Bill Text: FL S1672 | 2021 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: State University Free Seat Program

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-04-30 - Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 1261 (Ch. 2021-232) [S1672 Detail]

Download: Florida-2021-S1672-Comm_Sub.html

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       Florida Senate - 2021                             CS for SB 1672
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Education; and Senator Diaz
       
       
       
       
       
       581-03261-21                                          20211672c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the State University Free Seat
    3         Program; amending s. 1009.26, F.S.; creating the State
    4         University Free Seat Program; providing a purpose;
    5         providing an exemption from tuition and fees,
    6         including lab fees, for one online course at a state
    7         university for certain resident students; prohibiting
    8         a state university from charging such students more
    9         than a specified percentage of the tuition rate and
   10         the tuition differential under certain circumstances;
   11         providing a limitation on the application of such
   12         tuition discount; requiring each state university to
   13         report certain information regarding waivers under the
   14         program to the Board of Governors annually; requiring
   15         the board to adopt regulations; providing an effective
   16         date.
   17          
   18  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   19  
   20         Section 1. Subsection (18) is added to section 1009.26,
   21  Florida Statutes, to read:
   22         1009.26 Fee waivers.—
   23         (18) The State University Free Seat Program is created to
   24  encourage veterans, active duty members of the United States
   25  Armed Forces, active drilling members of the Florida National
   26  Guard, and nontraditional students to enroll in an online
   27  baccalaureate degree program at a state university.
   28         (a) A state university shall waive the tuition and fees,
   29  including lab fees, for one online course for a student who is a
   30  resident for tuition purposes under s. 1009.21 and enrolled in
   31  an online baccalaureate degree program, provided the student
   32  meets one of the following eligibility requirements:
   33         1. Is a veteran as defined in s. 1.01(14);
   34         2. Is an active duty member of the United States Armed
   35  Forces;
   36         3. Is an active drilling member of the Florida National
   37  Guard; or
   38         4. Has not been enrolled in a postsecondary institution for
   39  more than five years.
   40         (b) For all other courses in the program, a state
   41  university may not charge a student specified in paragraph (a)
   42  more than 75 percent of the tuition rate as specified in s.
   43  1009.24(4) and 75 percent of the tuition differential pursuant
   44  to s. 1009.24(16), if the student remains enrolled in at least
   45  one online course during each academic year.
   46         (c) A student who qualifies for the tuition discount under
   47  paragraph (b) is eligible to receive the discount for up to 110
   48  percent of the number of required credit hours of the degree
   49  program for which the student is enrolled.
   50         (d) Each state university shall report to the Board of
   51  Governors the number and value of all fee waivers granted
   52  annually under this subsection.
   53         (e) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations to
   54  administer this subsection.
   55         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.