Senate Bill sb0638
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Florida Senate - 2003 SB 638
By Senator Clary
4-544A-03
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student tuition assistance;
3 creating the Access to Better Learning and
4 Education Grant Program; providing legislative
5 findings with respect to education provided by
6 for-profit colleges and universities; providing
7 for the Department of Education to administer
8 the grant program; providing requirements for
9 eligibility; providing for the grant program to
10 be funded under a formula based on planned
11 enrollment and the state cost of funding such
12 enrollment at public institutions; providing
13 for an annual appropriation; requiring
14 institutions to remit undisbursed funds to the
15 department; limiting the period a student may
16 receive a grant; providing an effective date.
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18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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20 Section 1. The Access to Better Learning and Education
21 Grant Program.--
22 (1) The Legislature finds and declares that
23 independent for-profit colleges and universities eligible to
24 participate in the Access to Better Learning and Education
25 Grant Program are an integral part of the higher education
26 system in this state and that a significant number of state
27 residents choose this form of higher education. The
28 Legislature further finds that strong, viable independent
29 for-profit colleges and universities reduce the tax burden on
30 the residents of the state. Because the Access to Better
31 Learning and Education Grant Program is not related to a
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Florida Senate - 2003 SB 638
4-544A-03
1 student's financial need or other criteria upon which
2 financial aid programs are based, it is the intent of the
3 Legislature that the Access to Better Learning and Education
4 Grant Program not be considered a financial aid program but
5 rather a tuition assistance program for state residents.
6 (2) The Access to Better Learning and Education Grant
7 Program shall be administered by the Department of Education.
8 The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for
9 administering the program.
10 (3) The department shall issue an access grant to any
11 full-time student seeking a baccalaureate degree who is
12 registered at a for-profit college or university that is
13 located in and chartered by the state; that is accredited by
14 the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of
15 Colleges and Schools; that grants baccalaureate degrees; that
16 is not a state university or state community college; and that
17 has a secular purpose, if the receipt of state aid by students
18 at the institution would not have the primary effect of
19 advancing or impeding religion or result in an excessive
20 entanglement between the state and any religious sect.
21 (4) A person is eligible to receive an access grant
22 if:
23 (a) He or she meets the general requirements,
24 including residency, for student eligibility as provided in
25 section 1009.40, Florida Statutes, except as otherwise
26 provided in this section; and
27 (b)1. He or she is enrolled as a full-time
28 undergraduate student at an eligible college or university in
29 a program of study leading to a baccalaureate degree;
30 2. He or she is not enrolled in a program of study
31 leading to a degree in theology or divinity; and
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Florida Senate - 2003 SB 638
4-544A-03
1 3. He or she is making satisfactory academic progress
2 as defined by the college or university in which he or she is
3 enrolled.
4 (5)(a) Funding for the Access to Better Learning and
5 Education Grant Program shall be based on a formula comprised
6 of planned enrollment and the state cost of funding
7 undergraduate enrollment at public institutions under section
8 1011.90, Florida Statutes. The amount of the access grant
9 issued to a full-time student shall be an amount specified in
10 the General Appropriations Act. The access grant may be paid
11 on a prorated basis in advance of the registration period. The
12 department shall make payments to the college or university in
13 which the student is enrolled for credit to the student's
14 account for payment of tuition and fees. Institutions shall
15 certify to the department the amount of funds disbursed to
16 each student and shall remit to the department any undisbursed
17 advances or refunds within 60 days after the end of regular
18 registration. A student may not receive the award for more
19 than 9 semesters or 14 quarters, except as otherwise provided
20 in section 1009.40(3), Florida Statutes.
21 (b) If the combined amount of the access grant issued
22 pursuant to this section and all other scholarships and grants
23 for tuition or fees exceeds the amount charged to the student
24 for tuition and fees, the department shall reduce the grant
25 issued under this section by an amount equal to the excess.
26 (6) If the number of eligible students exceeds the
27 total authorized in the General Appropriations Act, an
28 institution may use its own resources to assure that each
29 eligible student receives the full benefit of the grant amount
30 authorized.
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Florida Senate - 2003 SB 638
4-544A-03
1 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
2 law.
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5 SENATE SUMMARY
6 Creates the Access to Better Learning and Education Grant
Program. Requires the Department of Education to
7 administer the program. Specifies requirements for
student eligibility. Requires that the grant program be
8 funded according to a formula based on planned enrollment
and the state cost of funding that enrollment at public
9 institutions. Provides for an annual appropriation in the
General Appropriations Act. (See bill for details.)
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