Florida Senate - 2021                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 86
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì594362.Î594362                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  03/16/2021           .                                
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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         1009.711Florida 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.