The Florida Senate

240.421  Florida Council of Student Financial Aid Advisors.--

(1)  There is created the Florida Council of Student Financial Aid Advisors for the purpose of advising the State Board of Education, the Legislature, the Board of Regents, the State Board of Community Colleges, and the Postsecondary Education Planning Commission on policy matters related to student financial aid.

(a)  The council shall be composed of 14 members who shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Education. The membership of the council shall include:

1.  Two persons from the commercial financial community in this state.

2.  Two persons from the postsecondary education community in this state who must be either the president, chief academic officer, or principal administrator for student services of a postsecondary educational institution.

3.  Two practicing financial aid administrators for accredited private postsecondary institutions in this state.

4.  Two practicing financial aid administrators for public community colleges in this state.

5.  Two practicing financial aid administrators for state universities in this state.

6.  Two practicing financial aid administrators for ¹degree career education centers in this state, one of whom shall represent proprietary schools.

7.  One lay citizen who does not derive a majority of his or her income from education or the commercial financial field.

8.  One full-time student enrolled in postsecondary education in this state.

(b)  The Commissioner of Education in appointing the members specified in ²subparagraphs 3.-5. shall consider any recommendations submitted by the Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

(c)  At no time may more than one person from the same institution serve as a member of the council, with the exception of the student member, who shall be selected at large.

(d)  The terms of members shall be 4 years, except for the full-time student member, who shall serve for 2 years, but the terms of new members shall be fixed by the commissioner in such manner as will provide for the expiration every 2 years of the terms of seven members.

(e)  Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointment of a person of the same classification or status as his or her predecessor, and such appointee shall hold office for the balance of the unexpired term.

(2)(a)  The council shall elect a recording secretary, a vice chairperson, and a chairperson from its membership who shall be its principal officers. The council shall meet no less frequently than quarterly at the call of its chairperson; at the request of a majority of its membership; at the request of the Commissioner of Education, the State Board of Education, the Legislature, or the Governor; or at such times as may be prescribed by its rules. Minutes of all meetings of the council must be submitted to the department, each member of the council, the financial aid director of each community college and state university, and to the financial aid directors of each independent postsecondary institution that requests the minutes.

(b)  The members of the council shall receive no compensation for their services, but they shall be entitled to per diem and travel expenses, as provided in s. 112.061, when actually engaged in discharging their duties as members of the council.

(3)  The council shall:

(a)  Prepare and submit to the State Board of Education, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Governor, the Board of Regents, the State Board of Community Colleges, and the Postsecondary Education Planning Commission, long-range plans and annual reports for financial aid in this state. The long-range plans shall establish goals and objectives for providing a comprehensive program of financial aid for students in this state and shall be updated every 5 years. The council shall also prepare an annual report that includes an assessment of progress made in achieving goals and objectives established in the long-range plans and includes recommendations for repealing or modifying existing financial aid programs or establishing new programs. A long-range plan shall be submitted by January 1, 1993, and every 5 years thereafter. An annual report shall be submitted on January 1, 1994, and in each successive year that a long-range plan is not submitted.

(b)  Review biennial financial aid reports of the department, required by this chapter, prior to their submission to the Legislature and the State Board of Education.

(c)  Review and make recommendations to the Legislature related to proposed financial aid legislation.

(d)  Meet at least once annually with the Commissioner of Education.

History.--s. 2, ch. 63-452; ss. 15, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 15, ch. 69-180; s. 70, ch. 72-221; s. 7, ch. 75-302; s. 4, ch. 78-323; s. 73, ch. 79-222; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 81-73; ss. 1, 4, ch. 82-46; s. 2, ch. 83-265; ss. 11, 12, 13, ch. 83-291; s. 6, ch. 84-94; s. 5, ch. 86-286; ss. 1, 4, ch. 87-22; s. 20, ch. 89-207; ss. 1, 2, ch. 92-11; s. 64, ch. 95-148.

¹Note.--The term "degree career education" was substituted for the term "postsecondary vocational" by the editors pursuant to the directive of the Legislature in s. 16, ch. 94-232.

²Note.--The subparagraphs referenced are in paragraph (a).

Note.--Former ss. 239.67(2)(a)-(h), 239.68.