Bill Text: FL S0086 | 2021 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Student Financial Aid
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)
Status: (Failed) 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-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2021 CS for CS for SB 86
By the Committees on Appropriations; and Education; and Senator
Baxley
576-03664-21 202186c2
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student financial aid; creating s.
3 1006.75, F.S.; requiring the Board of Governors of the
4 State University System to create an online dashboard;
5 specifying minimum information to be included in the
6 dashboard; requiring the dashboard to be available by
7 a specified date; requiring each state university
8 office of admissions website to contain a link to the
9 dashboard; requiring each state university board of
10 trustees to adopt certain procedures; requiring the
11 procedures to include placing a hold on certain
12 students’ registrations; specifying the requirements
13 for students to lift the hold; requiring the Board of
14 Governors to approve such procedures by a specified
15 date; amending s. 1009.25, F.S.; making technical
16 changes; amending s. 1009.40, F.S.; conforming
17 provisions to changes made by the act; creating s.
18 1009.46, F.S.; specifying the duties of certain
19 postsecondary educational institutions with regard to
20 financial aid and tuition assistance programs;
21 specifying penalties for noncompliance; requiring the
22 Board of Governors, the State Board of Education, and
23 the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida
24 to each approve, by a specified date, a list of career
25 certificate and undergraduate and graduate degree
26 programs that they determine do not lead directly to
27 employment; requiring that each list include specified
28 information; requiring that the state board list
29 include programs at independent colleges and
30 universities licensed by the Commission for
31 Independent Education; requiring each entity to
32 publish the methodology used in determining whether
33 programs are included on the list; requiring that the
34 lists be updated annually, by a specified date, to be
35 effective the next academic year; amending s. 1009.50,
36 F.S.; revising the formula for calculating how Florida
37 Public Student Assistance Grant Program funds are
38 distributed; deleting a provision authorizing Florida
39 Public Student Assistance Grant Program funds to be
40 deposited in the State Student Financial Assistance
41 Trust Fund; deleting a provision requiring any balance
42 in the trust fund which was allocated to the Florida
43 Public Student Assistance Grant Program at the end of
44 the fiscal year to remain therein; amending s.
45 1009.505, F.S.; deleting a provision authorizing
46 Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education Student
47 Assistance Grant Program funds to be deposited in the
48 trust fund; deleting a provision requiring any balance
49 in the trust fund which was allocated to the Florida
50 Public Postsecondary Career Education Student
51 Assistance Grant Program at the end of the fiscal year
52 to remain therein; amending s. 1009.51, F.S.; revising
53 the formula for calculating how Florida Private
54 Student Assistance Grant Program funds are
55 distributed; deleting a provision authorizing Florida
56 Private Student Assistance Grant Program funds to be
57 deposited in the trust fund; deleting a provision
58 requiring any balance in the trust fund which was
59 allocated to the Florida Private Student Assistance
60 Grant Program at the end of the fiscal year to remain
61 therein; amending s. 1009.52, F.S.; revising the
62 formula for how Florida Postsecondary Student
63 Assistance Grant Program funds are distributed;
64 deleting a provision authorizing Florida Postsecondary
65 Student Assistance Grant Program funds to be deposited
66 in the trust fund; deleting a provision requiring any
67 balance in the trust fund which was allocated to the
68 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program
69 at the end of the fiscal year to remain therein;
70 amending s. 1009.53, F.S.; requiring the Department of
71 Education to advertise the Florida Bright Futures
72 Scholarship Program to specified persons no later than
73 a specified date of each year; deleting a provision
74 authorizing unused Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
75 Program funds to be carried forward; deleting a
76 provision authorizing certain students to receive
77 specified loans; amending s. 1009.534, F.S.; revising
78 and expanding eligibility requirements of the Florida
79 Academic Scholars award; providing that a Florida
80 Academic Scholar is eligible for an award equal to the
81 amount specified in the General Appropriations Act;
82 amending s. 1009.535, F.S.; revising and expanding
83 eligibility for a Florida Medallion Scholars award;
84 providing a Florida Medallion Scholar is eligible for
85 an award equal to the amount specified in the General
86 Appropriations Act; amending s. 1009.893, F.S.;
87 requiring a student who enrolls in a baccalaureate
88 degree program in specified academic years to comply
89 with certain requirements to attain a Benacquisto
90 Scholarship; providing that the amount awarded under
91 the program will be as specified in the General
92 Appropriations Act; providing an effective date.
93
94 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
95
96 Section 1. Section 1006.75, Florida Statutes, is created to
97 read:
98 1006.75 State university career planning and information.—
99 (1) To assist students and families in making better
100 informed decisions about educational options and future
101 employment opportunities, the Board of Governors of the State
102 University System shall publicly publish an online dashboard.
103 The dashboard must present data, by academic discipline, of
104 graduates of state universities, including at least the
105 following information:
106 (a) Post-graduation median salary 1, 5, and 10 years after
107 graduation;
108 (b) Median student loan debt;
109 (c) Debt-to-income ratio;
110 (d) Estimated monthly loan payment as a percentage of gross
111 monthly income; and
112 (e) The percentage of graduates who have continued their
113 education beyond the baccalaureate level.
114 (2) The online dashboard must be available by January 1,
115 2022. A link to the dashboard shall be prominently displayed on
116 each state university’s office of admissions website.
117 (3)(a) Each state university board of trustees shall adopt
118 procedures to connect undergraduate students to career planning,
119 coaching, and related programs during the first academic year of
120 the student’s enrollment. Such procedures must be approved by
121 the Board of Governors and include placing a hold on student
122 registration before the end of the first year of each student’s
123 enrollment. To lift the hold and register for classes, each
124 student must:
125 1. Register with the university’s career center;
126 2. Complete a career readiness training module provided by
127 the career center;
128 3. Be directed to the dashboard established in subsection
129 (1); and
130 4. Affirmatively indicate that he or she has been provided
131 with the information required under this paragraph and is aware
132 of the employment and wage prospects for his or her declared
133 major.
134 (b) The Board of Governors of the State University System
135 shall review and approve each university’s procedures by March
136 1, 2022.
137 Section 2. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1) of
138 section 1009.25, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
139 1009.25 Fee exemptions.—
140 (1) The following students are exempt from the payment of
141 tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that
142 provides workforce education programs, Florida College System
143 institution, or state university:
144 (c) A student who is, or was at the time he or she reached
145 18 years of age, in the custody of the Department of Children
146 and Families or who, after spending at least 6 months in the
147 custody of the department after reaching 16 years of age, was
148 placed in a guardianship by the court. Such exemption includes
149 fees associated with enrollment in applied academics for adult
150 education instruction. The exemption remains valid until the
151 student reaches 28 years of age.
152 (d) A student who is, or was at the time he or she reached
153 18 years of age, in the custody of a relative or nonrelative
154 under s. 39.5085 or s. 39.6225 or who was adopted from the
155 Department of Children and Families after May 5, 1997. Such
156 exemption includes fees associated with enrollment in applied
157 academics for adult education instruction. The exemption remains
158 valid until the student reaches 28 years of age.
159 Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
160 1009.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
161 1009.40 General requirements for student eligibility for
162 state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants.—
163 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of students
164 for state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants
165 consist of the following:
166 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
167 acceptance at a state university or Florida College System
168 institution; a nursing diploma school approved by the Florida
169 Board of Nursing; a Florida college or university which is
170 accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the State
171 Board of Education; a Florida institution the credits of which
172 are acceptable for transfer to state universities; a career
173 center; or a private career institution accredited by an
174 accrediting agency recognized by the State Board of Education.
175 2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
176 preceding the award of aid or a tuition assistance grant for a
177 program established pursuant to s. 1009.50, s. 1009.505, s.
178 1009.51, s. 1009.52, s. 1009.53, s. 1009.60, s. 1009.62, s.
179 1009.72, s. 1009.73, s. 1009.75, s. 1009.77, s. 1009.89, or s.
180 1009.891, or s. 1009.894. Residency in this state must be for
181 purposes other than to obtain an education. Resident status for
182 purposes of receiving state financial aid awards shall be
183 determined in the same manner as resident status for tuition
184 purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21.
185 3. Submission of certification attesting to the accuracy,
186 completeness, and correctness of information provided to
187 demonstrate a student’s eligibility to receive state financial
188 aid awards or tuition assistance grants. Falsification of such
189 information shall result in the denial of a pending application
190 and revocation of an award or grant currently held to the extent
191 that no further payments shall be made. Additionally, students
192 who knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
193 financial aid awards or tuition assistance grants commit a
194 misdemeanor of the second degree subject to the provisions of s.
195 837.06 and shall be required to return all state financial aid
196 awards or tuition assistance grants wrongfully obtained.
197 Section 4. Section 1009.46, Florida Statutes, is created to
198 read:
199 1009.46 Duties relating to state financial aid and tuition
200 assistance programs.—
201 (1)(a) Each postsecondary educational institution that
202 receives state funds for state financial aid and tuition
203 assistance programs shall:
204 1. Complete and return the annual application for state aid
205 funds in the format and by the date established by the
206 Department of Education;
207 2. Maintain complete, accurate, and auditable student
208 records documenting the institution’s administration of state
209 financial aid and tuition assistance funds;
210 3. Verify eligibility of enrolled students with the
211 department each academic term;
212 4. Report each student’s program of study to the department
213 using the most recent classification of instructional programs
214 taxonomy for the certificate or degree level as developed by the
215 United States Department of Education’s National Center for
216 Education Statistics;
217 5. Disburse state financial aid and tuition assistance to
218 eligible students;
219 6. Notify students annually regarding the renewal
220 requirements for each state-funded award for which they are
221 eligible;
222 7. Complete and return to the department all reports for
223 the administration of state funds in the format and by the date
224 established by the department;
225 8. Complete and return to the department all legislatively
226 required reports in the format and by the date established by
227 the department;
228 9. Retain required records for the later of 5 years or
229 until such records are audited and any audit exceptions are
230 resolved; and
231 10. Refund to the department any undisbursed advances
232 within 60 days after the end of the regular registration period
233 each fall and spring term, within 30 days after the end of the
234 summer term, or within 60 days after the date a student’s
235 ineligibility is determined.
236 (b) These requirements do not preclude higher standards
237 specified in other sections of this part or rules of the State
238 Board of Education.
239 (c) An institution that fails to perform its duties in
240 administering state financial aid or tuition assistance programs
241 must be placed on probation by the department.
242 1. The department shall provide allocations on a
243 reimbursement basis to a participating institution that fails to
244 timely remit undisbursed funds for the previous academic year.
245 2. The department may suspend or revoke an institution’s
246 eligibility to participate in state-funded programs if the
247 institution fails to provide the required audits, fails to
248 resolve audit findings, or fails to timely provide statutorily
249 required reports by established deadlines.
250 (2)(a) By December 31, 2021, the Board of Governors, the
251 State Board of Education, and the Independent Colleges and
252 Universities of Florida shall each identify and publish a list
253 of career certificate and undergraduate and graduate degree
254 programs offered by a district career center, charter technical
255 career center, Florida College System institution, independent
256 college or university, or state university, as applicable, which
257 do not lead directly to employment.
258 (b) In determining which programs will be included on a
259 list, the Board of Governors, the State Board of Education, and
260 the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida shall
261 consider national, state, and regional industry demand for
262 certificateholders and graduates of such degree programs. For
263 each certificate and degree program listed, the Board of
264 Governors and the State Board of Education must identify
265 occupations, current job openings, estimates of job growth, and
266 employment wages. The State Board of Education list must include
267 programs at independent colleges and universities licensed by
268 the Commission for Independent Education.
269 (c) The Board of Governors, the State Board of Education,
270 and the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida must
271 publish the methodology used in determining whether programs
272 were included on a list.
273 (d) The respective lists must be updated annually, by
274 December 31, to be effective in the next academic year.
275 Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) and subsection
276 (5) of section 1009.50, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
277 1009.50 Florida Public Student Assistance Grant Program;
278 eligibility for grants.—
279 (4)(a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Public
280 Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to
281 eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by
282 the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least
283 the prior year’s distribution of funds and, the number of
284 eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the
285 standardization of the expected family contribution, and
286 provisions for unused funds. The formula must account for
287 changes in the number of eligible students across all student
288 assistance grant programs established pursuant to this section
289 and ss. 1009.505, 1009.51, and 1009.52.
290 (5) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for state student
291 assistance grants may be deposited in the State Student
292 Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and
293 pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end
294 of any fiscal year which has been allocated to the Florida
295 Public Student Assistance Grant Program shall remain therein and
296 shall be available for carrying out the purposes of this
297 section.
298 Section 6. Subsection (5) of section 1009.505, Florida
299 Statutes, is amended to read:
300 1009.505 Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education
301 Student Assistance Grant Program.—
302 (5) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for state student
303 assistance grants may be deposited in the State Student
304 Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and
305 pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end
306 of any fiscal year which has been allocated to the Florida
307 Public Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant
308 Program shall remain therein and shall be available for carrying
309 out the purposes of this section.
310 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) and subsection
311 (5) of section 1009.51, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
312 1009.51 Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program;
313 eligibility for grants.—
314 (4)(a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Private
315 Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to
316 eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by
317 the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least
318 the prior year’s distribution of funds and, the number of
319 eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the
320 standardization of the expected family contribution, and
321 provisions for unused funds. The formula must account for
322 changes in the number of eligible students across all student
323 assistance grant programs established pursuant to this section
324 and ss. 1009.50, 1009.505, and 1009.52.
325 (5) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for Florida
326 private student assistance grants may be deposited in the State
327 Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding s.
328 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust
329 fund at the end of any fiscal year which has been allocated to
330 the Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program shall
331 remain therein and shall be available for carrying out the
332 purposes of this section and as otherwise provided by law.
333 Section 8. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) and subsection
334 (6) of section 1009.52, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
335 1009.52 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant
336 Program; eligibility for grants.—
337 (4)(a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Postsecondary
338 Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to
339 eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by
340 the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least
341 the prior year’s distribution of funds and, the number of
342 eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the
343 standardization of the expected family contribution, and
344 provisions for unused funds. The formula must account for
345 changes in the number of eligible students across all student
346 assistance grant programs established pursuant to this section
347 and ss. 1009.50, 1009.505, and 1009.51.
348 (6) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for Florida
349 postsecondary student assistance grants may be deposited in the
350 State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding
351 s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust
352 fund at the end of any fiscal year which has been allocated to
353 the Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program shall
354 remain therein and shall be available for carrying out the
355 purposes of this section and as otherwise provided by law.
356 Section 9. Subsections (3), (4), and (7) of section
357 1009.53, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
358 1009.53 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.—
359 (3) The Department of Education shall administer the Bright
360 Futures Scholarship Program according to rules and procedures
361 established by the State Board of Education. A single
362 application must be sufficient for a student to apply for any of
363 the awards. The department shall advertise the availability of
364 the scholarship program and shall notify students, teachers,
365 parents, certified school counselors, and principals or other
366 relevant school administrators of the criteria and application
367 procedures. The department must begin this process of
368 notification no later than September January 1 of each year.
369 (4) Funding for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program must
370 be allocated from the Education Enhancement Trust Fund and must
371 be provided before allocations from that fund are calculated for
372 disbursement to other educational entities.
373 (a) If funds appropriated are not adequate to provide the
374 maximum allowable award to each eligible applicant, awards in
375 all components of the program must be prorated using the same
376 percentage reduction.
377 (b) Notwithstanding s. 216.301, if all funds allocated to
378 the Bright Futures Scholarship Program are not used in any
379 fiscal year, up to 10 percent of the total allocation may be
380 carried forward and used for awards in the following year.
381 (7) A student may receive only one type of award from the
382 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program at any given time,
383 but may transfer from one type of award to another through the
384 renewal application process, if the student’s eligibility status
385 changes. However, a student is not eligible to transfer from a
386 Florida Medallion Scholarship, a Florida Gold Seal CAPE
387 Scholarship, or a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship to a
388 Florida Academic Scholarship. A student who receives an award
389 from the program may also receive a federal family education
390 loan or a federal direct loan, and the value of the award must
391 be considered in the certification or calculation of the
392 student’s loan eligibility.
393 Section 10. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1009.534,
394 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
395 1009.534 Florida Academic Scholars award.—
396 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic Scholars
397 award if he or she meets the general eligibility requirements
398 for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and:
399 (a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
400 calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or its equivalent, in high
401 school courses that are designated by the State Board of
402 Education as college-preparatory academic courses and has
403 attained at least the score required under s. 1009.531(6)(a) on
404 the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
405 Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
406 Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
407 or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
408 (b) Has attended a home education program according to s.
409 1002.41 during grades 11 and 12, has completed the International
410 Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the International
411 Baccalaureate Diploma, or has completed the Advanced
412 International Certificate of Education curriculum but failed to
413 earn the Advanced International Certificate of Education
414 Diploma, and has attained at least the score required under s.
415 1009.531(6)(a) on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of
416 the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
417 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
418 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the ACT
419 Assessment Program;
420 (c) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma
421 from the International Baccalaureate Office or an Advanced
422 International Certificate of Education Diploma from the
423 University of Cambridge International Examinations Office;
424 (d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
425 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
426 scholar or finalist; or
427 (e) Has been granted academic honors by one or more of the
428 College Board National Recognition Programs for students from
429 underrepresented communities; or recognized by the National
430 Hispanic Recognition Program as a scholar recipient
431 (f) For a high school student who graduated in the 2021
432 2022 academic year and thereafter:
433 1. Has earned an associate degree with a minimum
434 postsecondary cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0
435 scale before graduating from high school; or
436 2. Has earned a College Board Advanced Placement Capstone
437 Diploma with scores of 4 or higher on six Advanced Placement
438 examinations.
439
440 The student must complete a program of volunteer service work,
441 as approved by the district school board, the administrators of
442 a nonpublic school, or the Department of Education for home
443 education program students, which must include a minimum of 75
444 hours of service work for high school students graduating in the
445 2010-2011 academic year and 100 hours of service work for high
446 school students graduating in the 2011-2012 academic year and
447 thereafter. The student must identify a social or civic issue or
448 a professional area that interests him or her, develop a plan
449 for his or her personal involvement in addressing the issue or
450 learning about the area, and, through papers or other
451 presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her experience.
452 Except for credit earned through service-learning courses
453 adopted pursuant to s. 1003.497, the student may not receive
454 remuneration or academic credit for the volunteer service work
455 performed. Such work may include, but is not limited to, a
456 business or governmental internship, work for a nonprofit
457 community service organization, or activities on behalf of a
458 candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer service must
459 be documented in writing, and the document must be signed by the
460 student, the student’s parent or guardian, and a representative
461 of the organization for which the student performed the
462 volunteer service work.
463 (2) A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a
464 certificate, diploma, associate, or baccalaureate degree program
465 at a public or nonpublic postsecondary educational education
466 institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount
467 specified necessary to pay 100 percent of tuition and fees
468 established under ss. 1009.22(3), (5), (6), and (7); 1009.23(3),
469 (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11); and 1009.24(4), (7)-(13),
470 (14)(r), and (16), as applicable, and is eligible for an
471 additional stipend for textbooks, to assist with the payment of
472 educational expenses as funds are specifically appropriated in
473 the General Appropriations Act to assist with the payment of
474 educational expenses.
475 Section 11. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1009.535,
476 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
477 1009.535 Florida Medallion Scholars award.—
478 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Medallion Scholars
479 award if he or she meets the general eligibility requirements
480 for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and:
481 (a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0 as
482 calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or the equivalent, in high
483 school courses that are designated by the State Board of
484 Education as college-preparatory academic courses and has
485 attained at least the score required under s. 1009.531(6)(b) on
486 the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
487 Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
488 Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
489 or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
490 (b) Has completed the International Baccalaureate
491 curriculum but failed to earn the International Baccalaureate
492 Diploma or has completed the Advanced International Certificate
493 of Education curriculum but failed to earn the Advanced
494 International Certificate of Education Diploma, and has attained
495 at least the score required under s. 1009.531(6)(b) on the
496 combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
497 Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
498 Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
499 or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
500 (c) Has attended a home education program according to s.
501 1002.41 during grades 11 and 12 and has attained at least the
502 score required under s. 1009.531(6)(b) on the combined verbal
503 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
504 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
505 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
506 equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
507 (d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement program
508 of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a scholar or
509 finalist but has not completed the program of volunteer service
510 work required under s. 1009.534; or
511 (e) Has been granted academic honors by one or more of the
512 College Board National Recognition Programs for students from
513 underrepresented communities recognized by the National Hispanic
514 Recognition Program as a scholar, but has not completed the
515 program of volunteer service work required under s. 1009.534; or
516 (f) For a high school student who graduates in the 2021
517 2022 academic year and thereafter:
518 1. Has earned an associate degree with a minimum cumulative
519 postsecondary grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale before
520 graduating from high school; or
521 2. Has earned an Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma with
522 scores of 3 or higher on six Advanced Placement Examinations.
523
524 A high school student graduating in the 2011-2012 academic year
525 and thereafter must complete at least 75 hours of volunteer
526 service work approved by the district school board, the
527 administrators of a nonpublic school, or the Department of
528 Education for home education program students. The student must
529 identify a social or civic issue or a professional area that
530 interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal
531 involvement in addressing the issue or learning about the area,
532 and, through papers or other presentations, evaluate and reflect
533 upon his or her experience. Except for credit earned through
534 service-learning courses adopted pursuant to s. 1003.497, the
535 student may not receive remuneration or academic credit for
536 volunteer service work performed. Such work may include, but is
537 not limited to, a business or governmental internship, work for
538 a nonprofit community service organization, or activities on
539 behalf of a candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer
540 service must be documented in writing, and the document must be
541 signed by the student, the student’s parent or guardian, and a
542 representative of the organization for which the student
543 performed the volunteer service work.
544 (2) A Florida Medallion Scholar who is enrolled in a
545 certificate, diploma, associate, or baccalaureate degree program
546 at a public or nonpublic postsecondary educational education
547 institution is eligible, beginning in the fall 2018 semester,
548 for an award equal to the amount specified in the General
549 Appropriations Act necessary to pay 75 percent of tuition and
550 fees established under ss. 1009.22(3), (5), (6), and (7);
551 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11); and 1009.24(4), (7)
552 (13), (14)(r), and (16), as applicable, to assist with the
553 payment of educational expenses. Beginning in the fall 2021
554 semester, a Florida Medallion Scholar who is enrolled in an
555 associate degree program at a Florida College System institution
556 is eligible for an award equal to the amount specified in the
557 General Appropriations Act necessary to pay 100 percent of
558 tuition and fees established under s. 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8),
559 (10), and (11) to assist with the payment of educational
560 expenses.
561 Section 12. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) and subsection
562 (5) of section 1009.893, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
563 1009.893 Benacquisto Scholarship Program.—
564 (4) In order to be eligible for an initial award under the
565 scholarship program, a student must meet the requirements of
566 paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).
567 (b) A student who initially enrolls in a baccalaureate
568 degree program in the 2018-2019 through 2021-2022 academic years
569 year or later and who is not a resident of this state, as
570 determined in s. 1009.40 and rules of the State Board of
571 Education, must:
572 1. Physically reside in this state on or near the campus of
573 the postsecondary educational institution in which the student
574 is enrolled;
575 2. Earn a high school diploma from a school outside Florida
576 which is comparable to a standard Florida high school diploma or
577 its equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s.
578 1003.4282, or s. 1003.435 or must complete a home education
579 program in another state; and
580 3. Be accepted by and enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate
581 degree program at an eligible regionally accredited Florida
582 public or independent postsecondary educational institution
583 during the fall academic term following high school graduation.
584 (5)(a)1. An eligible student who meets the requirements of
585 paragraph (4)(a), who is a National Merit Scholar, and who
586 attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution
587 shall receive a scholarship award as specified in the General
588 Appropriations Act equal to the institutional cost of attendance
589 minus the sum of the student’s Florida Bright Futures
590 Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship.
591 2. An eligible student who meets the requirements of
592 paragraph (4)(b), who is a National Merit Scholar, and who
593 attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution
594 shall receive a scholarship award as specified in the General
595 Appropriations Act equal to the institutional cost of attendance
596 for a resident of this state minus the student’s National Merit
597 Scholarship. Such student is exempt from the payment of out-of
598 state fees.
599 (b) An eligible student who is a National Merit Scholar and
600 who attends a Florida independent postsecondary educational
601 institution shall receive a scholarship award as specified in
602 the General Appropriations Act equal to the highest cost of
603 attendance for a resident of this state enrolled at a Florida
604 public university, as reported by the Board of Governors of the
605 State University System, minus the sum of the student’s Florida
606 Bright Futures Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship.
607 Section 13. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.
