Bill Amendment: FL S0086 | 2021 | Regular Session
NOTE: For additional amemendments please see the Bill Drafting List
Bill Title: Student Financial Aid
Status: 2021-04-30 - Died in Messages; companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 1261 (Ch. 2021-232), CS/CS/SB 52 (Ch. 2021-160) [S0086 Detail]
Download: Florida-2021-S0086-Senate_Committee_Amendment_594362.html
Bill Title: Student Financial Aid
Status: 2021-04-30 - Died in Messages; companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 1261 (Ch. 2021-232), CS/CS/SB 52 (Ch. 2021-160) [S0086 Detail]
Download: Florida-2021-S0086-Senate_Committee_Amendment_594362.html
Florida Senate - 2021 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 86
Ì594362.Î594362
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
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The Committee on Education (Baxley) recommended the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Section 1006.75, Florida Statutes, is created to
6 read:
7 1006.75 State university career planning and information.—
8 (1) To assist students and families in making better
9 informed decisions about educational options and future
10 employment opportunities, the Board of Governors of the State
11 University System shall publicly publish an online dashboard.
12 The dashboard must present data, by academic discipline, of
13 graduates of state universities, including at least the
14 following information:
15 (a) Post-graduation median salary 1, 5, and 10 years after
16 graduation;
17 (b) Median student loan debt;
18 (c) Debt-to-income ratio;
19 (d) Estimated monthly loan payment as a percentage of gross
20 monthly income; and
21 (e) The percentage of graduates who have continued their
22 education beyond the baccalaureate level.
23 (2) The online dashboard must be available by January 1,
24 2022. A link to the dashboard shall be prominently displayed on
25 each state university’s office of admissions website.
26 (3)(a) Each state university board of trustees shall adopt
27 procedures to connect undergraduate students to career planning,
28 coaching, and related programs during the first academic year of
29 the student’s enrollment. Such procedures must be approved by
30 the Board of Governors and include placing a hold on student
31 registration before the end of the first year of each student’s
32 enrollment. To lift the hold and register for classes, each
33 student shall:
34 1. Register with the university’s career center;
35 2. Complete a career readiness training module provided by
36 the career center; and
37 3. Be directed to the dashboard established in subsection
38 (1).
39 (b) The Board of Governors of the State University System
40 shall review and approve each university’s procedures by March
41 1, 2022.
42 Section 2. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1) of
43 section 1009.25, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
44 1009.25 Fee exemptions.—
45 (1) The following students are exempt from the payment of
46 tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that
47 provides workforce education programs, Florida College System
48 institution, or state university:
49 (c) A student who is, or was at the time he or she reached
50 18 years of age, in the custody of the Department of Children
51 and Families or who, after spending at least 6 months in the
52 custody of the department after reaching 16 years of age, was
53 placed in a guardianship by the court. Such exemption includes
54 fees associated with enrollment in applied academics for adult
55 education instruction. The exemption remains valid until the
56 student reaches 28 years of age.
57 (d) A student who is, or was at the time he or she reached
58 18 years of age, in the custody of a relative or nonrelative
59 under s. 39.5085 or s. 39.6225 or who was adopted from the
60 Department of Children and Families after May 5, 1997. Such
61 exemption includes fees associated with enrollment in applied
62 academics for adult education instruction. The exemption remains
63 valid until the student reaches 28 years of age.
64 Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
65 1009.40, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (c) is
66 added to that subsection, to read:
67 1009.40 General requirements for student eligibility for
68 state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants.—
69 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of students
70 for state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants
71 consist of the following:
72 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
73 acceptance at a state university or Florida College System
74 institution; a nursing diploma school approved by the Florida
75 Board of Nursing; a Florida college or university which is
76 accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the State
77 Board of Education; a Florida institution the credits of which
78 are acceptable for transfer to state universities; a career
79 center; or a private career institution accredited by an
80 accrediting agency recognized by the State Board of Education.
81 2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
82 preceding the award of aid or a tuition assistance grant for a
83 program established pursuant to s. 1009.50, s. 1009.505, s.
84 1009.51, s. 1009.52, s. 1009.53, s. 1009.60, s. 1009.62, s.
85 1009.71, s. 1009.711, s. 1009.72, s. 1009.73, s. 1009.75, s.
86 1009.77, s. 1009.89, or s. 1009.891, or s. 1009.894. Residency
87 in this state must be for purposes other than to obtain an
88 education. Resident status for purposes of receiving state
89 financial aid awards shall be determined in the same manner as
90 resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21.
91 3. Submission of certification attesting to the accuracy,
92 completeness, and correctness of information provided to
93 demonstrate a student’s eligibility to receive state financial
94 aid awards or tuition assistance grants. Falsification of such
95 information shall result in the denial of a pending application
96 and revocation of an award or grant currently held to the extent
97 that no further payments shall be made. Additionally, students
98 who knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
99 financial aid awards or tuition assistance grants commit a
100 misdemeanor of the second degree subject to the provisions of s.
101 837.06 and shall be required to return all state financial aid
102 awards or tuition assistance grants wrongfully obtained.
103 (c) Eligibility for funding for state merit-based
104 scholarship program awards under the Bright Futures Scholarship
105 Program and the Benacquisto Scholarship Program is contingent
106 upon a student meeting the minimum requirements specified in
107 paragraphs (a) and (b) and any additional requirements specified
108 in ss. 1009.531, 1009.532, 1009.534, 1009.535, 1009.536, and
109 1009.893, subject to the following:
110 1. Beginning with students who initially receive an award
111 in the 2023-2024 academic year:
112 a. A student enrolled in an associate in arts degree
113 program, or a student enrolled in a state university who has not
114 been admitted to an academic program, may receive an award up to
115 the maximum amount established for the scholarship program for a
116 maximum of 60 credit hours.
117 b. A student enrolled in a certificate program, technical
118 diploma program, career degree program, or major as a part of a
119 baccalaureate degree program:
120 (I) May receive an award up to the maximum amount
121 established for the program if the certificate, diploma, career
122 degree, or major is not identified on the list established
123 pursuant to s. 1009.46(2)(a).
124 (II) May receive a reduced award from the maximum
125 established for the program in the General Appropriations Act if
126 the certificate, diploma, career degree, or major is identified
127 on the list established pursuant to s. 1009.46(2)(a).
128 2. Student eligibility for a reduced award from the maximum
129 award established for the scholarship program, as determined in
130 the General Appropriations Act, applies to a program of study
131 that was identified on the list pursuant to s. 1009.46(2)(a) at
132 the time of the student’s initial enrollment, or if the student
133 changes his or her major program to a program identified on the
134 list. A student may receive a maximum award established for the
135 program if the program of study is removed from the list after
136 the student’s initial enrollment, but before the student’s
137 admission to the major.
138 3. Before disbursement of an award, each postsecondary
139 educational institution shall verify that the funding level a
140 student is provided aligns with the provisions established in
141 this paragraph.
142 Section 4. Section 1009.46, Florida Statutes, is created to
143 read:
144 1009.46 Duties relating to state financial aid and tuition
145 assistance programs.—
146 (1)(a) Each postsecondary educational institution that
147 receives state funds for state financial aid and tuition
148 assistance programs shall:
149 1. Complete and return the annual application for state aid
150 funds in the format and by the date established by the
151 Department of Education;
152 2. Maintain complete, accurate, and auditable student
153 records documenting the institution’s administration of state
154 financial aid and tuition assistance funds;
155 3. Verify eligibility of enrolled students with the
156 department each academic term;
157 4. Report each student’s program of study to the department
158 using the most recent classification of instructional programs
159 taxonomy for the certificate or degree level as developed by the
160 United States Department of Education’s National Center for
161 Education Statistics;
162 5. Disburse state financial aid and tuition assistance to
163 eligible students;
164 6. Notify students annually regarding the renewal
165 requirements for each state-funded award for which they are
166 eligible;
167 7. Complete and return to the department all reports for
168 the administration of state funds in the format and by the date
169 established by the department;
170 8. Complete and return to the department all legislatively
171 required reports in the format and by the date established by
172 the department;
173 9. Retain required records for the later of 5 years or
174 until such records are audited and any audit exceptions are
175 resolved; and
176 10. Refund to the department any undisbursed advances
177 within 60 days after the end of the regular registration period
178 each fall and spring term, within 30 days after the end of the
179 summer term, or within 60 days after the date a student’s
180 ineligibility is determined.
181 (b) These requirements do not preclude higher standards
182 specified in other sections of this part or rules of the State
183 Board of Education.
184 (c) An institution that fails to perform its duties in
185 administering state financial aid or tuition assistance programs
186 must be placed on probation by the department.
187 1. The department shall provide allocations on a
188 reimbursement basis to a participating institution that fails to
189 timely remit undisbursed funds for the previous academic year.
190 2. The department may suspend or revoke an institution’s
191 eligibility to participate in state-funded programs if the
192 institution fails to provide the required audits, fails to
193 resolve audit findings, or fails to timely provide statutorily
194 required reports by established deadlines.
195 (2)(a) By December 31, 2021, the Board of Governors, the
196 State Board of Education, and the Independent Colleges and
197 Universities of Florida shall each identify and publish a list
198 of career certificate and undergraduate and graduate degree
199 programs offered by a district career center, charter technical
200 career center, Florida College System institution, independent
201 college or university, or state university, as applicable, which
202 do not lead directly to employment.
203 (b) In determining which programs will be included on a
204 list, the Board of Governors, the State Board of Education, and
205 the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida shall
206 consider national, state, and regional industry demand for
207 certificateholders and graduates of such degree programs. For
208 each certificate and degree program listed, the Board of
209 Governors and the State Board of Education must identify
210 occupations, current job openings, estimates of job growth, and
211 employment wages. The State Board of Education list must include
212 programs at independent colleges and universities licensed by
213 the Commission for Independent Education.
214 (c) The Board of Governors, the State Board of Education,
215 and the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida must
216 publish the methodology used in determining whether programs
217 were included on a list.
218 (d) The respective lists must be updated annually, by
219 December 31, to be effective in the next academic year.
220 Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) and subsection
221 (5) of section 1009.50, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
222 1009.50 Florida Public Student Assistance Grant Program;
223 eligibility for grants.—
224 (4)(a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Public
225 Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to
226 eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by
227 the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least
228 the prior year’s distribution of funds and, the number of
229 eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the
230 standardization of the expected family contribution, and
231 provisions for unused funds. The formula must account for
232 changes in the number of eligible students across all student
233 assistance grant programs established pursuant to this section
234 and ss. 1009.505, 1009.51, and 1009.52.
235 (5) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for state student
236 assistance grants may be deposited in the State Student
237 Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and
238 pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end
239 of any fiscal year which has been allocated to the Florida
240 Public Student Assistance Grant Program shall remain therein and
241 shall be available for carrying out the purposes of this
242 section.
243 Section 6. Subsection (5) of section 1009.505, Florida
244 Statutes, is amended to read:
245 1009.505 Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education
246 Student Assistance Grant Program.—
247 (5) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for state student
248 assistance grants may be deposited in the State Student
249 Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and
250 pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end
251 of any fiscal year which has been allocated to the Florida
252 Public Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant
253 Program shall remain therein and shall be available for carrying
254 out the purposes of this section.
255 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) and subsection
256 (5) of section 1009.51, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
257 1009.51 Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program;
258 eligibility for grants.—
259 (4)(a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Private
260 Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to
261 eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by
262 the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least
263 the prior year’s distribution of funds and, the number of
264 eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the
265 standardization of the expected family contribution, and
266 provisions for unused funds. The formula must account for
267 changes in the number of eligible students across all student
268 assistance grant programs established pursuant to this section
269 and ss. 1009.50, 1009.505, and 1009.52.
270 (5) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for Florida
271 private student assistance grants may be deposited in the State
272 Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding s.
273 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust
274 fund at the end of any fiscal year which has been allocated to
275 the Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program shall
276 remain therein and shall be available for carrying out the
277 purposes of this section and as otherwise provided by law.
278 Section 8. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) and subsection
279 (6) of section 1009.52, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
280 1009.52 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant
281 Program; eligibility for grants.—
282 (4)(a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Postsecondary
283 Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to
284 eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by
285 the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least
286 the prior year’s distribution of funds and, the number of
287 eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the
288 standardization of the expected family contribution, and
289 provisions for unused funds. The formula must account for
290 changes in the number of eligible students across all student
291 assistance grant programs established pursuant to this section
292 and ss. 1009.50, 1009.505, and 1009.51.
293 (6) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for Florida
294 postsecondary student assistance grants may be deposited in the
295 State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding
296 s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust
297 fund at the end of any fiscal year which has been allocated to
298 the Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program shall
299 remain therein and shall be available for carrying out the
300 purposes of this section and as otherwise provided by law.
301 Section 9. Subsections (3), (4), and (7) of section
302 1009.53, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
303 1009.53 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.—
304 (3) The Department of Education shall administer the Bright
305 Futures Scholarship Program according to rules and procedures
306 established by the State Board of Education. A single
307 application must be sufficient for a student to apply for any of
308 the awards. The department shall advertise the availability of
309 the scholarship program and shall notify students, teachers,
310 parents, certified school counselors, and principals or other
311 relevant school administrators of the criteria and application
312 procedures. The department must begin this process of
313 notification no later than September January 1 of each year.
314 (4) Funding for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program must
315 be allocated from the Education Enhancement Trust Fund and must
316 be provided before allocations from that fund are calculated for
317 disbursement to other educational entities.
318 (a) If funds appropriated are not adequate to provide the
319 maximum allowable award to each eligible applicant, awards in
320 all components of the program must be prorated using the same
321 percentage reduction.
322 (b) Notwithstanding s. 216.301, if all funds allocated to
323 the Bright Futures Scholarship Program are not used in any
324 fiscal year, up to 10 percent of the total allocation may be
325 carried forward and used for awards in the following year.
326 (7) A student may receive only one type of award from the
327 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program at any given time,
328 but may transfer from one type of award to another through the
329 renewal application process, if the student’s eligibility status
330 changes. However, a student is not eligible to transfer from a
331 Florida Medallion Scholarship, a Florida Gold Seal CAPE
332 Scholarship, or a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship to a
333 Florida Academic Scholarship. A student who receives an award
334 from the program may also receive a federal family education
335 loan or a federal direct loan, and the value of the award must
336 be considered in the certification or calculation of the
337 student’s loan eligibility.
338 Section 10. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (3) of
339 section 1009.532, Florida Statutes, to read:
340 1009.532 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
341 student eligibility requirements for renewal awards.—
342 (3)
343 (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), beginning with students
344 initially funded in the 2022-2023 academic year, the maximum
345 number of credit hours which can be awarded must be reduced by
346 the number of postsecondary credit hours the student has earned
347 from articulated acceleration mechanisms under s. 1007.27 which
348 are accepted by the postsecondary educational institution toward
349 the requirements of a career certificate, an applied technology
350 diploma, an associate in applied science degree, or an associate
351 in science degree or in partial fulfillment of general education
352 coursework requirements of an associate or baccalaureate degree.
353 Section 11. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1009.534,
354 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
355 1009.534 Florida Academic Scholars award.—
356 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic Scholars
357 award if he or she meets the general eligibility requirements
358 for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and:
359 (a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
360 calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or its equivalent, in high
361 school courses that are designated by the State Board of
362 Education as college-preparatory academic courses and has
363 attained at least the score required under s. 1009.531(6)(a) on
364 the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
365 Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
366 Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
367 or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
368 (b) Has attended a home education program according to s.
369 1002.41 during grades 11 and 12, has completed the International
370 Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the International
371 Baccalaureate Diploma, or has completed the Advanced
372 International Certificate of Education curriculum but failed to
373 earn the Advanced International Certificate of Education
374 Diploma, and has attained at least the score required under s.
375 1009.531(6)(a) on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of
376 the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
377 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
378 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the ACT
379 Assessment Program;
380 (c) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma
381 from the International Baccalaureate Office or an Advanced
382 International Certificate of Education Diploma from the
383 University of Cambridge International Examinations Office;
384 (d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
385 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
386 scholar or finalist; or
387 (e) Has been granted academic honors by one or more of the
388 College Board National Recognition Programs for students from
389 underrepresented communities; or recognized by the National
390 Hispanic Recognition Program as a scholar recipient
391 (f) For a high school student who graduated in the 2021
392 2022 academic year and thereafter:
393 1. Has earned an associate degree with a minimum
394 postsecondary cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0
395 scale before graduating from high school; or
396 2. Has earned a College Board Advanced Placement Capstone
397 Diploma with scores of 4 or higher on six Advanced Placement
398 examinations.
399
400 The student must complete a program of volunteer service work,
401 as approved by the district school board, the administrators of
402 a nonpublic school, or the Department of Education for home
403 education program students, which must include a minimum of 75
404 hours of service work for high school students graduating in the
405 2010-2011 academic year and 100 hours of service work for high
406 school students graduating in the 2011-2012 academic year and
407 thereafter. The student must identify a social or civic issue or
408 a professional area that interests him or her, develop a plan
409 for his or her personal involvement in addressing the issue or
410 learning about the area, and, through papers or other
411 presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her experience.
412 Except for credit earned through service-learning courses
413 adopted pursuant to s. 1003.497, the student may not receive
414 remuneration or academic credit for the volunteer service work
415 performed. Such work may include, but is not limited to, a
416 business or governmental internship, work for a nonprofit
417 community service organization, or activities on behalf of a
418 candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer service must
419 be documented in writing, and the document must be signed by the
420 student, the student’s parent or guardian, and a representative
421 of the organization for which the student performed the
422 volunteer service work.
423 (2) A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a
424 certificate, diploma, associate, or baccalaureate degree program
425 at a public or nonpublic postsecondary educational education
426 institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount
427 specified necessary to pay 100 percent of tuition and fees
428 established under ss. 1009.22(3), (5), (6), and (7); 1009.23(3),
429 (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11); and 1009.24(4), (7)-(13),
430 (14)(r), and (16), as applicable, and is eligible for an
431 additional stipend for textbooks, to assist with the payment of
432 educational expenses as funds are specifically appropriated in
433 the General Appropriations Act to assist with the payment of
434 educational expenses.
435 Section 12. Section 1009.5341, Florida Statutes, is amended
436 to read:
437 1009.5341 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship awards for
438 graduate study.—
439 (1) For the 2021-2022 academic year, Florida Bright Futures
440 Scholarship recipients who graduate in the 2010-2011 academic
441 year and thereafter with a baccalaureate degree in 7 semesters,
442 or the equivalent or fewer hours, and wish to pursue graduate
443 study may apply the unused portion of their Florida Academic
444 Scholars award or Florida Medallion Scholars award toward 1
445 semester of graduate study, not to exceed 15 semester hours paid
446 at the undergraduate rate. A baccalaureate degree may include,
447 but is not limited to, college credits earned through
448 articulated acceleration mechanisms pursuant to s. 1007.27.
449 (2) Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, a Florida
450 Bright Futures Scholarship recipient may apply the unused
451 portion of his or her Florida Academic Scholars award or Florida
452 Medallion Scholars award toward graduate study in a degree field
453 that is not identified on a list developed pursuant to s.
454 1009.46(2)(a), which must be paid at the undergraduate rate.
455 Section 13. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1009.535,
456 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
457 1009.535 Florida Medallion Scholars award.—
458 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Medallion Scholars
459 award if he or she meets the general eligibility requirements
460 for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and:
461 (a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0 as
462 calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or the equivalent, in high
463 school courses that are designated by the State Board of
464 Education as college-preparatory academic courses and has
465 attained at least the score required under s. 1009.531(6)(b) on
466 the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
467 Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
468 Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
469 or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
470 (b) Has completed the International Baccalaureate
471 curriculum but failed to earn the International Baccalaureate
472 Diploma or has completed the Advanced International Certificate
473 of Education curriculum but failed to earn the Advanced
474 International Certificate of Education Diploma, and has attained
475 at least the score required under s. 1009.531(6)(b) on the
476 combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
477 Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
478 Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
479 or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
480 (c) Has attended a home education program according to s.
481 1002.41 during grades 11 and 12 and has attained at least the
482 score required under s. 1009.531(6)(b) on the combined verbal
483 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
484 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
485 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
486 equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
487 (d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement program
488 of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a scholar or
489 finalist but has not completed the program of volunteer service
490 work required under s. 1009.534; or
491 (e) Has been granted academic honors by one or more of the
492 College Board National Recognition Programs for students from
493 underrepresented communities recognized by the National Hispanic
494 Recognition Program as a scholar, but has not completed the
495 program of volunteer service work required under s. 1009.534; or
496 (f) For a high school student who graduates in the 2021
497 2022 academic year and thereafter:
498 1. Has earned an associate degree with a minimum cumulative
499 postsecondary grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale before
500 graduating from high school; or
501 2. Has earned an Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma with
502 scores of 3 or higher on six Advanced Placement Examinations.
503
504 A high school student graduating in the 2011-2012 academic year
505 and thereafter must complete at least 75 hours of volunteer
506 service work approved by the district school board, the
507 administrators of a nonpublic school, or the Department of
508 Education for home education program students. The student must
509 identify a social or civic issue or a professional area that
510 interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal
511 involvement in addressing the issue or learning about the area,
512 and, through papers or other presentations, evaluate and reflect
513 upon his or her experience. Except for credit earned through
514 service-learning courses adopted pursuant to s. 1003.497, the
515 student may not receive remuneration or academic credit for
516 volunteer service work performed. Such work may include, but is
517 not limited to, a business or governmental internship, work for
518 a nonprofit community service organization, or activities on
519 behalf of a candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer
520 service must be documented in writing, and the document must be
521 signed by the student, the student’s parent or guardian, and a
522 representative of the organization for which the student
523 performed the volunteer service work.
524 (2) A Florida Medallion Scholar who is enrolled in a
525 certificate, diploma, associate, or baccalaureate degree program
526 at a public or nonpublic postsecondary educational education
527 institution is eligible, beginning in the fall 2018 semester,
528 for an award equal to the amount specified in the General
529 Appropriations Act necessary to pay 75 percent of tuition and
530 fees established under ss. 1009.22(3), (5), (6), and (7);
531 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11); and 1009.24(4), (7)
532 (13), (14)(r), and (16), as applicable, to assist with the
533 payment of educational expenses. Beginning in the fall 2021
534 semester, a Florida Medallion Scholar who is enrolled in an
535 associate degree program at a Florida College System institution
536 is eligible for an award equal to the amount specified in the
537 General Appropriations Act necessary to pay 100 percent of
538 tuition and fees established under s. 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8),
539 (10), and (11) to assist with the payment of educational
540 expenses.
541 Section 14. Section 1009.71, Florida Statutes, is created
542 to read:
543 1009.71 Florida Bright Opportunities Grant Program.—
544 (1) ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.—The Florida Bright
545 Opportunities Grant Program is established and shall be
546 administered by the participating institutions in accordance
547 with rules of the State Board of Education. The program shall
548 provide an award equal to the amount necessary to cover tuition
549 and registration fees, after applying all other federal and
550 state financial aid, for eligible students at a Florida College
551 System institution, a career center operated by a district
552 school board under s. 1001.44, or a charter technical career
553 center under s. 1002.34.
554 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to be eligible for the program, a
555 student must have a tuition and registration fee balance not
556 covered by all federal financial and state financial aid, and:
557 (a) Be enrolled as a student seeking a degree or career
558 certificate in an associate degree, technical certificate,
559 applied technology diploma, or clock hour certificate program at
560 a Florida College System institution, or a clock hour career
561 certificate or diploma program at a district career center or
562 charter technical career center. The students must be enrolled
563 for at least 6 semester hours or the equivalent per term at a
564 Florida College System institution, district career center, or
565 charter technical career center;
566 (b) Meet the requirements under s. 1009.40(1)(a)2. and 3.
567 and (c); and
568 (c) Qualify and remain eligible each academic year for the
569 Pell Grant.
570
571 An institution may not impose additional criteria to determine a
572 student’s eligibility to receive a grant under this section.
573 (3) GRANT AWARD.—The program shall:
574 (a) Cover remaining tuition and registration fees, with a
575 stipend for books as specified in the General Appropriations
576 Act, for eligible students after all other federal and state
577 financial aid is applied to tuition and fees.
578 (b) Be allocated, subject to the availability of funding,
579 on a first-come, first-served basis. The award may not exceed
580 the cost of tuition and fees at that institution, plus a stipend
581 for books as determined in the General Appropriations Act.
582 Returning students shall receive priority over new students.
583 (4) AWARD DURATION.—A student is eligible to receive an
584 award for the number of semesters or quarters specified in s.
585 1009.40(3).
586 (5) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—
587 (a) The funds appropriated for the program must be
588 distributed to eligible institutions in accordance with a
589 formula approved by the State Board of Education. The formula
590 must take into account at least the prior year’s distribution of
591 funds and the number of eligible applicants who did not receive
592 awards.
593 (b) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, payment of
594 grants must be transmitted to the institution in advance of the
595 registration period. Institutions shall notify students of the
596 amount of their awards.
597 (c) The eligibility status of each student to receive a
598 disbursement must be determined by each institution as of the
599 end of its regular registration period, inclusive of a drop-add
600 period. Institutions may not be required to reevaluate a
601 student’s eligibility status after this date for purposes of
602 changing eligibility determinations previously made.
603 (d) Each participating institution shall report to the
604 department by the established date the number of students
605 eligible for the program for each academic term. Each
606 institution also shall report to the department any necessary
607 demographic and eligibility data for such students.
608 (e) Institutions shall certify to the department within 30
609 days after the end of regular registration each term the amount
610 of funds disbursed to each student. Institutions shall remit to
611 the department any undisbursed advances for the fall, spring,
612 and summer terms within 30 days after the end of the summer
613 term.
614 (6) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
615 to implement this section.
616 Section 15. Section 1009.711, Florida Statutes, is created
617 to read:
618 1009.711 Florida Endeavor Scholarship Program.—
619 (1) ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.—The Florida Endeavor
620 Scholarship Program is established and shall be administered by
621 participating institutions in accordance with rules of the State
622 Board of Education. The program shall provide an award equal to
623 the amount necessary to cover tuition, registration, and testing
624 fees, including high school equivalency diploma test fees, for
625 eligible students at a Florida College System institution, a
626 career center operated by a district school board under s.
627 1001.44, or a charter technical career center under s. 1002.34.
628 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to be eligible for the program, a
629 student may not have earned a high school credential before
630 enrolling at the institution, and must:
631 (a) Be enrolled in a career certificate or noncollege
632 credit applied technology diploma program or in a General
633 Education Program at a Florida College System institution, a
634 district career center, or a charter technical career center;
635 (b) Meet the requirements under s. 1009.40(1)(a)2. and 3.
636 and (c);
637 (c) Demonstrate readiness for enrollment in a postsecondary
638 clock hour program. The student shall:
639 1. Meet the basic skills assessment requirement for the
640 certificate or diploma program;
641 2. Demonstrate grade 9 level or above literacy and numeracy
642 skills on an assessment approved by the State Board of Education
643 for basic skills; or
644 3. Enroll for at least one term in a school district or
645 Florida College System institution Integrated Education and
646 Training program.
647 (d) To maintain eligibility after the initial term of
648 enrollment, a student must demonstrate progress toward the
649 completion of a clock hour certificate or diploma program
650 through attendance and successful completion of program
651 standards. A student who does not maintain attendance and
652 progress toward completion of courses in the program is not
653 eligible for a renewal award.
654
655 An institution may not impose additional criteria to determine a
656 student’s initial eligibility to receive a grant under this
657 section.
658 (3) SCHOLARSHIP AWARD.—A student is eligible to receive an
659 award equal to the amount to cover tuition and registration fees
660 for a career certificate or applied technology diploma program
661 for the number of semesters or quarters specified in s.
662 1009.40(3). The award may not exceed the cost of tuition and
663 registration fees at that institution. The institution shall
664 award scholarships subject to the availability of funding, on a
665 first-come, first-served basis. Returning students must be given
666 priority over new students.
667 (4) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—
668 (a) The funds appropriated for the program must be
669 distributed to eligible institutions in accordance with a
670 formula approved by the State Board of Education. The formula
671 must take into account at least the prior year’s distribution of
672 funds and the number of eligible applicants who did not receive
673 awards.
674 (b) Subject to the appropriation of funds by the
675 Legislature, the department shall transmit payment of grants to
676 the institution in advance of the registration period.
677 Institutions shall notify students of the amount of their
678 awards.
679 (c) The eligibility status of each student to receive a
680 disbursement must be determined by each institution as of the
681 end of its regular registration period, inclusive of a drop-add
682 period. Institutions may not be required to reevaluate a
683 student’s eligibility status after this date for purposes of
684 changing eligibility determinations previously made.
685 (d) Each participating institution shall report to the
686 department by the established date the number of students
687 eligible for the program for each academic term. Each
688 institution also shall report to the department any necessary
689 demographic and eligibility data for such students.
690 (e) Institutions shall certify to the department within 30
691 days after the end of regular registration each term the amount
692 of funds disbursed to each student. Institutions shall remit to
693 the department any undisbursed advances for the fall, spring,
694 and summer terms within 30 days after the end of the summer
695 term.
696 (5) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
697 to implement this section.
698 Section 16. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) and subsection
699 (5) of section 1009.893, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
700 1009.893 Benacquisto Scholarship Program.—
701 (4) In order to be eligible for an initial award under the
702 scholarship program, a student must meet the requirements of
703 paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).
704 (b) A student who initially enrolls in a baccalaureate
705 degree program in the 2018-2019 through 2021-2022 academic years
706 year or later and who is not a resident of this state, as
707 determined in s. 1009.40 and rules of the State Board of
708 Education, must:
709 1. Physically reside in this state on or near the campus of
710 the postsecondary educational institution in which the student
711 is enrolled;
712 2. Earn a high school diploma from a school outside Florida
713 which is comparable to a standard Florida high school diploma or
714 its equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s.
715 1003.4282, or s. 1003.435 or must complete a home education
716 program in another state; and
717 3. Be accepted by and enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate
718 degree program at an eligible regionally accredited Florida
719 public or independent postsecondary educational institution
720 during the fall academic term following high school graduation.
721 (5)(a)1. An eligible student who meets the requirements of
722 paragraph (4)(a), who is a National Merit Scholar, and who
723 attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution
724 shall receive a scholarship award as specified in the General
725 Appropriations Act equal to the institutional cost of attendance
726 minus the sum of the student’s Florida Bright Futures
727 Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship.
728 2. An eligible student who meets the requirements of
729 paragraph (4)(b), who is a National Merit Scholar, and who
730 attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution
731 shall receive a scholarship award as specified in the General
732 Appropriations Act equal to the institutional cost of attendance
733 for a resident of this state minus the student’s National Merit
734 Scholarship. Such student is exempt from the payment of out-of
735 state fees.
736 (b) An eligible student who is a National Merit Scholar and
737 who attends a Florida independent postsecondary educational
738 institution shall receive a scholarship award as specified in
739 the General Appropriations Act equal to the highest cost of
740 attendance for a resident of this state enrolled at a Florida
741 public university, as reported by the Board of Governors of the
742 State University System, minus the sum of the student’s Florida
743 Bright Futures Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship.
744 Section 17. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.
745
746 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
747 And the title is amended as follows:
748 Delete everything before the enacting clause
749 and insert:
750 A bill to be entitled
751 An act relating to student financial aid; creating s.
752 1006.75, F.S.; requiring the Board of Governors of the
753 State University System to create an online dashboard;
754 specifying minimum information to be included in the
755 dashboard; requiring the dashboard to be available by
756 a specified date; requiring each state university
757 office of admissions website to contain a link to the
758 dashboard; requiring each state university board of
759 trustees to adopt certain procedures; requiring the
760 procedures to include placing a hold on certain
761 students’ registration; specifying the requirements
762 for students to lift the hold; requiring the Board of
763 Governors to approve such procedures by a specified
764 date; amending s. 1009.25, F.S.; making technical
765 changes; amending s. 1009.40, F.S.; conforming
766 provisions to changes made by the act; revising
767 eligibility for an award under the Bright Futures
768 Scholarship Program or the Benacquisto Scholarship
769 Program; specifying funding award levels for students
770 initially funded in a certain academic year; requiring
771 postsecondary educational institutions to verify
772 funding levels before award disbursement; creating s.
773 1009.46, F.S.; specifying the duties of certain
774 postsecondary educational institutions with regard to
775 financial aid and tuition assistance programs;
776 specifying penalties for noncompliance; requiring the
777 Board of Governors, the State Board of Education, and
778 the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida
779 to each approve, by a specified date, a list of career
780 certificate and undergraduate and graduate degree
781 programs that they determine do not lead directly to
782 employment; requiring that each list include specified
783 information; requiring that the state board list
784 include programs at independent colleges and
785 universities licensed by the Commission for
786 Independent Education; requiring each entity to
787 publish the methodology used in determining whether
788 programs are included on the list; requiring that the
789 lists be updated annually, by a specified date, to be
790 effective the next academic year; amending s. 1009.50,
791 F.S.; revising the formula for calculating how Florida
792 Public Student Assistance Grant Program funds are
793 distributed; deleting a provision authorizing Florida
794 Public Student Assistance Grant Program funds to be
795 deposited in the State Student Financial Assistance
796 Trust Fund; deleting a provision requiring any balance
797 in the trust fund which was allocated to the Florida
798 Public Student Assistance Grant Program at the end of
799 the fiscal year to remain therein; amending s.
800 1009.505, F.S.; deleting a provision authorizing
801 Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education Student
802 Assistance Grant Program funds to be deposited in the
803 trust fund; deleting a provision requiring any balance
804 in the trust fund which was allocated to the Florida
805 Public Postsecondary Career Education Student
806 Assistance Grant Program at the end of the fiscal year
807 to remain therein; amending s. 1009.51, F.S.; revising
808 the formula for calculating how Florida Private
809 Student Assistance Grant Program funds are
810 distributed; deleting a provision authorizing Florida
811 Private Student Assistance Grant Program funds to be
812 deposited in the trust fund; deleting a provision
813 requiring any balance in the trust fund which was
814 allocated to the Florida Private Student Assistance
815 Grant Program at the end of the fiscal year to remain
816 therein; amending s. 1009.52, F.S.; revising the
817 formula for how Florida Postsecondary Student
818 Assistance Grant Program funds are distributed;
819 deleting a provision authorizing Florida Postsecondary
820 Student Assistance Grant Program funds to be deposited
821 in the trust fund; deleting a provision requiring any
822 balance in the trust fund which was allocated to the
823 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program
824 at the end of the fiscal year to remain therein;
825 amending s. 1009.53, F.S.; requiring the Department of
826 Education to advertise the Florida Bright Futures
827 Scholarship Program to specified persons no later than
828 a specified date of each year; deleting a provision
829 authorizing unused Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
830 Program funds to be carried forward; deleting a
831 provision authorizing certain students to receive
832 specified loans; amending s. 1009.532, F.S.;
833 requiring, beginning with a specified academic year,
834 that the maximum number of credit hours which can be
835 awarded under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
836 Program be reduced by the number of postsecondary
837 credit hours the student has earned from certain
838 articulated acceleration mechanisms which are applied
839 toward certificate, diploma, or specified degree
840 requirements or to general education requirements;
841 amending s. 1009.534, F.S.; revising and expanding
842 eligibility requirements of the Florida Academic
843 Scholars award; providing that a Florida Academic
844 Scholar is eligible for an award equal to the amount
845 specified in the General Appropriations Act; amending
846 s. 1009.5341, F.S.; authorizing a Florida Bright
847 Futures Scholarship recipient to apply the unused
848 portion of a Florida Academic Scholars award or
849 Florida Medallion Scholars award toward graduate study
850 for a specified academic year; authorizing a Florida
851 Bright Futures Scholarship recipient to apply the
852 unused portion of a Florida Academic Scholars award or
853 Florida Medallion Scholars award toward graduate study
854 in a specified degree field, paid at the undergraduate
855 rate, beginning with a specified academic year;
856 amending s. 1009.535, F.S.; revising and expanding
857 eligibility for a Florida Medallion Scholars award;
858 providing a Florida Medallion Scholar is eligible for
859 an award equal to the amount specified in the General
860 Appropriations Act; creating s. 1009.71, F.S.;
861 establishing the Florida Bright Opportunities Grant
862 Program; requiring the program to be administered by
863 the participating institutions subject to state board
864 rules; providing the purpose of the program;
865 specifying eligibility requirements for the program;
866 prohibiting institutions from imposing additional
867 eligibility requirements on students; requiring the
868 program to cover remaining tuition and fees for
869 eligible students after the application of all other
870 federal and state financial aid, with a stipend for
871 books as specified in the General Appropriations Act;
872 requiring program awards to be allocated on a first
873 come, first-served basis; requiring returning students
874 to receive priority over new students; providing the
875 duration of the award; requiring funds to be
876 distributed to eligible institutions based on a
877 formula approved by the state board; requiring the
878 formula to take into account specified criteria;
879 requiring grants to be transmitted to institutions in
880 advance of the registration period; requiring
881 institutions to notify students of award amounts;
882 requiring institutions to determine the eligibility
883 status of each student at a specified time;
884 prohibiting institutions from being required to
885 reevaluate student eligibility after the specified
886 time; requiring institutions to report specified
887 information to the department; requiring institutions
888 to remit to the department any undisbursed advances
889 within a specified timeframe; requiring the state
890 board to adopt rules; creating s. 1009.711, F.S.;
891 establishing the Florida Endeavor Scholarship Program;
892 requiring the award to cover tuition, registration,
893 and testing fees for eligible students at a Florida
894 College System institution, a career center, or a
895 charter technical career center; providing that
896 students who earned a high school credential before
897 enrolling at the institution are not eligible for the
898 program; requiring enrollment in specified programs;
899 requiring that students meet specified statutory
900 requirements; requiring that students demonstrate
901 readiness for enrollment in a postsecondary clock hour
902 program by meeting a specified requirement,
903 demonstrating specified literacy and numeracy skills,
904 or by enrolling in an Integrated Education and
905 Training program; specifying criteria for continuing
906 eligibility and for a renewal award; prohibiting
907 institutions from imposing additional criteria to
908 determine a student’s initial eligibility; providing
909 that students are eligible to receive award amounts
910 equal to certain tuition and registration fees;
911 requiring program awards to be allocated on a first
912 come, first-served basis, with returning students
913 given priority over new students; requiring funds to
914 be distributed to eligible institutions based on a
915 formula approved by the state board; requiring that
916 the formula take into account specified criteria;
917 requiring that grants be transmitted to institutions
918 in advance of the registration period; requiring
919 institutions to notify students of award amounts;
920 requiring institutions to determine the eligibility
921 status of each student at a specified time;
922 prohibiting institutions from being required to
923 reevaluate student eligibility after the specified
924 time; requiring institutions to report specified
925 information to the department; requiring institutions
926 to remit to the department any undisbursed advances
927 within a specified timeframe; requiring the state
928 board to adopt rules; amending s. 1009.893, F.S.;
929 requiring a student who enrolls in a baccalaureate
930 degree program in specified academic years to comply
931 with certain requirements to attain a Benacquisto
932 Scholarship; providing that the amount awarded under
933 the program will be as specified in the General
934 Appropriations Act; providing an effective date.
