Florida Senate - 2025                                     SB 338
       
       
        
       By Senator Arrington
       
       
       
       
       
       25-00605-25                                            2025338__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Florida Bright Futures
    3         Scholarship Program; amending s. 1009.53, F.S.;
    4         requiring public high schools to establish a Bright
    5         Futures Scholarship mentorship program for students;
    6         providing requirements for such program; authorizing
    7         such programs to connect students to certain mentors;
    8         providing an effective date.
    9  
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Subsection (12) is added to section 1009.53,
   13  Florida Statutes, to read:
   14         1009.53 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.—
   15         (12) Each public high school shall establish a Bright
   16  Futures Scholarship mentorship program for students enrolled in
   17  the school. The mentorship program:
   18         (a) Must provide students with access to a certified school
   19  counselor. The school counselor shall provide students with
   20  information about the eligibility requirements for each Florida
   21  Bright Futures Scholarship award and the awards for which the
   22  student is on track to be eligible for.
   23         (b) Must include a comprehensive outreach campaign through
   24  social media and the school’s website. The campaign may include
   25  the success stories of students who were awarded a scholarship
   26  through the program, application tips, and question and answer
   27  sessions for students and parents.
   28         (c) May connect students with mentors who have received an
   29  award through the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
   30         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.