ENROLLED
       2014 Legislature                                          SB 940
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                                              2014940er
    1  
    2         An act relating to the Florida Statutes; amending ss.
    3         322.091, 334.351, 414.1251, 440.491, 445.024, 468.304,
    4         478.45, 480.035, 480.041, 944.1905, 944.275, 944.801,
    5         958.045, 985.601, 1001.42, 1003.21, 1003.51, 1003.52,
    6         1004.02, 1004.65, 1004.93, 1008.345, and 1009.21,
    7         F.S.; to conform to the directive of the Legislature
    8         to the Division of Law Revision and Information in
    9         section 38 of chapter 2013-51, Laws of Florida, to
   10         change the terms “General Educational Development
   11         test” or “GED test” to “high school equivalency
   12         examination” and the terms “general education
   13         diploma,” “graduate equivalency diploma,” or “GED” to
   14         “high school equivalency diploma” wherever those terms
   15         appear in the Florida Statutes; providing an effective
   16         date.
   17          
   18  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   19  
   20         Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
   21  322.091, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   22         322.091 Attendance requirements.—
   23         (1) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR DRIVING PRIVILEGES.—A
   24  minor is not eligible for driving privileges unless that minor:
   25         (c) Is enrolled in a study course in preparation for the
   26  high school equivalency examination Test of General Educational
   27  Development and satisfies relevant attendance requirements;
   28  
   29  The department may not issue a driver license or learner’s
   30  driver license to, or shall suspend the driver license or
   31  learner’s driver license of, any minor concerning whom the
   32  department receives notification of noncompliance with the
   33  requirements of this section.
   34         Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
   35  334.351, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   36         334.351 Youth work experience program; findings and intent;
   37  authority to contract; limitation.—
   38         (3) When selecting a nonprofit youth organization to
   39  perform work on transportation-related facilities and before
   40  awarding a contract under this section, the department must
   41  consider the following criteria:
   42         (b) The number of participants receiving high school
   43  diplomas or high school equivalency diplomas GEDs;
   44         Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 414.1251, Florida
   45  Statutes, is amended to read:
   46         414.1251 Learnfare program.—
   47         (1) The department shall reduce the temporary cash
   48  assistance for a participant’s eligible dependent child or for
   49  an eligible teenage participant who has not been exempted from
   50  education participation requirements, if the eligible dependent
   51  child or eligible teenage participant has been identified either
   52  as a habitual truant, pursuant to s. 1003.01(8), or as a
   53  dropout, pursuant to s. 1003.01(9). For a student who has been
   54  identified as a habitual truant, the temporary cash assistance
   55  must be reinstated after a subsequent grading period in which
   56  the child’s attendance has substantially improved. For a student
   57  who has been identified as a dropout, the temporary cash
   58  assistance must be reinstated after the student enrolls in a
   59  public school, receives a high school diploma or its
   60  equivalency, enrolls in preparation for the high school
   61  equivalency examination General Educational Development Tests,
   62  or enrolls in other educational activities approved by the
   63  district school board. Good cause exemptions from the rule of
   64  unexcused absences include the following:
   65         (a) The student is expelled from school and alternative
   66  schooling is not available.
   67         (b) No licensed day care is available for a child of teen
   68  parents subject to Learnfare.
   69         (c) Prohibitive transportation problems exist (e.g., to and
   70  from day care).
   71  
   72  Within 10 days after sanction notification, the participant
   73  parent of a dependent child or the teenage participant may file
   74  an internal fair hearings process review procedure appeal, and
   75  no sanction shall be imposed until the appeal is resolved.
   76         Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
   77  440.491, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   78         440.491 Reemployment of injured workers; rehabilitation.—
   79         (6) TRAINING AND EDUCATION.—
   80         (a) Upon referral of an injured employee by the carrier, or
   81  upon the request of an injured employee, the department shall
   82  conduct a training and education screening to determine whether
   83  it should refer the employee for a vocational evaluation,
   84  approve training and education, or approve other vocational
   85  services for the employee. At the time of such referral, the
   86  carrier shall provide the department a copy of any reemployment
   87  assessment or reemployment plan provided to the carrier by a
   88  rehabilitation provider. The department may not approve formal
   89  training and education programs unless it determines, after
   90  consideration of the reemployment assessment, that the
   91  reemployment plan is likely to result in return to suitable
   92  gainful employment. The department may expend moneys from the
   93  Workers’ Compensation Administration Trust Fund, established by
   94  s. 440.50, to secure appropriate training and education at a
   95  Florida public college or at a career center established under
   96  s. 1001.44, or to secure other vocational services when
   97  necessary to satisfy the recommendation of a vocational
   98  evaluator. As used in this paragraph, “appropriate training and
   99  education” includes securing a high school equivalency general
  100  education diploma (GED), if necessary. The department shall by
  101  rule establish training and education standards pertaining to
  102  employee eligibility, course curricula and duration, and
  103  associated costs. For purposes of this subsection, training and
  104  education services may be secured from additional providers if:
  105         1. The injured employee currently holds an associate degree
  106  and requests to earn a bachelor’s degree not offered by a
  107  Florida public college located within 50 miles from his or her
  108  customary residence;
  109         2. The injured employee’s enrollment in an education or
  110  training program in a Florida public college or career center
  111  would be significantly delayed; or
  112         3. The most appropriate training and education program is
  113  available only through a provider other than a Florida public
  114  college or career center or at a Florida public college or
  115  career center located more than 50 miles from the injured
  116  employee’s customary residence.
  117         Section 5. Paragraph (k) of subsection (1) of section
  118  445.024, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  119         445.024 Work requirements.—
  120         (1) WORK ACTIVITIES.—The Department of Economic Opportunity
  121  may develop activities under each of the following categories of
  122  work activities. The following categories of work activities,
  123  based on federal law and regulations, may be used individually
  124  or in combination to satisfy the work requirements for a
  125  participant in the temporary cash assistance program:
  126         (k) Satisfactory attendance at a secondary school or in a
  127  course of study leading to a high school graduate equivalency
  128  diploma.
  129         Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
  130  468.304, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  131         468.304 Certification.—The department shall certify any
  132  applicant who meets the following criteria:
  133         (3) Submits satisfactory evidence, verified by oath or
  134  affirmation, that she or he:
  135         (b) Is a high school, vocational school, technical school,
  136  or college graduate or has successfully completed the
  137  requirements for a high school graduate equivalency diploma
  138  (GED) or its equivalent;
  139  
  140  The department may not certify any applicant who has committed
  141  an offense that would constitute a violation of any of the
  142  provisions of s. 468.3101 or applicable rules if the applicant
  143  had been certified by the department at the time of the offense.
  144  An application for a limited computed tomography certificate may
  145  not be accepted. A person holding a valid computed tomography
  146  certificate as of October 1, 1984, is subject to s. 468.309.
  147         Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
  148  478.45, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  149         478.45 Requirements for licensure.—
  150         (1) An applicant applying for licensure as an electrologist
  151  shall file a written application, accompanied by the application
  152  for licensure fee prescribed in s. 478.55, on a form provided by
  153  the board, showing to the satisfaction of the board that the
  154  applicant:
  155         (c) Possesses a high school diploma or a high school
  156  graduate equivalency diploma.
  157         Section 8. Subsection (2) of section 480.035, Florida
  158  Statutes, is amended to read:
  159         480.035 Board of Massage Therapy.—
  160         (2) Five members of the board shall be licensed massage
  161  therapists and shall have been engaged in the practice of
  162  massage for not less than 5 consecutive years prior to the date
  163  of appointment to the board. The Governor shall appoint each
  164  member for a term of 4 years. Two members of the board shall be
  165  laypersons. Each board member shall be a high school graduate or
  166  shall have received a high school graduate equivalency diploma.
  167  Each board member shall be a citizen of the United States and a
  168  resident of this state for not less than 5 years. The
  169  appointments will be subject to confirmation by the Senate.
  170         Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
  171  480.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  172         480.041 Massage therapists; qualifications; licensure;
  173  endorsement.—
  174         (1) Any person is qualified for licensure as a massage
  175  therapist under this act who:
  176         (a) Is at least 18 years of age or has received a high
  177  school diploma or high school graduate equivalency diploma;
  178         Section 10. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
  179  944.1905, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  180         944.1905 Initial inmate classification; inmate
  181  reclassification.—The Department of Corrections shall classify
  182  inmates pursuant to an objective classification scheme. The
  183  initial inmate classification questionnaire and the inmate
  184  reclassification questionnaire must cover both aggravating and
  185  mitigating factors.
  186         (2) In scoring the initial inmate classification
  187  questionnaire, points may be deducted from the inmate’s overall
  188  score for factors indicating the inmate’s stability. Such
  189  factors may include:
  190         (b) High school diploma or high school equivalency diploma
  191  GED received; and
  192         Section 11. Paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section
  193  944.275, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  194         944.275 Gain-time.—
  195         (4)
  196         (d) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (b)1. and 2., the
  197  education program manager shall recommend, and the Department of
  198  Corrections may grant, a one-time award of 60 additional days of
  199  incentive gain-time to an inmate who is otherwise eligible and
  200  who successfully completes requirements for and is awarded a
  201  high school equivalency diploma general educational development
  202  certificate or vocational certificate. Under no circumstances
  203  may an inmate receive more than 60 days for educational
  204  attainment pursuant to this section.
  205         Section 12. Paragraphs (g) and (j) of subsection (3) of
  206  section 944.801, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  207         944.801 Education for state prisoners.—
  208         (3) The responsibilities of the Correctional Education
  209  Program shall be to:
  210         (g) Develop and maintain complete and reliable statistics
  211  on the number of high school equivalency diplomas general
  212  educational development (GED) certificates and vocational
  213  certificates issued by each institution in each skill area, the
  214  change in inmate literacy levels, and the number of inmate
  215  admissions to and withdrawals from education courses. The
  216  compiled statistics shall be summarized and analyzed in the
  217  annual report of correctional education activities required by
  218  paragraph (f).
  219         (j) Recommend the award of additional incentive gain-time
  220  for inmates who receive a high school equivalency diploma
  221  general educational development certificate or a vocational
  222  certificate.
  223         Section 13. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and paragraph
  224  (b) of subsection (6) of section 958.045, Florida Statutes, are
  225  amended to read:
  226         958.045 Youthful offender basic training program.—
  227         (1) The department shall develop and implement a basic
  228  training program for youthful offenders sentenced or classified
  229  by the department as youthful offenders pursuant to this
  230  chapter. The period of time to be served at the basic training
  231  program shall be no less than 120 days.
  232         (a) The program shall include marching drills,
  233  calisthenics, a rigid dress code, manual labor assignments,
  234  physical training with obstacle courses, training in
  235  decisionmaking and personal development, high school equivalency
  236  diploma general educational development and adult basic
  237  education courses, and drug counseling and other rehabilitation
  238  programs.
  239         (6)
  240         (b) While in the community residential program, as
  241  appropriate, the offender shall engage in gainful employment,
  242  and if any, shall pay restitution to the victim. If appropriate,
  243  the offender may enroll in substance abuse counseling, and if
  244  suitable, shall enroll in a high school equivalency diploma
  245  general educational development or adult basic education class
  246  for the purpose of attaining a high school diploma. Upon release
  247  from the community residential program, the offender shall
  248  remain on probation, or other postrelease supervision, and abide
  249  by the conditions of the offender’s probation or postrelease
  250  supervision. If, upon transfer from the community residential
  251  program, the offender has not completed the enrolled educational
  252  program, the offender shall continue the educational program
  253  until completed. If the offender fails to complete the program,
  254  the department may request the court or the control release
  255  authority to execute an order returning the offender back to the
  256  community residential program until completion of the program.
  257         Section 14. Subsection (4) of section 985.601, Florida
  258  Statutes, is amended to read:
  259         985.601 Administering the juvenile justice continuum.—
  260         (4) The department shall maintain continuing cooperation
  261  with the Department of Education, the Department of Children and
  262  Family Services, the Department of Economic Opportunity, and the
  263  Department of Corrections for the purpose of participating in
  264  agreements with respect to dropout prevention and the reduction
  265  of suspensions, expulsions, and truancy; increased access to and
  266  participation in high school equivalency diploma GED,
  267  vocational, and alternative education programs; and employment
  268  training and placement assistance. The cooperative agreements
  269  between the departments shall include an interdepartmental plan
  270  to cooperate in accomplishing the reduction of inappropriate
  271  transfers of children into the adult criminal justice and
  272  correctional systems.
  273         Section 15. Paragraph (b) of subsection (18) of section
  274  1001.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  275         1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The
  276  district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all
  277  powers and perform all duties listed below:
  278         (18) IMPLEMENT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
  279  Maintain a state system of school improvement and education
  280  accountability as provided by statute and State Board of
  281  Education rule. This system of school improvement and education
  282  accountability shall be consistent with, and implemented
  283  through, the district’s continuing system of planning and
  284  budgeting required by this section and ss. 1008.385, 1010.01,
  285  and 1011.01. This system of school improvement and education
  286  accountability shall comply with the provisions of ss. 1008.33,
  287  1008.34, 1008.345, and 1008.385 and include the following:
  288         (b) Public disclosure.—The district school board shall
  289  provide information regarding the performance of students and
  290  educational programs as required pursuant to ss. 1008.22 and
  291  1008.385 and implement a system of school reports as required by
  292  statute and State Board of Education rule which shall include
  293  schools operating for the purpose of providing educational
  294  services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs,
  295  and for those schools, report on the elements specified in s.
  296  1003.52(19). Annual public disclosure reports shall be in an
  297  easy-to-read report card format and shall include the school’s
  298  grade, high school graduation rate calculated without high
  299  school equivalency diploma recipients GED tests, disaggregated
  300  by student ethnicity, and performance data as specified in state
  301  board rule.
  302         Section 16. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
  303  1003.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  304         1003.21 School attendance.—
  305         (1)
  306         (c) A student who attains the age of 16 years during the
  307  school year is not subject to compulsory school attendance
  308  beyond the date upon which he or she attains that age if the
  309  student files a formal declaration of intent to terminate school
  310  enrollment with the district school board. Public school
  311  students who have attained the age of 16 years and who have not
  312  graduated are subject to compulsory school attendance until the
  313  formal declaration of intent is filed with the district school
  314  board. The declaration must acknowledge that terminating school
  315  enrollment is likely to reduce the student’s earning potential
  316  and must be signed by the student and the student’s parent. The
  317  school district shall notify the student’s parent of receipt of
  318  the student’s declaration of intent to terminate school
  319  enrollment. The student’s certified school counselor or other
  320  school personnel shall conduct an exit interview with the
  321  student to determine the reasons for the student’s decision to
  322  terminate school enrollment and actions that could be taken to
  323  keep the student in school. The student’s certified school
  324  counselor or other school personnel shall inform the student of
  325  opportunities to continue his or her education in a different
  326  environment, including, but not limited to, adult education and
  327  high school equivalency examination GED test preparation.
  328  Additionally, the student shall complete a survey in a format
  329  prescribed by the Department of Education to provide data on
  330  student reasons for terminating enrollment and actions taken by
  331  schools to keep students enrolled.
  332         Section 17. Subsection (4) of section 1003.51, Florida
  333  Statutes, is amended to read:
  334         1003.51 Other public educational services.—
  335         (4) The Department of Education shall ensure that district
  336  school boards notify students in juvenile justice residential or
  337  nonresidential facilities who attain the age of 16 years of the
  338  provisions of law regarding compulsory school attendance and
  339  make available the option of enrolling in a program to attain a
  340  Florida high school diploma by taking the high school
  341  equivalency examination General Educational Development test
  342  prior to release from the facility. District school boards or
  343  Florida College System institutions, or both, shall waive high
  344  school equivalency examination GED testing fees for youth in
  345  Department of Juvenile Justice residential programs and shall,
  346  upon request, designate schools operating for the purpose of
  347  providing educational services to youth in Department of
  348  Juvenile Justice programs as high school equivalency examination
  349  GED testing centers, subject to high school equivalency
  350  examination GED testing center requirements. The administrative
  351  fees for the high school equivalency examination General
  352  Educational Development test required by the Department of
  353  Education are the responsibility of district school boards and
  354  may be required of providers by contractual agreement.
  355         Section 18. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) and subsection
  356  (6) of section 1003.52, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  357         1003.52 Educational services in Department of Juvenile
  358  Justice programs.—
  359         (3) The district school board of the county in which the
  360  residential or nonresidential care facility or juvenile
  361  assessment facility is located shall provide appropriate
  362  educational assessments and an appropriate program of
  363  instruction and special education services.
  364         (a) The district school board shall make provisions for
  365  each student to participate in basic, career education, and
  366  exceptional student programs as appropriate. Students served in
  367  Department of Juvenile Justice programs shall have access to the
  368  appropriate courses and instruction to prepare them for the high
  369  school equivalency examination GED test. Students participating
  370  in high school equivalency diploma GED preparation programs
  371  shall be funded at the basic program cost factor for Department
  372  of Juvenile Justice programs in the Florida Education Finance
  373  Program. Each program shall be conducted according to applicable
  374  law providing for the operation of public schools and rules of
  375  the State Board of Education. School districts shall provide the
  376  high school equivalency diploma GED exit option for all juvenile
  377  justice programs.
  378         (6) Participation in the program by students of compulsory
  379  school-attendance age as provided for in s. 1003.21 shall be
  380  mandatory. All students of noncompulsory school-attendance age
  381  who have not received a high school diploma or its equivalent
  382  shall participate in the educational program, unless the student
  383  files a formal declaration of his or her intent to terminate
  384  school enrollment as described in s. 1003.21 and is afforded the
  385  opportunity to take the high school equivalency examination
  386  general educational development test and attain a Florida high
  387  school diploma prior to release from a facility. A youth who has
  388  received a high school diploma or its equivalent and is not
  389  employed shall participate in workforce development or other
  390  career or technical education or Florida College System
  391  institution or university courses while in the program, subject
  392  to available funding.
  393         Section 19. Subsections (5) and (17) of section 1004.02,
  394  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  395         1004.02 Definitions.—As used in this chapter:
  396         (5) “Adult secondary education” means courses through which
  397  a person receives high school credit that leads to the award of
  398  a high school diploma or courses of instruction through which a
  399  student prepares to take the high school equivalency examination
  400  General Educational Development test.
  401         (17) “High school equivalency examination General
  402  Educational Development (GED) test preparation” means courses of
  403  instruction designed to prepare adults for success on high
  404  school equivalency diploma GED subject area tests leading to
  405  qualification for a State of Florida high school diploma.
  406         Section 20. Paragraph (b) of subsection (6) and paragraph
  407  (c) of subsection (8) of section 1004.65, Florida Statutes, are
  408  amended to read:
  409         1004.65 Florida College System institutions; governance,
  410  mission, and responsibilities.—
  411         (6) A separate and secondary role for Florida College
  412  System institutions includes the offering of programs in:
  413         (b) Adult education services, including adult basic
  414  education, adult general education, adult secondary education,
  415  and high school equivalency examination General Educational
  416  Development test instruction.
  417         (8) Florida College System institutions are authorized to:
  418         (c) Make provisions for the high school equivalency
  419  examination General Educational Development test.
  420  
  421  Authority to offer one or more baccalaureate degree programs
  422  does not alter the governance relationship of the Florida
  423  College System institution with its district board of trustees
  424  or the State Board of Education.
  425         Section 21. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and paragraph
  426  (c) of subsection (2) of section 1004.93, Florida Statutes, are
  427  amended to read:
  428         1004.93 Adult general education.—
  429         (1)(a) The intent of this section is to encourage the
  430  provision of educational services that will enable adults to
  431  acquire:
  432         1. The basic skills necessary to attain basic and
  433  functional literacy.
  434         2. A high school diploma or successfully complete the high
  435  school equivalency examination General Educational Development
  436  test.
  437         3. An educational foundation that will enable them to
  438  become more employable, productive, and self-sufficient
  439  citizens.
  440         (2) The adult education program must provide academic
  441  services to students in the following priority:
  442         (c) Students who are earning credit required for a high
  443  school diploma or who are preparing for the high school
  444  equivalency examination General Educational Development test.
  445         Section 22. Paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of section
  446  1008.345, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  447         1008.345 Implementation of state system of school
  448  improvement and education accountability.—
  449         (6)
  450         (d) The commissioner shall assign a community assessment
  451  team to each school district or governing board with a school
  452  that earned a grade of “F” or three consecutive grades of “D”
  453  pursuant to s. 1008.34 to review the school performance data and
  454  determine causes for the low performance, including the role of
  455  school, area, and district administrative personnel. The
  456  community assessment team shall review a high school’s
  457  graduation rate calculated without high school equivalency
  458  diploma recipients GED tests for the past 3 years, disaggregated
  459  by student ethnicity. The team shall make recommendations to the
  460  school board or the governing board and to the State Board of
  461  Education which address the causes of the school’s low
  462  performance and may be incorporated into the school improvement
  463  plan. The assessment team shall include, but not be limited to,
  464  a department representative, parents, business representatives,
  465  educators, representatives of local governments, and community
  466  activists, and shall represent the demographics of the community
  467  from which they are appointed.
  468         Section 23. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
  469  1009.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  470         1009.21 Determination of resident status for tuition
  471  purposes.—Students shall be classified as residents or
  472  nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in
  473  postsecondary educational programs offered by charter technical
  474  career centers or career centers operated by school districts,
  475  in Florida College System institutions, and in state
  476  universities.
  477         (3)
  478         (c) Each institution of higher education shall
  479  affirmatively determine that an applicant who has been granted
  480  admission to that institution as a Florida resident meets the
  481  residency requirements of this section at the time of initial
  482  enrollment. The residency determination must be documented by
  483  the submission of written or electronic verification that
  484  includes two or more of the documents identified in this
  485  paragraph. No single piece of evidence shall be conclusive.
  486         1. The documents must include at least one of the
  487  following:
  488         a. A Florida voter’s registration card.
  489         b. A Florida driver’s license.
  490         c. A State of Florida identification card.
  491         d. A Florida vehicle registration.
  492         e. Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied
  493  as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual’s
  494  parent if the individual is a dependent child.
  495         f. Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida.
  496         g. Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple
  497  years if the Florida high school diploma or high school
  498  equivalency diploma GED was earned within the last 12 months.
  499         h. Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for
  500  at least 30 hours per week for a 12-month period.
  501         2. The documents may include one or more of the following:
  502         a. A declaration of domicile in Florida.
  503         b. A Florida professional or occupational license.
  504         c. Florida incorporation.
  505         d. A document evidencing family ties in Florida.
  506         e. Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or
  507  professional organization.
  508         f. Any other documentation that supports the student’s
  509  request for resident status, including, but not limited to,
  510  utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; a
  511  lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments;
  512  or an official state, federal, or court document evidencing
  513  legal ties to Florida.
  514         Reviser’s note.—Amended to conform to the directive of the
  515         Legislature to the Division of Law Revision and Information
  516         in s. 38, ch. 2013-51, Laws of Florida, to change the terms
  517         “General Educational Development test” or “GED test” to
  518         “high school equivalency examination” and the terms
  519         “general education diploma,” “graduate equivalency
  520         diploma,” or “GED” to “high school equivalency diploma”
  521         wherever those terms appear in the Florida Statutes.
  522         Section 24. This act shall take effect on the 60th day
  523  after adjournment sine die of the session of the Legislature in
  524  which enacted.