Senate Bill sb0018Be1
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1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student financial
3 assistance; amending s. 240.40201, F.S.;
4 revising the eligibility period for the Florida
5 Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
6 redesignating the Florida Merit Scholarship as
7 the Florida Medallion Scholarship; amending s.
8 240.40202, F.S.; defining terms; revising
9 application dates; providing for initial
10 acceptance of a scholarship, to conform;
11 amending s. 240.40203, F.S.; defining terms;
12 providing conditions for awards to students in
13 programs that confer postbaccalaureate degrees;
14 conforming provisions; amending s. 240.40204,
15 F.S.; eliminating obsolete provisions; amending
16 s. 240.40205, F.S.; eliminating obsolete
17 provisions; designating an award level for a
18 Florida Academic Scholarship; amending s.
19 240.40206, F.S.; conforming provisions;
20 designating award levels; eliminating obsolete
21 provisions; amending s. 240.40207, F.S.;
22 designating award levels; eliminating obsolete
23 provisions; amending s. 240.40209, F.S.;
24 providing for the calculation of awards;
25 amending s. 240.404, F.S.; requiring a report;
26 providing certain limitations on eligibility
27 for various state student grant programs;
28 repealing s. 240.40208, F.S., relating to a
29 transition from certain scholarships to the
30 Bright Futures Program; providing an effective
31 date.
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1 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
2
3 Section 1. Subsections (1), (2), (5), and (7) of
4 section 240.40201, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
5 subsection (11) is added to that section, to read:
6 240.40201 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
7 Program.--
8 (1) The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is
9 created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to
10 reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition
11 of high academic achievement and who enrolls in a degree
12 program, certificate program, or applied technology diploma
13 program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary
14 education institution within 7 3 years after of graduation
15 from high school. An award may not be provided to a student
16 beyond 7 years after high school graduation, regardless of the
17 year in which the student first receives scholarship funding.
18 (2) The Bright Futures Scholarship Program consists of
19 three types of awards, the Florida Academic Scholarship, the
20 Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship, and the Florida
21 Vocational Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
22 (5) The department shall issue awards from the
23 scholarship program annually. Annual awards may be for up to
24 45 semester credit hours or the equivalent. Before the
25 registration period each semester, the department shall
26 transmit payment for each award to the president or director
27 of the postsecondary education institution, or his or her
28 representative, except that the department may withhold
29 payment if the receiving institution fails to report or to
30 make refunds to the department as required in this act.
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1 (a) Within 30 days after the end of regular
2 registration each semester, the educational institution shall
3 certify to the department the eligibility status of each
4 student who receives an award. After the end of the drop and
5 add period, an institution is not required to reevaluate or
6 revise a student's eligibility status, but must make a refund
7 to the department if a student who receives an award
8 disbursement terminates enrollment for any reason during an
9 academic term and a refund is permitted by the institution's
10 refund policy.
11 (b) An institution that receives funds from the
12 program shall certify to the department the amount of funds
13 disbursed to each student and shall remit to the department
14 any undisbursed advances within 60 days after the end of
15 regular registration.
16 (c) Each institution that receives moneys through this
17 program shall prepare an annual report that includes an
18 independent external audit or an audit prepared by the Office
19 of the Auditor General. The report shall include an audit of
20 the institution's administration of the program and a complete
21 accounting of the moneys for the program. This report must be
22 submitted to the department annually by March 1. The
23 department may conduct its own annual audit of an
24 institution's administration of the program. The department
25 may request a refund of any moneys overpaid to the institution
26 for the program. The department may suspend or revoke an
27 institution's eligibility to receive future moneys for the
28 program if the department finds that an institution has not
29 complied with this section. The institution must remit within
30 60 days any refund requested in accordance with this
31 subsection.
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1 (7) A student may receive only one type of award from
2 the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program at a time, but
3 may transfer from one type of award to another through the
4 renewal application process, if the student's eligibility
5 status changes. However, a student is not eligible to transfer
6 from a Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship or a Florida
7 Vocational Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship to a Florida
8 Academic Scholarship. A student who receives an award from the
9 program may also receive a federal family education loan or a
10 federal direct loan, and the value of the award must be
11 considered in the certification or calculation of the
12 student's loan eligibility.
13 (11) A student who graduated from high school in 1997
14 or earlier and who is eligible for the Florida Undergraduate
15 Scholar's Program pursuant to s. 240.402, Florida Statutes,
16 1996 Supplement, is eligible for the Florida Academic Scholars
17 award as provided in this chapter. A student who graduated
18 from high school in 1997 or earlier and who is eligible for
19 the Florida Vocational Gold Seal Endorsement Scholarship award
20 pursuant to s. 240.40201, Florida Statutes, 1996 Supplement,
21 is eligible for the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship
22 award as provided in this chapter. Award eligibility ends 7
23 years after high school graduation.
24 Section 2. Paragraphs (b) and (f) of subsection (1)
25 and subsection (2) of section 240.40202, Florida Statutes, are
26 amended to read:
27 240.40202 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
28 student eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
29 (1) To be eligible for an initial award from any of
30 the three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright
31 Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:
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1 (b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
2 equivalent as described in s. 232.246 or s. 229.814 unless:
3 1. The student is enrolled full time in the early
4 admission program of an eligible postsecondary education
5 institution or completes a home education program according to
6 s. 232.0201; or
7 2. The student earns a high school diploma from a
8 non-Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who
9 is on military or public service assignment away from Florida.
10 The term "public service assignment," as used in this
11 subparagraph, means the occupational assignment outside this
12 state of a person who is a permanent resident of this state
13 and who is employed by the United States Government or the
14 State of Florida conditioned upon assignment outside this
15 state.
16 (f) Apply for a scholarship from the program within 2
17 years after by April 1 of the last semester before high school
18 graduation.
19 (2) A student is eligible to accept an initial award
20 for 3 years following high school graduation and to accept a
21 renewal award for 7 years following high school graduation. A
22 student who applies for an award by April 1 and who meets all
23 other eligibility requirements, but who does not accept his or
24 her award during the first year of eligibility after high
25 school graduation, may apply for reinstatement of the award
26 for use within 7 reapply during subsequent application periods
27 up to 3 years after high school graduation. Reinstatement
28 applications must be received by the deadline established by
29 the Department of Education.
30 Section 3. Section 240.40203, Florida Statutes, is
31 amended to read:
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1 240.40203 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
2 student eligibility requirements for renewal, reinstatement,
3 and restoration awards.--
4 (1) After the first year of eligibility, if a student
5 wishes to receive To be eligible to renew a scholarship from
6 any of the three types of scholarships under the Florida
7 Bright Futures Scholarship Program, the a student must meet
8 the following requirements for either renewal, reinstatement,
9 or restoration:
10 (a) Renewal applies to a student who received an award
11 for at least one term during the previous academic year. For
12 renewal, a student must complete at least 12 semester credit
13 hours or the equivalent in the last academic year in which the
14 student earned a scholarship and.
15 (b) maintain the cumulative grade point average
16 required by the scholarship program, except that:
17 1. If a recipient's grades fall beneath the average
18 required to renew a Florida Academic Scholarship, but are
19 sufficient to renew a Florida Medallion Merit Scholarship or a
20 Florida Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship, the Department of
21 Education may grant a renewal from the Florida Medallion
22 Scholarship Program one of those other scholarship programs,
23 if the student meets the renewal eligibility requirements; or
24 2. If, upon renewal evaluation at any time during the
25 eligibility period, a student's grades or hours, or both, are
26 not sufficient insufficient to renew the scholarship, the
27 student may use the cumulative grades or hours, or both,
28 earned during the following summer to renew the scholarship
29 restore eligibility by improving the grade point average to
30 the required level. A student is eligible for such a
31 reinstatement only once. The Legislature encourages education
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1 institutions to assist students to calculate whether or not it
2 is possible to raise the grade point average during the summer
3 term. If the institution determines that it is possible, the
4 education institution may so inform the department, which may
5 reserve the student's award if funds are available. The
6 renewal, however, must not be granted until the student
7 achieves the required cumulative grade point average and earns
8 the required number of credit hours. If during the summer term
9 the student does not earn is not sufficient hours or to raise
10 the grade point average to the required renewal level, the
11 student is not eligible for an award student's next
12 opportunity for renewal is the fall semester of the following
13 academic year.
14 (b) Reinstatement applies to a student who was
15 eligible for, but did not receive, an award during the
16 previous academic year or years and who may apply to
17 reestablish use of the scholarship. For reinstatement, a
18 student must have been eligible at the time of the student's
19 most recent Bright Futures eligibility determination. The
20 student must apply for reinstatement by submitting a
21 reinstatement application by the deadline established by the
22 Department of Eduction.
23 (c) Restoration applies to a student who did not meet
24 renewal grade-point-average or hours-earned requirements at a
25 prior evaluation period. A student may restore eligibility by
26 meeting the required renewal grade-point average at a
27 subsequent renewal evaluation period. A student is eligible
28 for restoration only once. The student must submit a
29 restoration application by the deadlines established by the
30 Department of Education.
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1 (2) A student who is enrolled in a program that
2 terminates in an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree
3 may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent of the
4 number of credit hours required to complete the program. A
5 student who is enrolled in a program that terminates in a
6 technical certificate may receive an award for a maximum of
7 110 percent of the credit hours or clock hours required to
8 complete the program up to 90 credit hours. A student who
9 transfers from one of these program levels to another becomes
10 eligible for the higher of the two credit hour limits.
11 (3) A Florida Academic Scholar or a Florida Medallion
12 Scholar who is enrolled in a combined undergraduate and
13 graduate program that terminates in the award of a
14 post-baccalaureate degree or the simultaneous award of
15 baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate degrees may receive an
16 award for a maximum of 110 percent of the number of credit
17 hours required to complete a standard undergraduate program at
18 the institution attended, at the undergraduate rate.
19 Section 4. Section 240.40204, Florida Statutes, is
20 amended to read:
21 240.40204 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
22 eligible postsecondary education institutions.--A student is
23 eligible for an award or the renewal of an award from the
24 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program if the student
25 meets the requirements for the program as described in this
26 act and is enrolled in a postsecondary education institution
27 that meets the description in any one of the following
28 subsections:
29 (1) A Florida public university, community college, or
30 technical center.
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1 (2) An independent Florida college or university that
2 is accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by
3 the United States Department of Education a member of the
4 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and
5 that which has operated in the state for at least 3 years.
6 (3) An independent Florida postsecondary education
7 institution that is licensed by the Commission on Independent
8 Education State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities
9 and that which:
10 (a) Is authorized to grant degrees;
11 (b)(a) Shows evidence of sound financial condition;
12 and
13 (c)(b) Has operated in the state for at least 3 years
14 without having its approval, accreditation, or license placed
15 on probation.
16 (4) A Florida independent postsecondary education
17 institution that offers a nursing diploma approved by the
18 Board of Nursing.
19 (5) A Florida independent postsecondary education
20 institution that is licensed by the Commission on Independent
21 Education State Board of Nonpublic Career Education and that
22 which:
23 (a) Is authorized to award certificates or credentials
24 other than degrees;
25 (b)(a) Has a program completion and placement rate of
26 at least the rate required by the current Florida Statutes,
27 the Florida Administrative Code, or the Department of
28 Education for an institution at its level; and
29 (c)(b) Shows evidence of sound financial condition;
30 and either:
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1 1. Is accredited at the institutional level by an
2 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
3 of Education and has operated in the state for at least 3
4 years during which there has been no complaint for which
5 probable cause has been found; or
6 2. Has operated in Florida for 5 years during which
7 there has been no complaint for which probable cause has been
8 found.
9 Section 5. Section 240.40205, Florida Statutes, is
10 amended to read:
11 240.40205 Florida Academic Scholars award.--
12 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic
13 Scholars award if the student meets the general eligibility
14 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
15 Program and the student:
16 (a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
17 calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or its equivalent, in
18 high school courses that are designated by the Department of
19 Education adopted by the Board of Regents and recommended by
20 the State Board of Community Colleges as college-preparatory
21 academic courses; and
22 (b) has attained at least the score identified by
23 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
24 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
25 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
26 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
27 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or
28 (b)(c) Has attended a home education program according
29 to s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
30 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
31 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
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1 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
2 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
3 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
4 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
5 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
6 College Testing Program; or
7 (c)(d) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate
8 Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office; or
9 (d)(e) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
10 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
11 scholar or finalist; or
12 (e)(f) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
13 Recognition Program as a scholar recipient.
14
15 Effective with the 1998-1999 school year, A student must
16 complete a program of community service work, as approved by
17 the district school board or the administrators of a nonpublic
18 school, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours of service
19 work and require the student to identify a social problem that
20 interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal
21 involvement in addressing the problem, and, through papers or
22 other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her
23 experience.
24 (2) Until July 1, 2006, a Florida Academic Scholar who
25 is enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution is
26 eligible for an award equal to the amount required to pay
27 matriculation, fees, and $600 for college-related expenses
28 annually. Until July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a
29 nonpublic postsecondary education institution is eligible for
30 an award equal to the amount that would be required to pay for
31 the average matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary
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1 education institution at the comparable level, plus the annual
2 $600. Effective July 1, 2006, a student is eligible to receive
3 a maximum annual award of $3,200 or the amount established in
4 the General Appropriations Act.
5 (3) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida
6 Academic Scholar, a student must maintain the equivalent of a
7 grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all
8 postsecondary education work attempted, with an opportunity
9 for one restoration reinstatement as provided in this chapter
10 act.
11 (4) In each school district, the Florida Academic
12 Scholar with the highest academic ranking shall be designated
13 as an Academic Top Scholar and shall be entitled to receive an
14 additional award of $1,500 for college-related expenses. This
15 award must be funded from the Florida Bright Futures
16 Scholarship Program.
17 Section 6. Section 240.40206, Florida Statutes, is
18 amended to read:
19 240.40206 Florida Medallion Merit Scholars award.--
20 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Medallion
21 Merit Scholars award if the student meets the general
22 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
23 Scholarship Program and the student:
24 (a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0
25 as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or the equivalent, in
26 high school courses that are designated by the Department of
27 Education adopted by the Board of Regents and recommended by
28 the State Board of Community Colleges as college-preparatory
29 academic courses; and
30 (b) has attained at least the score identified by
31 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
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1 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
2 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
3 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
4 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or
5 (b)(c) Has attended a home education program according
6 to s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
7 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
8 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
9 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
10 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
11 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
12 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
13 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
14 College Testing Program;.
15 (c) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
16 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
17 scholar or finalist but has not completed a program of
18 community service as provided in s. 240.40205; or
19 (d) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
20 Recognition Program as a scholar, but has not completed a
21 program of community service as provided in s. 240.40205.
22 (2) Until July 1, 2006, a Florida Medallion Merit
23 Scholar is eligible for an award equal to the amount required
24 to pay 75 percent of matriculation and fees, if the student is
25 enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution.
26 Until July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
27 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
28 equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent
29 of the matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary
30 education institution at the comparable level. Effective July
31 1, 2006, a student is eligible to receive a maximum annual
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1 award of $2,000 or the amount established in the General
2 Appropriations Act, if the student is enrolled in a public
3 university or other eligible 4-year college or university that
4 grants baccalaureate degrees or higher. Effective July 1,
5 2006, a student who is enrolled in a public community college,
6 a nonpublic 2-year college, or a public technical center or
7 eligible nonpublic school is eligible to receive a maximum
8 annual award of $1,500 or the amount established in the
9 General Appropriations Act.
10 (3) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida
11 Merit Scholar, a student must maintain the equivalent of a
12 grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for all
13 postsecondary education work attempted, with an opportunity
14 for restoration reinstatement one time as provided in this
15 chapter act.
16 Section 7. Section 240.40207, Florida Statutes, is
17 amended to read:
18 240.40207 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
19 award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is
20 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
21 to recognize and reward academic achievement and vocational
22 preparation by high school students who wish to continue their
23 education.
24 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
25 Vocational Scholars award if the student meets the general
26 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
27 Scholarship Program and the student:
28 (a) Completes the secondary school portion of a
29 sequential program of studies that requires at least three
30 consecutive secondary school vocational credits. taken over at
31 least 2 academic years, and is continued in a planned, related
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1 postsecondary education program. If the student's school does
2 not offer such a two-plus-two or tech-prep program, the
3 student must complete a job-preparatory career education
4 program selected by the Workforce Estimating Conference or
5 Workforce Florida, Inc., for its ability to provide high-wage
6 employment in an occupation with high potential for employment
7 opportunities. On-the-job training may not be substituted for
8 any of the three required vocational credits.
9 (b) Demonstrates readiness for postsecondary education
10 by earning a passing score on the Florida College Entry Level
11 Placement Test or its equivalent as identified by the
12 Department of Education.
13 (c) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point
14 average of 3.0, as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, on all
15 subjects required for a standard high school diploma,
16 excluding elective courses.
17 (d) Earns a minimum unweighted grade point average of
18 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for secondary vocational courses comprising
19 the vocational program.
20 (e) Completes the requirements of a vocational-ready
21 diploma program, as defined by rules of the State Board of
22 Education.
23 (2) Until July 1, 2006, a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
24 Scholar is eligible for an award equal to the amount required
25 to pay 75 percent of matriculation and fees, if the student is
26 enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution.
27 Until July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
28 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
29 equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent
30 of the matriculation and mandatory fees of a public
31 postsecondary education institution at the comparable level.
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1 Effective July 1, 2006, a student is eligible to receive a
2 maximum annual award of $2,000 or the amount established in
3 the General Appropriations Act, if the student is enrolled in
4 a public university or other eligible 4-year college or
5 university that grants baccalaureate degrees or higher.
6 Effective July 1, 2006, a student who is enrolled in a public
7 community college, a nonpublic 2-year college, or a public
8 technical center or eligible nonpublic school is eligible to
9 receive a maximum annual award of $1,500 or the amount
10 established in the General Appropriations Act.
11 (3) To be eligible for a renewal or restoration award
12 as a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar, a student must meet
13 the requirements of s. 240.40203 and the maintain the
14 equivalent of a grade point average requirement of 2.75 on a
15 4.0 scale for all postsecondary education work attempted. A
16 student has, with an opportunity for restoration reinstatement
17 one time as provided in this chapter act.
18 (4) A student may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
19 Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
20 required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the
21 equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar who meets
22 all renewal requirements for a Florida Medallion Scholars
23 award has a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all
24 postsecondary education work attempted may apply for a Florida
25 Medallion Merit Scholars award at any renewal period, or the
26 department may transfer the student to the Florida Medallion
27 Scholars award during any renewal period. All other provisions
28 of that program apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be
29 calculated by subtracting from the student's total eligibility
30 the number of credit hours the student attempted while earning
31 the Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
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1 Section 8. Section 240.40209, Florida Statutes, is
2 amended to read:
3 240.40209 Bright Futures Scholarship recipients
4 attending nonpublic institutions; calculation of
5 awards.--Notwithstanding ss. 240.40201, 240.40205, 240.40206,
6 and 240.40207, a student who receives any award under the
7 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, who is enrolled in
8 a nonpublic postsecondary education institution, and who is
9 assessed tuition and fees that are the same as those of a
10 full-time student at that institution, shall receive a fixed
11 award calculated by using the average matriculation and fee
12 calculation as prescribed by the Department of Education for
13 full-time attendance at a public postsecondary education
14 institution at the comparable level. If the student is
15 enrolled part-time and is assessed tuition and fees at a
16 reduced level, the award shall be either one-half of the
17 maximum award or three-fourths of the maximum award, depending
18 on the level of fees assessed.
19 Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and
20 subsection (4) of section 240.404, Florida Statutes, are
21 amended to read:
22 240.404 General requirements for student eligibility
23 for state financial aid.--
24 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of
25 students for state financial aid awards consist of the
26 following:
27 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
28 acceptance at a state university or community college; a
29 nursing diploma school approved by the Florida Board of
30 Nursing; a Florida college, university, or community college
31 which is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the
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1 United States Department of Education a member of the
2 Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; any
3 Florida institution the credits of which are acceptable for
4 transfer to state universities; any area technical center; or
5 any private vocational-technical institution accredited by an
6 accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
7 of Education a member of the Commission on Recognition of
8 Postsecondary Accreditation.
9 2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
10 preceding the award of aid for a program established pursuant
11 to s. 240.409, s. 240.4095, s. 240.4097, s. 240.412, s.
12 240.4125, s. 240.413, s. 240.4987, s. 240.605, or s. 240.606.
13 Residency in this state must be for purposes other than to
14 obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of receiving
15 state financial aid awards shall be determined in the same
16 manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s.
17 240.1201 and rules of the State Board of Education. A person
18 who has been properly classified as a resident by a
19 postsecondary education institution for initial receipt of
20 state-funded student financial assistance and found to be
21 eligible to participate in a financial assistance program may
22 continue to qualify as a resident for state-funded financial
23 aid programs if the student maintains continuous enrollment at
24 the postsecondary education institution, with no break in
25 enrollment greater than 12 consecutive months.
26 3. Submission of certification attesting to the
27 accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information
28 provided to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive
29 state financial aid awards. Falsification of such information
30 shall result in the denial of any pending application and
31 revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no
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1 further payments shall be made. Additionally, students who
2 knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
3 financial aid awards shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
4 second degree subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall
5 be required to return all state financial aid awards
6 wrongfully obtained.
7 4. Completion of the Free Application for Federal
8 Student Aid provided by the U.S. Department of Education and
9 submitted as required by the Florida Department of Education.
10 (4) Effective July 1, 2006, a student is not eligible
11 to receive more than one state scholarship or state grant in
12 the same term, except that a student who qualifies for both a
13 merit-based scholarship and a need-based grant may receive
14 both types of awards. A No student is not shall be eligible to
15 receive more than one state scholarship that is based on
16 academic merit. Students who qualify for more than one such
17 scholarship shall be notified of all awards for which they
18 qualify and shall be provided the opportunity to accept one of
19 their choosing.
20 Section 10. Section 240.40208, Florida Statutes, is
21 repealed.
22 Section 11. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
23 law.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.