The Florida Senate

1009.634  Critical Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program.--

(1)  There is established the Critical Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program to improve the skills and knowledge of current therapists and therapy assistants who are employed by the public school system.

(2)  Any full-time public school employee licensed to practice occupational therapy or physical therapy in this state is eligible for the program.

(3)  Participants may receive tuition reimbursement payments for up to 9 semester hours, or the equivalent in quarter hours, per year, at a rate not to exceed $78 per semester hour, up to a total of 36 semester hours. All tuition reimbursements shall be contingent on the participant passing an approved course with a minimum grade of 3.0 or its equivalent.

(4)  The participant shall be employed by the public schools of this state for 3 years following completion of the requirements.

(5)  Recipients under this program shall not be eligible to participate in the Critical Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist Shortage Student Loan Forgiveness Program or the Critical Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist Shortage Scholarship Loan Program.

(6)  This section shall be implemented only to the extent specifically funded and authorized by the law.

History.--s. 446, ch. 2002-387.