House Bill hb0673

    Florida House of Representatives - 2002                 HB 673

        By Representative Weissman






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to students in community

  3         college aviation programs; creating a low

  4         interest rate loan program; providing maximum

  5         loan amounts and the interest rate on loans;

  6         providing eligibility criteria; providing for

  7         loan repayment; providing an effective date.

  8

  9         WHEREAS, vocational programs offered through community

10  colleges are intended to be cost-effective preparations for

11  participants to receive training that will enable them to

12  become productive members of the workforce, and

13         WHEREAS, students in aviation programs such as pilot

14  training and aviation maintenance incur high expenses not

15  customarily experienced by students in other programs, and

16         WHEREAS, the high cost of aviation programs denies

17  access to these programs to qualified individuals who are

18  economically disadvantaged, and

19         WHEREAS, minorities and women are underrepresented in

20  community college aviation programs, and

21         WHEREAS, low interest rate loans would provide equal

22  opportunities for participants, and

23         WHEREAS, there is a great need for additional workers

24  trained in aviation programs and it is a benefit to the

25  aviation industry to have a qualified workforce representing

26  the people of Florida, and

27         WHEREAS, aviation is vital to sustaining Florida's

28  economy, NOW, THEREFORE,

29

30  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 2002                 HB 673

    739-119-02






  1         Section 1.  There is created a low interest rate loan

  2  program for students enrolled in aviation programs in

  3  community colleges. Funds shall be made available to such

  4  students according to the following criteria:

  5         (1)  A student is eligible for a loan as

  6  follows:  during a student's first term in an aviation

  7  program, an amount equal to 30 percent of tuition, fees, and

  8  costs; during a student's second term in an aviation program,

  9  an amount up to 50 percent of tuition, fees, and costs; during

10  a student's third term in an aviation program, an amount up to

11  70 percent of tuition, fees, and costs; and during a student's

12  fourth and any subsequent term in an aviation program, an

13  amount up to 90 percent of tuition, fees, and costs. A loan

14  must be repaid beginning no later than 6 months after the

15  student leaves the program, and interest on the loan shall be

16  at the rate of 3 percent. Loans shall be subject to

17  availability of funds. If funds are insufficient to make loans

18  available to students in the full amount authorized by this

19  act, a community college shall make loans to all eligible

20  students on a pro rata basis.

21         (2)  In order to maintain eligibility for a low

22  interest rate loan following the first term in an aviation

23  program, a student must:

24         (a)  Be enrolled for at least 6 semester credit hours

25  or the equivalent per term.

26         (b)  Maintain a grade point average of no less than 3.0

27  in aviation classes, including flight classes.

28         (c)  Be making satisfactory progress, as determined by

29  standards of the respective community college, toward

30  successful completion of the aviation program.

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2002                 HB 673

    739-119-02






  1         (d)  If enrolled in a pilot training program, be able

  2  to hold a second-class medical certificate issued by an

  3  aviation medical examiner.

  4         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.

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  7                          HOUSE SUMMARY

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      Creates a low interest rate loan program for aviation
  9    students in community colleges. Prescribes maximum loan
      amounts and the interest rate on loans. Requires certain
10    academic and other criteria to be met for continued
      eligibility.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.