Bill Text: FL S1490 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Florida College System Minority Need-based Grant Program

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2017-05-05 - Died in Education [S1490 Detail]

Download: Florida-2017-S1490-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2017                                    SB 1490
       
       
        
       By Senator Thurston
       
       
       
       
       
       33-00610B-17                                          20171490__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Florida College System Minority
    3         Need-Based Grant Program; creating s. 1009.895, F.S.;
    4         creating the grant program within the Department of
    5         Education; requiring the Office of Student Financial
    6         Assistance to administer the program; providing the
    7         purpose of the program and student eligibility
    8         requirements; specifying funding and a funding
    9         priority; providing the renewal requirements for the
   10         grant awards; providing rulemaking; providing an
   11         effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Section 1009.895, Florida Statutes, is created
   16  to read:
   17         1009.895 Florida College System Minority Need-Based Grant
   18  Program.—Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, the Florida
   19  College System (FCS) Minority Need-Based Grant Program is
   20  created within the Department of Education. The grant program
   21  shall be administered by the Office of Student Financial
   22  Assistance.
   23         (1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the FCS Minority Need-Based
   24  Grant Program is to provide educational opportunities to
   25  African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, and Native
   26  American disadvantaged students enrolled in science, technology,
   27  engineering, and math (STEM) programs in this state and who
   28  demonstrate a financial need.
   29         (2) STUDENT ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for an award under
   30  the grant program, a student must meet all of the following
   31  requirements:
   32         (a) Be a state resident, as determined in s. 1009.40 and
   33  rules of the State Board of Education.
   34         (b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
   35  equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s. 1003.4282,
   36  or s. 1003.435 unless:
   37         1. The student completes a home education program according
   38  to s. 1002.41; or
   39         2. The student earns a high school diploma from a non
   40  Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who is on
   41  a military or public service assignment out of this state.
   42         (c) Be accepted by and enrolled in an eligible FCS
   43  institution.
   44         (d) Be enrolled for at least 6 semester credit hours or the
   45  equivalent in quarter hours or clock hours in a STEM program.
   46         (e) Not have been found guilty of, or have entered a plea
   47  of nolo contendere to, a felony charge, unless the student has
   48  been granted clemency by the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the
   49  Executive Office of Clemency.
   50         (f) Apply for, and be awarded, Pell Grant funds.
   51         (g) Complete 75 hours of volunteer or community service
   52  work.
   53         (h) Demonstrate readiness for postsecondary education by
   54  earning a passing score on the College Placement Test or its
   55  equivalent, as identified by the department.
   56         (i) Achieve a 2.75-3.00 weighted grade point average (GPA).
   57         (j) Achieve a minimum score of 970 on the SAT or 20 on the
   58  ACT.
   59         (3) FUNDING.—Funding for the grant program shall be as
   60  provided in the General Appropriations Act. Seventy percent of
   61  the funds must be provided to African-American students.
   62         (4) AWARD RENEWAL.—To be eligible to renew an award under
   63  the grant program, a student must maintain the equivalent of a
   64  2.75 cumulative GPA or higher and earn at least 6 credit hours
   65  for each semester funded.
   66         (5) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
   67  to implement this section.
   68         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.