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 1009.711 Florida 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.