HB 1745 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to higher education finance policy;
3	amending s. 1009.21, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
4	determination of resident status for tuition purposes;
5	providing for reclassification; providing for
6	classification of certain graduate teaching assistants or
7	graduate research assistants; amending s. 1009.23, F.S.;
8	deleting provisions relating to fines assessed by
9	community colleges; amending s. 1009.24, F.S.; revising
10	provisions relating to undergraduate tuition and fees;
11	authorizing a nonrefundable admissions deposit;
12	authorizing an educational enhancement fee; authorizing a
13	technology fee; amending s. 1009.25, F.S.; revising
14	provisions relating to fee exemptions; amending s.
15	1009.53, F.S., relating to the Florida Bright Futures
16	Scholarship Program; revising provisions relating to
17	payment to postsecondary education institutions; providing
18	for subsidies to institutions; specifying minimum hours
19	for which students must be enrolled; amending s. 1009.531,
20	F.S.; revising initial eligibility criteria; providing
21	eligibility period for students who enlist in the United
22	States Armed Forces; providing for additional weighting
23	for certain courses; amending s. 1009.532, F.S.; revising
24	eligibility criteria to renew a Florida Bright Futures
25	Scholarship; revising provisions relating to number of
26	credit hours for which a scholarship may be received;
27	amending s. 1009.534, F.S.; revising initial eligibility
28	criteria for a Florida Academic Scholarship; revising
29	provisions relating to the amount of a scholarship;
30	authorizing cash payments; revising renewal criteria;
31	amending s. 1009.535, F.S.; revising initial eligibility
32	criteria for a Florida Medallion Scholarship; revising
33	provisions relating to the amount of a scholarship;
34	authorizing cash payments; revising renewal criteria;
35	amending s. 1009.536, F.S.; revising the types of programs
36	for which a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship may
37	be used; requiring the State Board of Education to
38	identify such programs; revising provisions relating to
39	the amount of a scholarship; authorizing cash payments;
40	revising renewal criteria; revising provisions relating to
41	number of credits for which a scholarship may be received;
42	revising provisions relating to transfer to a Florida
43	Medallion Scholarship; creating s. 1009.5365, F.S.;
44	providing for subsidies to public postsecondary education
45	institutions; providing requirements for establishing the
46	amount of subsidies; repealing s. 1009.538, F.S., relating
47	to calculation of awards for Florida Bright Futures
48	Scholarship recipients attending nonpublic institutions;
49	repealing s. 1009.539, F.S., relating to the Florida
50	Bright Futures Scholarship Testing Program; requiring the
51	State Board of Education to submit to the Legislature a
52	plan regarding tuition and funding for excess hours;
53	amending s. 1002.41, F.S.; correcting a cross reference;
54	providing an effective date.
55
56	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
57
58	Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) of
59	section 1009.21, Florida Statutes, are amended, paragraph (d) is
60	added to said subsection, and paragraph (k) is added to
61	subsection (10) of said section, to read:
62	1009.21 Determination of resident status for tuition
63	purposes.--Students shall be classified as residents or
64	nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in community
65	colleges and state universities.
66	(2)(a) To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes:
67	1. A person or, if that person is a dependent child, his
68	or her parent or parents must have established legal residence
69	in this state and must have maintained legal residence in this
70	state for at least 12 months immediately prior to his or her
71	initial enrollment at a Florida postsecondary education
72	institution. For purposes of this section, the term “initial
73	enrollment” is defined as the first day of classqualification.
74	2. Every applicant for admission to an institution of
75	higher education shall be required to make a statement as to his
76	or her length of residence in the state and, further, shall
77	establish that his or her presence or, if the applicant is a
78	dependent child, the presence of his or her parent or parents in
79	the state currently is, and during the requisite 12-month
80	qualifying period was, for the purpose of maintaining a bona
81	fide domicile, rather than for the purpose of maintaining a mere
82	temporary residence or abode incident to enrollment in an
83	institution of higher education.
84	(b) However, with respect to a dependent child living with
85	an adult relative other than the child's parent, such child may
86	qualify as a resident for tuition purposes if the adult relative
87	is a legal resident who has maintained legal residence in this
88	state for at least 12 months immediately prior to the child's
89	initial enrollment at a Florida postsecondary education
90	institutionqualification, provided the child has resided
91	continuously with such relative for the 5 years immediately
92	prior to the child's initial enrollmentqualification, during
93	which time the adult relative has exercised day-to-day care,
94	supervision, and control of the child.
95	(d) A person who is classified as a nonresident for
96	tuition purposes may become eligible for reclassification as a
97	resident for tuition purposes if that person or, if that person
98	is a dependent child, his or her parent presents documentation
99	that supports permanent residency in this state, such as
100	documentation of permanent full-time employment for the previous
101	12 months or the purchase of a home in this state and residence
102	therein for the prior 12 months.
103	(10) The following persons shall be classified as
104	residents for tuition purposes:
105	(k) A graduate teaching assistant or graduate research
106	assistant while employed by a state university, when such
107	employment is at least one-half time in a teaching or research
108	assistant position that relates to the graduate assistant’s
109	degree program.
110	Section 2. Subsection (12) of section 1009.23, Florida
111	Statutes, is amended to read:
112	1009.23 Community college student fees.--
113	(12) In addition to tuition, out-of-state, financial aid,
114	capital improvement, student activity and service, and
115	technology fees authorized in this section, each community
116	college board of trustees is authorized to establish fee
117	schedules for the following user fees and fines: laboratory
118	fees; parking fees and fines; library fees and fines; fees and
119	fines relating to facilities and equipment use or damage; access
120	or identification card fees; duplicating, photocopying, binding,
121	or microfilming fees; standardized testing fees; diploma
122	replacement fees; transcript fees; application fees; graduation
123	fees; and late fees related to registration and payment. Such
124	user fees and finesshall not exceed the cost of the services
125	provided and shall only be charged to persons receiving the
126	service. A community college may not charge any fee except as
127	authorized by law or rules of the State Board of Education.
128	Parking fee revenues may be pledged by a community college board
129	of trustees as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of
130	debt, including lease-purchase agreements and revenue bonds with
131	terms not exceeding 20 years and not exceeding the useful life
132	of the asset being financed. Community colleges shall use the
133	services of the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of
134	Administration to issue any revenue bonds authorized by the
135	provisions of this subsection. Any such bonds issued by the
136	Division of Bond Finance shall be in compliance with the
137	provisions of the State Bond Act. Bonds issued pursuant to the
138	State Bond Act shall be validated in the manner established in
139	chapter 75. The complaint for such validation shall be filed in
140	the circuit court of the county where the seat of state
141	government is situated, the notice required to be published by
142	s. 75.06 shall be published only in the county where the
143	complaint is filed, and the complaint and order of the circuit
144	court shall be served only on the state attorney of the circuit
145	in which the action is pending.
146	Section 3. Subsections (3) and (13) of section 1009.24,
147	Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsections (15) and (16) are
148	added to said section, to read:
149	1009.24 State university student fees.--
150	(3) Within proviso in the General Appropriations Act and
151	law, each board of trustees shall set university tuition and
152	fees. The sum of the activity and service, health, and athletic
153	fees a student is required to pay to register for a course shall
154	not exceed 40 percent of the tuition established in law or in
155	the General Appropriations Act. No university shall be required
156	to lower any fee in effect on the effective date of this act in
157	order to comply with this subsection. Within the 40 percent cap,
158	universities may not increase the aggregate sum of activity and
159	service, health, and athletic fees more than 5 percent per year
160	unless specifically authorized in law or in the General
161	Appropriations Act. This subsection does not prohibit a
162	university from increasing or assessing optional fees related to
163	specific activities if payment of such fees is not required as a
164	part of registration for courses. Except as otherwise provided
165	by law, the sum of nonresident tuition and out-of-state fees
166	charged to undergraduates shall be sufficient to defray the full
167	cost of undergraduate education.
168	(13) Each university board of trustees is authorized to
169	establish a nonrefundable admissions deposit for undergraduate,
170	graduate, and professional degree programs in an amount not to
171	exceed $200. The admissions deposit shall be imposed at the time
172	of an applicant’s acceptance to the university and shall be
173	applied toward tuition upon enrollment. In the event the
174	applicant does not enroll in the university, the admissions
175	deposit shall be deposited in an auxiliary account of the
176	university and used to expand financial assistance,
177	scholarships, and student academic and career counseling
178	services at the university. A university board of trustees that
179	establishes an admissions deposit pursuant to this subsection
180	must also adopt policies that provide for the waiver of such
181	deposit on the basis of financial hardship.The board of
182	trustees of the University of Florida is authorized to establish
183	an admissions deposit fee for the University of Florida College
184	of Dentistry in an amount not to exceed $200.
185	(15) Each university board of trustees is authorized to
186	establish an educational enhancement fee on the main campus of
187	the university. The university board of trustees may also
188	establish a separate educational enhancement fee on any branch
189	campus or center. The fee may be modified annually according to
190	the identified enhancement project and according to funding
191	needs. The educational enhancement fee shall not exceed 5
192	percent of tuition. The establishment of, and any subsequent
193	modification to, the educational enhancement fee must be
194	recommended by an educational enhancement fee committee, at
195	least one-half of whose members are students appointed by the
196	student body president. The remainder of the committee shall be
197	appointed by the university president. A chair, appointed
198	jointly by the university president and the student body
199	president, shall vote only in the case of a tie. The
200	recommendations of the committee shall take effect only after
201	approval by the university president, with prior consultation
202	with the student body president, and final approval by the
203	university board of trustees. An increase in the educational
204	enhancement fee may occur only once each fiscal year and must be
205	implemented beginning with the fall term. When duly established,
206	the fee shall be collected as a component part of registration
207	and tuition fees and shall be retained by each university and
208	paid into a separate educational enhancement fund. Collections
209	from the educational enhancement fee shall be used for enhancing
210	the instructional and university experience for students.
211	(16) Each university is authorized to establish a
212	technology fee to be expended to enhance, expand, and improve
213	technology access and support according to technology
214	improvement plans approved by the university board of trustees
215	with prior consultation with the university’s student government
216	association. The fee may be modified annually according to the
217	technology improvement plan and according to funding needs. The
218	technology fee shall not exceed 5 percent of tuition. The
219	establishment of, and any subsequent modification to, the
220	technology fee must be recommended by a technology fee
221	committee, at least one-half of whose members are students
222	appointed by the student body president. The remainder of the
223	committee shall be appointed by the university president. A
224	chair, appointed jointly by the university president and the
225	student body president, shall vote only in the case of a tie.
226	The recommendations of the committee shall take effect only
227	after approval by the university president, with prior
228	consultation with the student body president, and final approval
229	by the university board of trustees. An increase in the
230	technology fee may occur only once each fiscal year and must be
231	implemented beginning with the fall term. When duly established,
232	the fee shall be collected as a component part of registration
233	and tuition fees and shall be retained by each university and
234	paid into a separate technology fund. Fifty percent of
235	technology fee revenues may be pledged by a university board of
236	trustees as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of
237	debt, including lease-purchase agreements, not to exceed the
238	useful life of the asset being financed. Revenues generated from
239	the technology fee may not be bonded.
240	Section 4. Paragraphs (b) and (e) of subsection (2) of
241	section 1009.25, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
242	1009.25 Fee exemptions.--
243	(2) The following students are exempt from the payment of
244	tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that
245	provides postsecondary career and technical programs, community
246	college, or state university:
247	(b) A student enrolled in an approved apprenticeship
248	program, as defined in s. 446.021, but only with respect to such
249	apprenticeship program.
250	(e) A student enrolled in a workforce development program
251	who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or
252	whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private shelter
253	designed to provide temporary residence for individuals intended
254	to be institutionalized, or a public or private place not
255	designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping
256	accommodation for human beings.
257	Section 5. Section 1009.53, Florida Statutes, is amended
258	to read:
259	1009.53 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.--
260	(1) The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is
261	created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to
262	reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition
263	of high academic achievement and who enrolls in a degree
264	program, certificate program, or applied technology program at
265	an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary education
266	institution within 3 years of graduation from high school.
267	(2) The Bright Futures Scholarship Program consists of
268	three types of scholarshipsawards: the Florida Academic
269	Scholarship, the Florida Medallion Scholarship, and the Florida
270	Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
271	(3) The Department of Education shall administer the
272	Bright Futures Scholarship Program according to rules and
273	procedures established by the State Board of Education. A single
274	application must be sufficient for a student to apply for any of
275	the three types of scholarshipsawards. The department must
276	advertise the availability of the scholarship program and must
277	notify students, teachers, parents, guidance counselors, and
278	principals or other relevant school administrators of the
279	criteria and application procedures. The department must begin
280	this process of notification no later than January 1 of each
281	year.
282	(4) Funding for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program
283	must be allocated from the Education Enhancement Trust Fund and
284	must be provided before allocations from that fund are
285	calculated for disbursement to other educational entities.
286	(a) If funds appropriated are not adequate to provide the
287	maximum allowable subsidy for each scholarship recipient,
288	subsidies foraward to each eligible applicant, awards inall
289	three scholarshipscomponents of the programmust be prorated
290	using the same percentage reduction.
291	(b) Notwithstanding s. 216.301, if all funds allocated to
292	the Bright Futures Scholarship Program are not used in any
293	fiscal year, up to 10 percent of the total allocation may be
294	carried forward and used for the programawardsin the following
295	year.
296	(5) The department shall issue subsidiesawardsfrom the
297	scholarship program annually. Annual awards may be for up to 45
298	semester credit hours or the equivalent. Before the registration
299	period each semester,The department shall transmit payment for
300	each subsidyawardto the president or director of the
301	postsecondary education institution, or his or her
302	representative pursuant to the provisions of this section and s.
303	1009.5365, except that the department may withhold payment if
304	the receiving institution fails to report or to make refunds to
305	the department as required in this section.
306	(a) Within 30 days after the end of regular registration
307	each semester, the educational institution shall certify to the
308	department the eligibility status of each student who receives a
309	scholarshipan award. After the end of the drop and add period,
310	an institution is not required to reevaluate or revise a
311	student's eligibility status, but must make a refund to the
312	department if the institution receives a subsidy fora student
313	who receives a scholarship andan award disbursementterminates
314	enrollment for any reason during an academic term and a refund
315	is permitted by the institution's refund policy.
316	(b) An institution that receives funds from the program
317	shall certify to the department the amount of funds disbursed to
318	each student and shall remit to the department any undisbursed
319	advances within 60 days after the end of regular registration.
320	(c) Each institution that receives moneys through this
321	program shall prepare an annual report that includes an annual
322	financial audit, conducted by an independent certified public
323	accountant or the Auditor General. The report shall include an
324	audit of the institution's administration of the program and a
325	complete accounting of the moneys for the program. This report
326	must be submitted to the department annually by AprilMarch1.
327	The department may conduct its own annual audit of an
328	institution's administration of the program. The department may
329	request a refund of any moneys overpaid to the institution for
330	the program. The department may suspend or revoke an
331	institution's eligibility to receive future moneys for the
332	program if the department finds that an institution has not
333	complied with this section. The institution must remit within 60
334	days any refund requested in accordance with this subsection.
335	(6) A student must be enrolled for at least 6 semester
336	credit hours or the equivalent in quarter hours or clock hours
337	per term to receive a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
338	enrolled in 6 to 8 semester credit hours may receive up to one-
339	half of the maximum award; a student enrolled in 9 to 11 credit
340	hours may receive up to three-fourths of the maximum award; and
341	a student enrolled in 12 or more credit hours may receive up to
342	the full award.
343	(7) A student may receive only one type of award from the
344	Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Programat a time, but may
345	transfer from one type of scholarshipawardto another through
346	the renewal application process, if the student's eligibility
347	status changes. However, a student is not eligible to transfer
348	from a Florida Medallion Scholarship or a Florida Gold Seal
349	Vocational Scholarship to a Florida Academic Scholarship. A
350	student who receives a scholarshipan awardfrom the program may
351	also receive a federal family education loan or a federal direct
352	loan, and the value of the scholarshipawardmust be considered
353	in the certification or calculation of the student's loan
354	eligibility.
355	(8) If a recipient transfers from one eligible institution
356	to another and continues to meet eligibility requirements, the
357	scholarshipawardmust be transferred with the student.
358	(9) A student may use a scholarshipan awardfor summer
359	term enrollment if funds are available.
360	(10) Funds from any scholarship within the Florida Bright
361	Futures Scholarship Program may not be used to pay for remedial
362	or college-preparatory coursework.
363	Section 6. Section 1009.531, Florida Statutes, is amended
364	to read:
365	1009.531 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
366	student initial eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
367	(1) To be eligible for an initial scholarshipawardfrom
368	any of the three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright
369	Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:
370	(a) Be a Florida resident as defined in s. 1009.40 and
371	rules of the State Board of Education.
372	(b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
373	equivalent as described in s. 1003.43 or s. 1003.45 unless:
374	1. The student is enrolled full time in the early
375	admission program of an eligible postsecondary education
376	institution or completes a home education program according to
377	s. 1002.41; or
378	2. The student earns a high school diploma from a non-
379	Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who is on
380	military or public service assignment away from Florida.
381	(c) Be accepted by and enroll in an eligible Florida
382	public or independent postsecondary education institution.
383	(d) Be enrolled for at least 6 semester credit hours or
384	the equivalent in quarter hours or clock hours.
385	(d)(e)Not have been found guilty of, or plead nolo
386	contendere to, a felony charge, unless the student has been
387	granted clemency by the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the
388	Executive Office of Clemency.
389	(e)(f)Apply for a scholarship from the program by high
390	school graduation.
391	(f) Beginning with initial scholarships to be issued for
392	the 2004-2005 academic year, submit to the United States
393	Department of Education a completed Free Application for Federal
394	Student Aid.
395	(2) A student is eligible to accept an initial scholarship
396	awardfor 3 years following high school graduation and to accept
397	a renewal of the scholarshipawardfor 7 years following high
398	school graduation. A student who applies for a Florida Bright
399	Futures Scholarshipan awardby high school graduation and who
400	meets all other eligibility requirements, but who does not
401	accept his or her scholarshipaward, may reinstatereapply
402	during subsequent application periods up to 3 years after high
403	school graduation. For a student who enlists in the United
404	States Armed Forces directly out of high school, the 3-year
405	eligibility period for initial use of the scholarship and the 7-
406	year renewal period shall begin upon the date of the student’s
407	separation from active duty. For a student who is receiving a
408	Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and who discontinues his or
409	her education to enlist in the United States Armed Forces, the
410	remainder of the student’s 7-year renewal period shall commence
411	upon the date of the student’s separation from active duty. To
412	be eligible for the extension of periods for initial use and
413	renewal of a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship pursuant to this
414	subsection, a student must have been discharged or released from
415	active duty under conditions other than dishonorable.
416	(3) For purposes of calculating the grade point average to
417	be used in determining initial eligibility for a Florida Bright
418	Futures Scholarship, the department shall assign additional
419	weights to grades earned in the following courses:
420	(a) Courses identified in the course code directory as
421	Advanced Placement, pre-International Baccalaureate, or
422	International Baccalaureate, International General Certificate
423	of Secondary Education, or Advanced International Certificate of
424	Education.
425	(b) Courses designated as academic dual enrollment courses
426	in the statewide course numbering system.
427
428	The department may assign additional weights to courses, other
429	than those described in paragraphs (a) and (b), that are
430	identified by the Department of Education as containing rigorous
431	academic curriculum and performance standards. The additional
432	weight assigned to a course pursuant to this subsection shall
433	not exceed 0.5 per course. The weighted system shall be
434	developed and distributed to all high schools in the state prior
435	to January 1, 1998. The department may determine a student's
436	eligibility status during the senior year before graduation and
437	may inform the student of the scholarshipawardat that time.
438	(4) Each school district shall annually provide to each
439	high school student a complete and accurate Florida Bright
440	Futures Scholarship Evaluation Report and Key. The report shall
441	be disseminated at the beginning of each school year. The report
442	must include all high school coursework attempted, the number of
443	credits earned toward each type of scholarshipaward, and the
444	calculation of the grade point average for each scholarship
445	award. The report must also identify all requirements not met
446	per scholarshipaward, including the grade point average
447	requirement, as well as identify the scholarshipsawardsfor
448	which the student has met the academic requirements. The student
449	report cards must contain a disclosure that the grade point
450	average calculated for purposes of the Florida Bright Futures
451	Scholarship Program may differ from the grade point average on
452	the report card.
453	(5) A student who wishes to qualify for a particular
454	scholarshipawardwithin the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
455	Program, but who does not meet all of the requirements for that
456	level of scholarshipaward, may, nevertheless, receive the
457	scholarshipawardif the principal of the student's school or
458	the district superintendent verifies that the deficiency is
459	caused by the fact that school district personnel provided
460	inaccurate or incomplete information to the student. The school
461	district must provide a means for the student to correct the
462	deficiencies and the student must correct them, either by
463	completing comparable work at the postsecondary institution or
464	by completing a directed individualized study program developed
465	and administered by the school district. If the student does not
466	complete the requirements by December 31 immediately following
467	high school graduation, the student is ineligible to participate
468	in the program.
469	Section 7. Section 1009.532, Florida Statutes, is amended
470	to read:
471	1009.532 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
472	student eligibility requirements for renewal of a scholarship
473	awards.--
474	(1) To be eligible to renew a scholarship from any of the
475	three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright Futures
476	Scholarship Program, a student must:
477	(a) Complete at least 12 semester credit hours or the
478	equivalent for each termin the last academic year in which the
479	student earned a scholarship or a prorated number of hours if
480	the student received a scholarship for less than full-time
481	enrollment.
482	(b) Maintain the cumulative grade point average required
483	by the scholarship program, except that:
484	1. If a recipient's grades fall beneath the average
485	required to renew a Florida Academic Scholarship, but are
486	sufficient to renew a Florida Medallion Scholarship or a Florida
487	Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship, the Department of Education
488	may grant a renewal as a Florida Medallion Scholarshipfrom one
489	of those other scholarship programs, if the student meets the
490	renewal eligibility requirements; or
491	2. If, at any time during the eligibility period, a
492	student's grades are insufficient to renew the scholarship, the
493	student may restore eligibility by improving the grade point
494	average to the required level. A student is eligible for such a
495	restorationreinstatementonly once. The Legislature encourages
496	education institutions to assist students to calculate whether
497	or not it is possible to raise the grade point average during
498	the summer term. If the institution determines that it is
499	possible, the education institution may so inform the
500	department, which may reserve the student's scholarshipawardif
501	funds are available. The renewal of the scholarship, however,
502	must not be granted until the student achieves the required
503	cumulative grade point average. If the summer term is not
504	sufficient to raise the grade point average to the required
505	renewal level, the student's next opportunity for restoration of
506	the scholarshiprenewalis the fall semester of the following
507	academic year.
508	(2)(a) A student who received his or her initial Florida
509	Bright Futures Scholarship prior to the 2003-2004 academic year
510	andis enrolled in a program that terminates in an associate
511	degree or a baccalaureate degree may receive a scholarshipan
512	awardfor a maximum of 110 percent of the number of credit hours
513	required to complete the program. A student who received his or
514	her initial Florida Bright Futures Scholarship prior to the
515	2003-2004 academic year andis enrolled in a program that
516	terminates in a technical certificate may receive a scholarship
517	an award for a maximum of 110 percent ofthe credit hours or
518	clock hours required to complete the program up to 90 credit
519	hours. A student who transfers from one of these program levels
520	to another becomes eligible for the higher of the two credit
521	hour limits.
522	(b) Beginning with students who receive an initial Florida
523	Bright Futures Scholarship in the 2003-2004 academic year and
524	thereafter, a student who is enrolled in a program that
525	terminates in an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree may
526	receive a scholarship for the number of credit hours required to
527	complete the program and a student who is enrolled in a program
528	that terminates in a technical certificate may receive a
529	scholarship for the number of credit hours or clock hours
530	required to complete the program up to 90 credit hours. A
531	student who transfers from one of these program levels to
532	another becomes eligible for the higher of the two credit hour
533	limits.
534	Section 8. Section 1009.534, Florida Statutes, is amended
535	to read:
536	1009.534 Florida Academic ScholarshipScholars award.--
537	(1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic
538	ScholarshipScholars awardif the student meets the general
539	eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
540	Scholarship Program and the student:
541	(a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
542	calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or its equivalent, in high
543	school courses that are designated by the State Board of
544	Education as college-preparatory academic courses; and has
545	attained at least a score of 1270the score identified by rules
546	of the State Board of Educationon the combined verbal and
547	quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
548	Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recenteredScholastic
549	Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
550	equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program or an equivalent
551	examination as determined by the State Board of Education; or
552	(b) Has attended a home education program pursuant
553	accordingto s. 1002.41 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed
554	the International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn
555	the International Baccalaureate Diploma or has completed the
556	Advanced International Certificate of Education curriculum but
557	failed to earn the Advanced International Certificate of
558	Education Diploma, and has attained at least the score
559	identified by rules of the State BoardDepartmentof Education
560	on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
561	Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
562	Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
563	or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program or an
564	equivalent examination; or
565	(c) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate
566	Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office; or
567	(d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
568	programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
569	scholar or finalist; or
570	(e) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
571	Recognition Program as a scholar recipient; or
572	(f) Has been awarded an Advanced International Certificate
573	of Education Diploma from the University of Cambridge
574	International Examinations Office.
575
576	A student must complete a program of community service work, as
577	approved by the district school board or the administrators of a
578	nonpublic school, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours of
579	service work and require the student to identify a social
580	problem that interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her
581	personal involvement in addressing the problem, and, through
582	papers or other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or
583	her experience.
584	(2) A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a public
585	postsecondary education institution is eligible for a
586	scholarship that covers 100 percent of tuition and fees plusan
587	award equal to the amount required to pay tuition, fees, and
588	$600 for college-related expenses annually. For purposes of this
589	scholarship, the term “fees” includes the following fees:
590	financial aid fee; capital improvement fee; building fee;
591	Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee; activity and service fee;
592	health fee; athletic fee; and lab fees not to exceed $300 per
593	term.A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic postsecondary
594	education institution is eligible for a scholarshipan award
595	equal to the amount that the state provides as a Florida
596	Academic Scholars Bright Futures subsidy towould be required to
597	pay for the average tuition and fees ofa public postsecondary
598	education institution at the comparable level, plus the annual
599	$600. A student who is enrolled in a public postsecondary
600	education institution and chooses to receive the Florida Bright
601	Futures Scholarship as a cash payment for expenses associated
602	with postsecondary education is eligible for the amount of the
603	Florida Bright Futures subsidy the state provides the public
604	postsecondary education institution that the student attends.
605	(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) and
606	effective with scholarships for the 2007-2008 academic year and
607	thereafter, the Legislature shall establish in the General
608	Appropriations Act the amount a student shall receive for a
609	Florida Academic Scholarship.
610	(4)(3) To be eligible to renewfor a renewal award asa
611	Florida Academic ScholarshipScholar, a student must maintain
612	the equivalent of a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a
613	4.0 scale for all postsecondary education coursework attempted
614	with an opportunity for one restorationreinstatementas
615	provided in this chapter.
616	(5)(4)In each school district, the Florida Academic
617	Scholar with the highest academic ranking as determined by the
618	department shall receive an additional award of$1,500 for
619	college-related expenses,. This award must befunded from the
620	Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
621	Section 9. Section 1009.535, Florida Statutes, is amended
622	to read:
623	1009.535 Florida Medallion ScholarshipScholars award.--
624	(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section,a
625	student is eligible for a Florida Medallion ScholarshipScholars
626	awardif the student meets the general eligibility requirements
627	for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and the
628	student:
629	(a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0 as
630	calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or the equivalent, in high
631	school courses that are designated by the State Board of
632	Education as college-preparatory academic courses; and has
633	attained at least the score identified by rules of the State
634	Board of Education on the combined verbal and quantitative parts
635	of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test,
636	or the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
637	Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the ACT
638	Assessment Program; or
639	(b) Has attended a home education program pursuant
640	accordingto s. 1002.41 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed
641	the International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn
642	the International Baccalaureate Diploma or has completed the
643	Advanced International Certificate of Education curriculum but
644	failed to earn the Advanced International Certificate of
645	Education Diploma, and has attained at least the score
646	identified by rules of the State BoardDepartmentof Education
647	on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
648	Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
649	Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
650	or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program; or
651	(c) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
652	program of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
653	scholar or finalist but has not completed a program of community
654	service as provided in s. 1009.534; or
655	(d) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
656	Recognition Program as a scholar, but has not completed a
657	program of community service as provided in s. 1009.534.
658	(2) A Florida Medallion Scholar is eligible for a
659	scholarship that coversan award equal to the amount required to
660	pay75 percent of tuition and fees, if the student is enrolled
661	in a public postsecondary education institution. For purposes of
662	this scholarship, the term “fees” includes the following fees:
663	financial aid fee; capital improvement fee; building fee;
664	Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee; activity and service fee;
665	health fee; athletic fee; and lab fees not to exceed $300 per
666	term.A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic postsecondary
667	education institution is eligible for a scholarshipan award
668	equal to the amount that the state provides as a Florida
669	Medallion Scholars Bright Futures subsidy towould be required
670	to pay 75 percent of the tuition and fees ofa public
671	postsecondary education institution at the comparable level. A
672	student who is enrolled in a public postsecondary education
673	institution and chooses to receive the Florida Bright Futures
674	Scholarship as a cash payment for expenses associated with
675	postsecondary education is eligible for the amount of the
676	Florida Bright Futures subsidy the state provides the public
677	postsecondary education institution that the student attends.
678	(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) and
679	effective with scholarships for the 2007-2008 academic year and
680	thereafter, the Legislature shall establish in the General
681	Appropriations Act the amount a student shall receive for a
682	Florida Medallion Scholarship.
683	(4)(3) To be eligible to renewfor a renewal award asa
684	Florida Medallion ScholarshipScholar, a student must maintain
685	the equivalent of a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a
686	4.0 scale for all postsecondary education coursework attempted
687	with an opportunity for restorationreinstatementone time as
688	provided in this chapter.
689	(5) Notwithstanding the provisions relating to test scores
690	in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b), beginning with initial Florida
691	Medallion Scholarships for the 2004-2005 academic year and
692	thereafter, a student who has completed a college-preparatory
693	curriculum must score a minimum of 1050 on the combined verbal
694	and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Assessment Test of the
695	College Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the ACT
696	Assessment Program or an equivalent examination as determined by
697	the State Board of Education, to satisfy the test score
698	requirement for a scholarship pursuant to this section. A
699	student who is unable to document completion of a college-
700	preparatory curriculum must score a minimum of 1150 on the
701	combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
702	Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
703	equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program or an equivalent
704	examination as determined by the State Board of Education, to
705	satisfy the test score requirement for a scholarship pursuant to
706	this section.
707	Section 10. Section 1009.536, Florida Statutes, is amended
708	to read:
709	1009.536 Florida Gold Seal Vocational ScholarshipScholars
710	award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational ScholarshipScholars
711	awardis created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
712	Program to recognize and reward academic achievement and career
713	and technical preparation by high school students who wish to
714	continue their education. Beginning with the fall term of the
715	2005-2006 academic year, a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
716	Scholarship may not be used at a baccalaureate degree granting
717	institution unless the scholarship is a renewal of a scholarship
718	issued prior to that term or the student is enrolled in a
719	program that has been identified by the State Board of Education
720	as a program that serves as a continuation of a specific
721	secondary or postsecondary career and technical program or a
722	job-preparatory career education program as described in
723	paragraph (1)(a). The State Board of Education shall publish a
724	list of such programs no later than December 31, 2004.
725	(1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
726	Vocational ScholarshipScholars awardif the student meets the
727	general eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
728	Scholarship Program and the student:
729	(a) Completes the secondary school portion of a sequential
730	program of studies that requires at least three secondary school
731	career and technical credits taken over at least 2 academic
732	years, and is continued in a planned, related postsecondary
733	education program. If the student's school does not offer such a
734	two-plus-two or tech-prep program, the student must complete a
735	job-preparatory career education program selected by the
736	Workforce Estimating Conference or Workforce Florida, Inc., for
737	its ability to provide high-wage employment in an occupation
738	with high potential for employment opportunities. On-the-job
739	training may not be substituted for any of the three required
740	career and technical credits.
741	(b) Demonstrates readiness for postsecondary education by
742	earning a passing score on the Florida College Entry Level
743	Placement Test or its equivalent as identified by the Department
744	of Education.
745	(c) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point
746	average of 3.0, as calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, on all
747	subjects required for a standard high school diploma, excluding
748	elective courses.
749	(d) Earns a minimum unweighted grade point average of 3.5
750	on a 4.0 scale for secondary career and technical courses
751	comprising the career and technical program.
752	(2) A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar is eligible for
753	a scholarship that coversan award equal to the amount required
754	to pay75 percent of tuition and fees, if the student is
755	enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution. For
756	purposes of this scholarship, the term “fees” includes the
757	following fees: financial aid fee; capital improvement fee;
758	building fee; Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee; activity and
759	service fee; health fee; athletic fee; and lab fees not to
760	exceed $300 per term.A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
761	postsecondary education institution is eligible for a
762	scholarshipan award equal to the amount that the state provides
763	as a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Bright Futures
764	subsidy towould be required to pay 75 percent of the tuition
765	and mandatory fees ofa public postsecondary education
766	institution at the comparable level. A student who is enrolled
767	in a public postsecondary education institution and chooses to
768	receive the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship as a cash payment
769	for expenses associated with postsecondary education is eligible
770	for the amount of the Florida Bright Futures subsidy the state
771	provides the public postsecondary education institution that the
772	student attends.
773	(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) and
774	effective with scholarships for the 2007-2008 academic year and
775	thereafter, the Legislature shall establish in the General
776	Appropriations Act the amount a student shall receive for a
777	Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
778	(4)(3) To renewbe eligible for a renewal award asa
779	Florida Gold Seal Vocational ScholarshipScholar, a student must
780	maintain the equivalent of a cumulative grade point average of
781	2.75 on a 4.0 scale for all postsecondary education coursework
782	attempted with an opportunity for restorationreinstatementone
783	time as provided in this chapter.
784	(5)(a)(4) A student who received his or her initial
785	Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship prior to the 2003-2004
786	academic yearmay earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
787	Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
788	required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the
789	equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Scholar who has a cumulative
790	grade point average of 2.75 in all postsecondary education work
791	attempted may apply for a Florida Medallion Scholars award at
792	any renewal period. All other provisions of that program apply,
793	and the credit-hour limitation must be calculated by subtracting
794	from the student's total eligibility the number of credit hours
795	the student attempted while earning the Gold Seal Vocational
796	Scholarship.
797	(b) Beginning with students who receive an initial Florida
798	Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship in the 2003-2004 academic year
799	and thereafter, a student may receive a Florida Gold Seal
800	Vocational Scholarship for the number of credit hours or clock
801	hours required to complete the program up to 90 credit hours.
802	(6) Upon successful completion of an associate degree
803	program or admission to the upper division of a state
804	university, or the equivalent as determined by the State Board
805	of Education, a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar who meets
806	the scholarship renewal criteria in subsection (4) and enrolls
807	in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible postsecondary
808	education institution is eligible to transfer to the Florida
809	Medallion Scholarship component of the Florida Bright Futures
810	Scholarship Program. Other than initial eligibility criteria,
811	all other provisions of that component apply.
812	Section 11. Section 1009.5365, Florida Statutes, is
813	created to read:
814	1009.5365 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship subsidy to
815	public postsecondary education institutions.--
816	(1) Beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, the state
817	shall provide a Florida Bright Futures subsidy from the
818	Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to public postsecondary
819	education institutions for each Florida Bright Futures
820	Scholarship recipient attending the institution.
821	(2) The amount of the subsidy per term for full-time
822	enrollment shall be established in the General Appropriations
823	Act. The subsidy shall be prorated for students who attend less
824	than full time. The subsidy for a student who enrolls for 9 to
825	11 semester credit hours per term, or the equivalent in quarter
826	or contact hours, shall be three-quarters of the amount
827	specified in the General Appropriations Act. The subsidy for a
828	student who enrolls for 6 to 8 semester credit hours per term,
829	or the equivalent in quarter or contact hours, shall be one-half
830	of the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act.
831	(3) To assist public postsecondary education institutions
832	in planning and budgeting, the amount of each Florida Bright
833	Futures subsidy set in the General Appropriations Act shall be
834	no less than the amount set in the General Appropriations Act
835	the prior year.
836	(4) The Department of Education shall distribute the
837	Florida Bright Futures subsidy to each public postsecondary
838	education institution upon certification from the institution of
839	the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship recipients enrolled and
840	in attendance at the institution. The certification must include
841	sufficient information to permit the department to prorate the
842	subsidies for students who attend less than full time.
843	(5) The State Board of Education may adopt rules pursuant
844	to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement provisions of this
845	section.
846	Section 12. Sections 1009.538 and 1009.539, Florida
847	Statutes, are repealed.
848	Section 13. The State Board of Education shall recommend
849	to the Legislature by December 31, 2003, a plan that provides
850	for increased tuition and reduced funding for credit hours taken
851	by a student when such credit hours exceed the number of credit
852	hours required for completion of the diploma, certificate, or
853	degree program in which the student is enrolled. The degree
854	programs addressed in the plan must include the associate,
855	baccalaureate, graduate, and professional levels.
856	Section 14. Subsection (5) of section 1002.41, Florida
857	Statutes, is amended to read:
858	1002.41 Home education programs.--
859	(5) Home education students may participate in the Bright
860	Futures Scholarship Program in accordance with the provisions of
861	chapter 1009ss. 1009.53-1009.539.
862	Section 15. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.