Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1268
By Senator Stewart
17-01405-24 20241268__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to financial support for pregnant
3 survivors of rape or incest; amending s. 1009.25,
4 F.S.; providing that certain low-income students who
5 are pregnant as a result of rape or incest and who
6 decide to carry the pregnancy to term are exempt from
7 paying specified postsecondary tuition and fees;
8 authorizing the State Board of Education and the Board
9 of Governors to adopt rules and regulations,
10 respectively; creating s. 1009.8963, F.S.;
11 establishing the Academic Success of Pregnant Students
12 Who Are Victims of Sexual Abuse Grant Program within
13 the Department of Education; providing the purpose of
14 the program; providing student eligibility
15 requirements; providing for program funding and the
16 disbursement of awards; authorizing the State Board of
17 Education to adopt rules; providing an effective date.
18
19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21 Section 1. Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (1) of
22 section 1009.25, Florida Statutes, to read:
23 1009.25 Fee exemptions.—
24 (1) The following students are exempt from the payment of
25 tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that
26 provides workforce education programs, Florida College System
27 institution, or state university:
28 (h) Beginning with a pregnant student who has a conception
29 date of January 1, 2025, or thereafter, a student who is
30 pregnant as a result of rape or incest, who decides to carry the
31 pregnancy to term, who provides a medical assessment or police
32 report which provides evidence that the student is a victim of
33 rape or incest, and whose household income level does not exceed
34 185 percent of the federal poverty level. The State Board of
35 Education may adopt rules and the Board of Governors may adopt
36 regulations regarding documentation and procedures to implement
37 this paragraph.
38 Section 2. Section 1009.8963, Florida Statutes, is created
39 to read:
40 1009.8963 The Academic Success of Pregnant Students Who Are
41 Victims of Sexual Abuse Grant Program.—There is established
42 within the Department of Education the Academic Success of
43 Pregnant Students Who Are Victims of Sexual Abuse Grant Program.
44 The purpose of the program is to provide funds for child care
45 for low-income students who are pregnant as a result of rape or
46 incest and who decide to carry the pregnancy to term.
47 (1) A student is eligible for the program if the student:
48 (a) Is pregnant as a result of rape or incest; has a
49 conception date of January 1, 2025, or thereafter; and decides
50 to carry the pregnancy to term.
51 (b) Provides a medical assessment or police report that
52 provides evidence that the student is a victim of rape or
53 incest.
54 (c) Has a household income level that does not exceed 185
55 percent of the federal poverty level.
56 (d) Is a Florida resident as described in s. 1009.40 and
57 rules of the State Board of Education.
58 (e) Is enrolled at a school district career center, charter
59 career technical center, Florida College System institution, or
60 state university.
61 (2)(a) Subject to legislative appropriation, the department
62 shall award grants to eligible students on a first-come, first
63 served basis.
64 (b) The amount of a grant award shall be the average cost
65 of a child care provider that holds a Gold Seal Quality Care
66 designation under s. 1002.945 for the county in which the
67 eligible student resides.
68 (c) The department shall disburse grant awards to eligible
69 students at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.
70 (3) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
71 implement this section.
72 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.