
  539  Futures scholarship recipient may apply the unused portion of
  540  his or her Florida Academic Scholars award or Florida Medallion
  541  Scholars award toward graduate study in a degree field on an
  542  approved list developed pursuant to s. 1009.46(2)(a), which must
  543  be paid at the undergraduate rate.
  544         Section 12. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1009.535,
  545  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  546         1009.535 Florida Medallion Scholars award.—
  547         (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Medallion Scholars
  548  award if he or she meets the general eligibility requirements
  549  for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and:
  550         (a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0 as
  551  calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or the equivalent, in high
  552  school courses that are designated by the State Board of
  553  Education as college-preparatory academic courses and has
  554  attained at least the score required under s. 1009.531(6)(b) on
  555  the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
  556  Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
  557  Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
  558  or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
  559         (b) Has completed the International Baccalaureate
  560  curriculum but failed to earn the International Baccalaureate
  561  Diploma or has completed the Advanced International Certificate
  562  of Education curriculum but failed to earn the Advanced
  563  International Certificate of Education Diploma, and has attained
  564  at least the score required under s. 1009.531(6)(b) on the
  565  combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
  566  Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
  567  Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
  568  or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
  569         (c) Has attended a home education program according to s.
  570  1002.41 during grades 11 and 12 and has attained at least the
  571  score required under s. 1009.531(6)(b) on the combined verbal
  572  and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
  573  Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
  574  Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
  575  equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
  576         (d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement program
  577  of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a scholar or
  578  finalist but has not completed the program of volunteer service
  579  work required under s. 1009.534; or
  580         (e) Has been granted academic honors by one or more of the
  581  College Board National Recognition Programs for students from
  582  underrepresented communities recognized by the National Hispanic
  583  Recognition Program as a scholar, but has not completed the
  584  program of volunteer service work required under s. 1009.534; or
  585         (f) For a high school student who graduates in the 2021
  586  2022 academic year and thereafter:
  587         1.Has earned an associate degree with a minimum cumulative
  588  postsecondary grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale before
  589  graduating from high school; or
  590         2. Has earned an Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma with
  591  scores of 3 or higher on six Advanced Placement Examinations.
  592  
  593  A high school student graduating in the 2011-2012 academic year
  594  and thereafter must complete at least 75 hours of volunteer
  595  service work approved by the district school board, the
  596  administrators of a nonpublic school, or the Department of
  597  Education for home education program students. The student must
  598  identify a social or civic issue or a professional area that
  599  interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal
  600  involvement in addressing the issue or learning about the area,
  601  and, through papers or other presentations, evaluate and reflect
  602  upon his or her experience. Except for credit earned through
  603  service-learning courses adopted pursuant to s. 1003.497, the
  604  student may not receive remuneration or academic credit for
  605  volunteer service work performed. Such work may include, but is
  606  not limited to, a business or governmental internship, work for
  607  a nonprofit community service organization, or activities on
  608  behalf of a candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer
  609  service must be documented in writing, and the document must be
  610  signed by the student, the student’s parent or guardian, and a
  611  representative of the organization for which the student
  612  performed the volunteer service work.
  613         (2) A Florida Medallion Scholar who is enrolled in a
  614  certificate, diploma, associate, or baccalaureate degree program
  615  at a public or nonpublic postsecondary education institution is
  616  eligible, beginning in the fall 2018 semester, for an award
  617  equal to the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act
  618  necessary to pay 75 percent of tuition and fees established
  619  under ss. 1009.22(3), (5), (6), and (7); 1009.23(3), (4), (7),
  620  (8), (10), and (11); and 1009.24(4), (7)-(13), (14)(r), and
  621  (16), as applicable, to assist with the payment of educational
  622  expenses. Beginning in the fall 2021 semester, a Florida
  623  Medallion Scholar who is enrolled in an associate degree program
  624  at a Florida College System institution is eligible for an award
  625  equal to the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act
  626  necessary to pay 100 percent of tuition and fees established
  627  under s. 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11) to assist
  628  with the payment of educational expenses.
  629         Section 13. Section 1009.71, Florida Statutes, is created
  630  to read:
  631         1009.71 Florida Bright Opportunities Grant Program.—
  632         (1) ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.—The Florida Bright
  633  Opportunities Grant Program is established and shall be
  634  administered by the participating institutions in accordance
  635  with rules of the State Board of Education. The program shall
  636  provide an award equal to the amount necessary to cover tuition
  637  and registration fees, after applying all other federal and
  638  state financial aid, for eligible students at a Florida College
  639  System institution, a career center operated by a district
  640  school board under s. 1001.44, or a charter technical career
  641  center under s. 1002.34.
  642         (2)ELIGIBILITY.In order to be eligible for the program, a
  643  student must have a tuition and registration fee balance not
  644  covered by all federal financial and state financial aid, and:
  645         (a)Be enrolled as a student seeking a degree or career
  646  certificate, in an associate degree, technical certificate,
  647  applied technology diploma, or clock hour certificate program at
  648  a Florida College System institution, or a clock hour career
  649  certificate or diploma program at a district career center or
  650  charter technical career center. The students must be enrolled
  651  for at least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent per term, at a
  652  Florida College System institution, district career center, or
  653  charter technical career center;
  654         (b)Meet the requirements under s. 1009.40(1)(a)2. and 3.
  655  and (c); and
  656         (c)Qualify and remain eligible each academic year for the
  657  Pell Grant.
  658  
  659  An institution may not impose additional criteria to determine a
  660  student’s eligibility to receive a grant under this section.
  661         (3)GRANT AWARD.The program shall:
  662         (a)Cover remaining tuition and registration fees, with a
  663  stipend for books as specified in the General Appropriations
  664  Act, for eligible students after all other federal and state
  665  financial aid is applied to tuition and fees.
  666         (b)Be allocated, subject to the availability of funding,
  667  on a first-come, first-served basis. The award may not exceed
  668  the cost of tuition and fees at that institution, plus a stipend
  669  for books as determined in the General Appropriations Act.
  670  Returning students shall receive priority over new students.
  671         (4)AWARD DURATION.A student is eligible to receive an
  672  award for the number of semesters or quarters specified in s.
  673  1009.40(3).
  674         (5)DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.
  675         (a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Bright
  676  Opportunities Grant Program must be distributed to eligible
  677  institutions in accordance with a formula approved by the State
  678  Board of Education. The formula must consider at least the prior
  679  year’s distribution of funds and the number of eligible
  680  applicants who did not receive awards.
  681         (b) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, payment of
  682  grants must be transmitted to the institution in advance of the
  683  registration period. Institutions shall notify students of the
  684  amount of their awards.
  685         (c) The eligibility status of each student to receive a
  686  disbursement must be determined by each institution as of the
  687  end of its regular registration period, inclusive of a drop-add
  688  period. Institutions may not be required to reevaluate a
  689  student’s eligibility status after this date for purposes of
  690  changing eligibility determinations previously made.
  691         (d) Each participating institution shall report to the
  692  department by the established date the number of students
  693  eligible for the program for each academic term. Each
  694  institution also shall report to the department any necessary
  695  demographic and eligibility data for such students.
  696         (e) Institutions shall certify to the department within 30
  697  days after the end of regular registration each term the amount
  698  of funds disbursed to each student. Institutions shall remit to
  699  the department any undisbursed advances for the fall, spring,
  700  and summer terms within 30 days after the end of the summer
  701  term.
  702         (6) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
  703  to implement this section.
  704         Section 14. Section 1009.711, Florida Statutes, is created
  705  to read:
  706         1009.711Florida Endeavor Scholarship Program.—
  707         (1) ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.—The Florida Endeavor
  708  Scholarship Program is established and shall be administered by
  709  participating institutions in accordance with rules of the State
  710  Board of Education. The program shall provide an award equal to
  711  the amount necessary to cover tuition and registration fees for
  712  eligible students at a Florida College System institution, a
  713  career center operated by a district school board under s.
  714  1001.44, or a charter technical career center under s. 1002.34.
  715         (2)ELIGIBILITY.In order to be eligible for the program, a
  716  student may not have earned a high school credential prior to
  717  enrolling at the institution, and must:
  718         (a)Be enrolled in a career certificate or noncollege
  719  credit applied technology diploma program or in a General
  720  Education Program at a Florida College System institution, a
  721  district career center, or a charter technical career center;
  722         (b)Meet the requirements under s. 1009.40(1)(a)2. and 3.
  723  and (c);
  724         (c)Earn at least 225 clock hours; and
  725         (d)Earn a minimum 2.5 postsecondary grade point average.
  726  
  727  An institution may not impose additional criteria to determine a
  728  student’s eligibility to receive a grant under this section.
  729         (3)SCHOLARSHIP AWARD.A student is eligible to receive an
  730  award equal to the amount to cover tuition and registration fees
  731  for a career certificate or applied technology diploma program
  732  for the number of semesters or quarters specified in s.
  733  1009.40(3). The award may not exceed the cost of tuition and
  734  registration fees at that institution. The institution shall
  735  award scholarships subject to the availability of funding, on a
  736  first-come, first-served basis. Returning students must be given
  737  priority over new students.
  738         (4)DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.
  739         (a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Endeavor
  740  Scholarship Program must be distributed to eligible institutions
  741  in accordance with a formula approved by the State Board of
  742  Education. The formula must consider at least the prior year’s
  743  distribution of funds and the number of eligible applicants who
  744  did not receive awards.
  745         (b) Subject to the appropriation of funds by the
  746  Legislature, the department shall transmit payment of grants to
  747  the institution in advance of the registration period.
  748  Institutions shall notify students of the amount of their
  749  awards.
  750         (c) The eligibility status of each student to receive a
  751  disbursement must be determined by each institution as of the
  752  end of its regular registration period, inclusive of a drop-add
  753  period. Institutions may not be required to reevaluate a
  754  student’s eligibility status after this date for purposes of
  755  changing eligibility determinations previously made.
  756         (d) Each participating institution shall report to the
  757  department by the established date the number of students
  758  eligible for the program for each academic term. Each
  759  institution also shall report to the department any necessary
  760  demographic and eligibility data for such students.
  761         (e) Institutions shall certify to the department within 30
  762  days after the end of regular registration each term the amount
  763  of funds disbursed to each student. Institutions shall remit to
  764  the department any undisbursed advances for the fall, spring,
  765  and summer terms within 30 days after the end of the summer
  766  term.
  767         (5) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
  768  to implement this section.
  769         Section 15. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) and subsection
  770  (5) of section 1009.893, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  771         1009.893 Benacquisto Scholarship Program.—
  772         (4) In order to be eligible for an initial award under the
  773  scholarship program, a student must meet the requirements of
  774  paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).
  775         (b) A student who initially enrolls in a baccalaureate
  776  degree program in the 2018-2019 through 2021-2022 academic years
  777  year or later and who is not a resident of this state, as
  778  determined in s. 1009.40 and rules of the State Board of
  779  Education, must:
  780         1. Physically reside in this state on or near the campus of
  781  the postsecondary educational institution in which the student
  782  is enrolled;
  783         2. Earn a high school diploma from a school outside Florida
  784  which is comparable to a standard Florida high school diploma or
  785  its equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s.
  786  1003.4282, or s. 1003.435 or must complete a home education
  787  program in another state; and
  788         3. Be accepted by and enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate
  789  degree program at an eligible regionally accredited Florida
  790  public or independent postsecondary educational institution
  791  during the fall academic term following high school graduation.
  792         (5)(a)1. An eligible student who meets the requirements of
  793  paragraph (4)(a), who is a National Merit Scholar, and who
  794  attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution
  795  shall receive a scholarship award as specified in the General
  796  Appropriations Act equal to the institutional cost of attendance
  797  minus the sum of the student’s Florida Bright Futures
  798  Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship.
  799         2. An eligible student who meets the requirements of
  800  paragraph (4)(b), who is a National Merit Scholar, and who
  801  attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution
  802  shall receive a scholarship award as specified in the General
  803  Appropriations Act equal to the institutional cost of attendance
  804  for a resident of this state minus the student’s National Merit
  805  Scholarship. Such student is exempt from the payment of out-of
  806  state fees.
  807         (b) An eligible student who is a National Merit Scholar and
  808  who attends a Florida independent postsecondary educational
  809  institution shall receive a scholarship award as specified in
  810  the General Appropriations Act equal to the highest cost of
  811  attendance for a resident of this state enrolled at a Florida
  812  public university, as reported by the Board of Governors of the
  813  State University System, minus the sum of the student’s Florida
  814  Bright Futures Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship.
  815         Section 16. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.