Florida Senate - 2015                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 960
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì835856OÎ835856                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  04/02/2015           .                                
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       The Committee on Fiscal Policy (Legg) recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) and paragraphs
    6  (a) and (b) of subsection (6) of section 1009.531, Florida
    7  Statutes, are amended to read:
    8         1009.531 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
    9  student eligibility requirements for initial awards.—
   10         (2)
   11         (c) A student graduating from high school in the 2012-2013
   12  academic year and thereafter is eligible to accept an initial
   13  award for 2 years following high school graduation and to accept
   14  a renewal award for 5 years following high school graduation. A
   15  student who applies for an award by high school graduation and
   16  who meets all other eligibility requirements, but who does not
   17  accept his or her award, may reapply during subsequent
   18  application periods up to 2 years after high school graduation.
   19  For a student who enlists in the United States Armed Forces
   20  immediately after completion of high school, the 2-year
   21  eligibility period for his or her initial award and the 5-year
   22  renewal period shall begin upon the date of separation from
   23  active duty. For a student who is receiving a Florida Bright
   24  Futures Scholarship award and discontinues his or her education
   25  to enlist in the United States Armed Forces, the remainder of
   26  his or her 5-year renewal period shall commence upon the date of
   27  separation from active duty. For a student who is unable to
   28  accept an initial award immediately after completion of high
   29  school due to a full-time religious or service obligation
   30  lasting at least 18 months, the 2-year eligibility period for
   31  his or her initial award and the 5-year renewal period begin
   32  upon the completion of his or her religious or service
   33  obligation. The organization sponsoring the full-time religious
   34  or service obligation must meet the requirements for nonprofit
   35  status under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be a
   36  federal government service organization that includes, but is
   37  not limited to, the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps programs. The
   38  obligation must be documented in writing and verified by the
   39  entity for which the student completed the obligation on a
   40  standardized form prescribed by the department. If a course of
   41  study is not completed after 5 academic years, an exception of 1
   42  year to the renewal timeframe may be granted due to a verifiable
   43  illness or other documented emergency pursuant to s.
   44  1009.40(1)(b)4.
   45         (6)(a) The State Board of Education shall publicize the
   46  examination score required for a student to be eligible for a
   47  Florida Academic Scholars award, pursuant to s. 1009.534(1)(a)
   48  or (b)., as follows:
   49         1. For high school students graduating in the 2010-2011 and
   50  2011-2012 academic years, the student must earn an SAT score of
   51  1270 or a concordant ACT score of 28.
   52         2. For high school students graduating in the 2012-2013
   53  academic year, the student must earn an SAT score of 1280 which
   54  corresponds to the 88th SAT percentile rank or a concordant ACT
   55  score of 28.
   56         3. For High school students graduating in the 2013-2014
   57  academic year and thereafter, the student must earn an SAT score
   58  of 1290 which corresponds to the 89th SAT percentile rank or a
   59  concordant ACT score of 29.
   60         (b) The State Board of Education shall publicize the
   61  examination score required for a student to be eligible for a
   62  Florida Medallion Scholars award, pursuant to s. 1009.535(1)(a)
   63  or (b), as follows:
   64         1. For high school students graduating in the 2010-2011
   65  academic year, the student must earn an SAT score of 970 or a
   66  concordant ACT score of 20 or the student in a home education
   67  program whose parent cannot document a college-preparatory
   68  curriculum must earn an SAT score of 1070 or a concordant ACT
   69  score of 23.
   70         2. For high school students graduating in the 2011-2012
   71  academic year, the student must earn an SAT score of 980 which
   72  corresponds to the 44th SAT percentile rank or a concordant ACT
   73  score of 21 or the student in a home education program whose
   74  parent cannot document a college-preparatory curriculum must
   75  earn an SAT score of 1070 or a concordant ACT score of 23.
   76         3. For high school students graduating in the 2012-2013
   77  academic year, the student must earn an SAT score of 1020 which
   78  corresponds to the 51st SAT percentile rank or a concordant ACT
   79  score of 22 or the student in a home education program whose
   80  parent cannot document a college-preparatory curriculum must
   81  earn an SAT score of 1070 or a concordant ACT score of 23.
   82         4. For High school students graduating in the 2013-2014
   83  academic year and thereafter, the student must earn an SAT score
   84  of 1170 which corresponds to the 75th SAT percentile rank or a
   85  concordant ACT score of 26 or the student in a home education
   86  program whose parent cannot document a college-preparatory
   87  curriculum must earn an SAT score of 1220 or a concordant ACT
   88  score of 27.
   89         Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 1009.534, Florida
   90  Statutes, is amended to read:
   91         1009.534 Florida Academic Scholars award.—
   92         (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic Scholars
   93  award if he or she the student meets the general eligibility
   94  requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
   95  and the student:
   96         (a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
   97  calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or its equivalent, in high
   98  school courses that are designated by the State Board of
   99  Education as college-preparatory academic courses; and has
  100  attained at least the score required under pursuant to s.
  101  1009.531(6)(a) on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of
  102  the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
  103  the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
  104  Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the ACT
  105  Assessment Program;
  106         (b) Has attended a home education program according to s.
  107  1002.41 during grades 11 and 12, or has completed the
  108  International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
  109  International Baccalaureate Diploma, or has completed the
  110  Advanced International Certificate of Education curriculum but
  111  failed to earn the Advanced International Certificate of
  112  Education Diploma, and has attained at least the score required
  113  under pursuant to s. 1009.531(6)(a) on the combined verbal and
  114  quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
  115  Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
  116  Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
  117  equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
  118         (c) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma
  119  from the International Baccalaureate Office or an Advanced
  120  International Certificate of Education Diploma from the
  121  University of Cambridge International Examinations Office;
  122         (d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
  123  programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
  124  scholar or finalist; or
  125         (e) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
  126  Recognition Program as a scholar recipient.
  127  
  128  The A student must complete a program of volunteer community
  129  service work, as approved by the district school board, the
  130  administrators of a nonpublic school, or the Department of
  131  Education for home education program students, which must shall
  132  include a minimum of 75 hours of service work for high school
  133  students graduating in the 2010-2011 academic year and 100 hours
  134  of service work for high school students graduating in the 2011
  135  2012 academic year and thereafter. The student, and must
  136  identify a social or civic issue or a professional area problem
  137  that interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her
  138  personal involvement in addressing the issue or learning about
  139  the area problem, and, through papers or other presentations,
  140  evaluate and reflect upon his or her experience. Except for
  141  credit earned through service-learning courses adopted pursuant
  142  to s. 1003.497, the student may not receive remuneration or
  143  academic credit for the volunteer service work performed. Such
  144  work may include, but is not limited to, a business or
  145  government internship, work for a nonprofit community service
  146  organization, or activity on behalf of a candidate for public
  147  office. The hours of volunteer service must be documented in
  148  writing, and the document must be signed by the student, the
  149  student’s parent or guardian, and a representative of the
  150  organization for which the student performed the volunteer
  151  service work.
  152         Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 1009.535, Florida
  153  Statutes, is amended to read:
  154         1009.535 Florida Medallion Scholars award.—
  155         (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Medallion Scholars
  156  award if he or she the student meets the general eligibility
  157  requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
  158  and the student:
  159         (a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0 as
  160  calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or the equivalent, in high
  161  school courses that are designated by the State Board of
  162  Education as college-preparatory academic courses; and has
  163  attained at least the score required under pursuant to s.
  164  1009.531(6)(b) on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of
  165  the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
  166  the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
  167  Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the ACT
  168  Assessment Program;
  169         (b) Has completed the International Baccalaureate
  170  curriculum but failed to earn the International Baccalaureate
  171  Diploma or has completed the Advanced International Certificate
  172  of Education curriculum but failed to earn the Advanced
  173  International Certificate of Education Diploma, and has attained
  174  at least the score required under pursuant to s. 1009.531(6)(b)
  175  on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
  176  Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
  177  Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
  178  or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
  179         (c) Has attended a home education program according to s.
  180  1002.41 during grades 11 and 12 and has attained at least the
  181  score required under pursuant to s. 1009.531(6)(b) on the
  182  combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
  183  Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
  184  Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
  185  or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program, if the
  186  student’s parent cannot document a college-preparatory
  187  curriculum as described in paragraph (a);
  188         (d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement program
  189  of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a scholar or
  190  finalist but has not completed the a program of volunteer
  191  community service work required under as provided in s.
  192  1009.534; or
  193         (e) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
  194  Recognition Program as a scholar, but has not completed the a
  195  program of volunteer community service work required under as
  196  provided in s. 1009.534.
  197  
  198  A high school student graduating in the 2011-2012 academic year
  199  and thereafter must complete at least 75 hours a program of
  200  volunteer community service work approved by the district school
  201  board, the administrators of a nonpublic school, or the
  202  Department of Education for home education program students. The
  203  student, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours of service
  204  work, and must identify a social or civic issue or a
  205  professional area problem that interests him or her, develop a
  206  plan for his or her personal involvement in addressing the issue
  207  or learning about the area problem, and, through papers or other
  208  presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her experience.
  209  Except for credit earned through service-learning courses
  210  adopted pursuant to s. 1003.497, the student may not receive
  211  remuneration or academic credit for volunteer service work
  212  performed. Such work may include, but is not limited to, a
  213  business or government internship, work for a nonprofit
  214  community service organization, or activity on behalf of a
  215  candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer service must
  216  be documented in writing, and the document must be signed by the
  217  student, the student’s parent or guardian, and a representative
  218  of the organization for which the student performed the
  219  volunteer service work.
  220         Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 1009.536, Florida
  221  Statutes, is amended to read:
  222         1009.536 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award.—The
  223  Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is created within
  224  the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program to recognize and
  225  reward academic achievement and career preparation by high
  226  school students who wish to continue their education.
  227         (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
  228  Vocational Scholars award if he or she the student meets the
  229  general eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
  230  Scholarship Program and the student:
  231         (a) Completes the secondary school portion of a sequential
  232  program of studies that requires at least three secondary school
  233  career credits. On-the-job training may not be substituted for
  234  any of the three required career credits.
  235         (b) Demonstrates readiness for postsecondary education by
  236  earning a passing score on the Florida College Entry Level
  237  Placement Test or its equivalent as identified by the Department
  238  of Education.
  239         (c) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point average
  240  of 3.0, as calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, on all subjects
  241  required for a standard high school diploma, excluding elective
  242  courses.
  243         (d) Earns a minimum unweighted grade point average of 3.5
  244  on a 4.0 scale for secondary career courses that comprise
  245  comprising the career program.
  246         (e) Beginning with high school students graduating in the
  247  2011-2012 academic year and thereafter, completes at least 30
  248  hours a program of volunteer community service work approved by
  249  the district school board, the administrators of a nonpublic
  250  school, or the Department of Education for home education
  251  program students. The student must identify, which shall include
  252  a minimum of 30 hours of service work, and identifies a social
  253  or civic issue or a professional area problem that interests him
  254  or her, develop develops a plan for his or her personal
  255  involvement in addressing the issue or learning about the area
  256  problem, and, through papers or other presentations, evaluate
  257  evaluates and reflect reflects upon his or her experience.
  258  Except for credit earned through service-learning courses
  259  adopted pursuant to s. 1003.497, the student may not receive
  260  remuneration or academic credit for the volunteer service work
  261  performed. Such work may include, but is not limited to, a
  262  business or government internship, work for a nonprofit
  263  community service organization, or activity on behalf of a
  264  candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer service must
  265  be documented in writing, and the document must be signed by the
  266  student, the student’s parent or guardian, and a representative
  267  of the organization for which the student performed the
  268  volunteer service work.
  269         Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.
  270  
  271  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  272  And the title is amended as follows:
  273         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  274  and insert:
  275                        A bill to be entitled                      
  276         An act relating to the Florida Bright Futures
  277         Scholarship Program; amending s. 1009.531, F.S.;
  278         providing that the initial award period and the
  279         renewal period for students who are unable to accept
  280         an initial award immediately after completion of high
  281         school due to a full-time religious or service
  282         obligation begin upon the completion of the religious
  283         or service obligation; specifying requirements for an
  284         entity that is sponsoring the obligation; requiring
  285         verification from the entity for which the student
  286         completed such obligation; revising eligibility
  287         requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
  288         Scholarship Program; deleting obsolete provisions;
  289         amending ss. 1009.534, 1009.535, and 1009.536, F.S.;
  290         requiring a student, as a prerequisite for the Florida
  291         Academic Scholars award, the Florida Medallion
  292         Scholars award, or the Florida Gold Seal Vocational
  293         Scholars award, to identify a social or civic issue or
  294         a professional area of interest and develop a plan for
  295         his or her personal involvement in addressing the
  296         issue or learning about the area; prohibiting the
  297         student from receiving remuneration or academic credit
  298         for the volunteer service work performed except in
  299         certain circumstances; requiring the hours of
  300         volunteer service work to be documented in writing and
  301         signed by the student, the student’s parent or
  302         guardian, and a representative of the organization for
  303         which the student performed the volunteer service
  304         work; providing an effective date.