Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 By Senator Baxley 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 1 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled 1

An act relating to student financial aid; amending s. 2 1009.25, F.S.; making technical changes; amending s. 3 1009.40, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made 4 by the act; requiring that eligibility for state 5 financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants be 6 reevaluated each term and identify students’ program 7 of study; providing additional eligibility criteria 8 for financial aid awards and tuition assistance 9 grants, beginning with a specified academic year; 10 providing that eligibility for such funds is 11 contingent on enrollment in certain career certificate 12 or degree programs; providing that students who have 13 not yet been admitted to such a program are eligible 14 to receive certain funding; creating s. 1009.46, F.S.; 15 providing the duties of postsecondary educational 16 institutions with regard to financial aid and tuition 17 assistance programs; specifying penalties for 18 noncompliance; requiring the Board of Governors and 19 the State Board of Education to each approve, by a 20 specified date, a list of career certificate and 21 undergraduate and graduate degree programs that they 22 determine lead directly to employment; requiring that 23 each list include specified information; requiring 24 each list to include programs from independent 25 colleges and universities; requiring that the lists be 26 updated annually; amending s. 1009.50, F.S.; revising 27 the formula for calculating how Florida Public Student 28 Assistance Grant Program funds are distributed; 29

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 2 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. deleting a provision authorizing Florida Public 30 Student Assistance Grant Program funds to be deposited 31 in the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund; 32 deleting a provision requiring any balance in the 33 trust fund which was allocated to the Florida Public 34 Student Assistance Grant Program at the end of the 35 fiscal year to remain therein; amending s. 1009.505, 36 F.S.; deleting a provision authorizing Florida Public 37 Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance 38 Grant Program funds to be deposited in the trust fund; 39 deleting a provision requiring any balance in the 40 trust fund which was allocated to the Florida Public 41 Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance 42 Grant Program at the end of the fiscal year to remain 43 therein; amending s. 1009.51, F.S.; revising the 44 formula for calculating how Florida Private Student 45 Assistance Grant Program funds are distributed; 46 deleting a provision authorizing Florida Private 47 Student Assistance Grant Program funds to be deposited 48 in the trust fund; deleting a provision requiring any 49 balance in the trust fund which was allocated to the 50 Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program at 51 the end of the fiscal year to remain therein; amending 52 s. 1009.52, F.S.; revising the formula for how Florida 53 Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program funds 54 are distributed; deleting a provision authorizing 55 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program 56 funds to be deposited in the trust fund; deleting a 57 provision requiring any balance in the trust fund 58

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 3 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. which was allocated to the Florida Postsecondary 59 Student Assistance Grant Program at the end of the 60 fiscal year to remain therein; amending s. 1009.53, 61 F.S.; requiring the Department of Education to 62 advertise the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship 63 Program to specified persons no later than September 1 64 of each year; deleting a provision authorizing unused 65 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program funds to be 66 carried forward; deleting a provision authorizing 67 certain students to receive specified loans; amending 68 s. 1009.532, F.S.; requiring, beginning with a 69 specified academic year, that the maximum number of 70 credit hours which can be awarded under the Florida 71 Bright Futures Scholarship Program be reduced by the 72 number of postsecondary credit hours the student has 73 earned from certain articulated acceleration 74 mechanisms; amending s. 1009.534, F.S.; revising and 75 expanding eligibility requirements of the Florida 76 Academic Scholars award; providing that a Florida 77 Academic Scholar is eligible for an award equal to the 78 amount specified in the General Appropriations Act; 79 amending s. 1009.5341, F.S.; authorizing a Bright 80 Futures Scholarship recipient to apply the unused 81 portion of a Florida Academic Scholars award or 82 Florida Medallion Scholars award toward graduate study 83 for a specified academic year; authorizing a Bright 84 Futures Scholarship recipient to apply the unused 85 portion of a Florida Academic Scholars award or 86 Florida Medallion Scholars award toward graduate study 87

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 4 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. in a specified degree field, paid at the undergraduate 88 rate, beginning with a specified academic year; 89 amending s. 1009.535, F.S.; revising and expanding 90 eligibility for Florida Medallion Scholars awards; 91 providing that the amount of Florida Medallion 92 Scholars’ awards is as specified in the General 93 Appropriations Act; creating s. 1009.71, F.S.; 94 establishing the Florida Bright Opportunities Grant 95 Program; requiring the program to be administered by 96 the participating institutions subject to state board 97 rules; providing the purpose of the program; 98 specifying eligibility requirements for the program; 99 prohibiting institutions from imposing additional 100 eligibility requirements on students; requiring the 101 program to cover remaining tuition and fees for 102 eligible students after the application of all other 103 federal and state financial aid, with a stipend for 104 books as specified in the General Appropriations Act; 105 requiring program awards to be allocated on a first-106 come, first-served basis; requiring returning students 107 to receive priority over new students; providing the 108 duration of the award; requiring funds to be 109 distributed to eligible institutions based on a 110 formula approved by the state board; requiring the 111 formula to consider specified criteria; requiring 112 grants to be transmitted to institutions in advance of 113 the registration period; requiring institutions to 114 notify students of award amounts; requiring 115 institutions to determine the eligibility status of 116

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 5 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. each student at a specified time; prohibiting 117 institutions from being required to reevaluate student 118 eligibility after the specified time; requiring 119 institutions to report specified information to the 120 department; requiring institutions to remit to the 121 department any undisbursed advances within a specified 122 timeframe; requiring the state board to adopt rules; 123 creating s. 1009.711, F.S.; establishing the Florida 124 Endeavor Scholarship Program; requiring the award to 125 cover tuition and registration fees for eligible 126 students at a Florida College System institution, a 127 career center, or a charter technical career center; 128 specifying eligibility for students without a high 129 school credential; requiring enrollment in specified 130 programs; requiring completion of specified clock 131 hours and a minimum postsecondary grade point average; 132 requiring program awards to be allocated on a first-133 come, first-served basis; requiring returning students 134 to be given priority over new students; providing the 135 duration of the award; requiring funds to be 136 distributed to eligible institutions based on a 137 formula approved by the state board; requiring the 138 formula to consider specified criteria; requiring 139 grants to be transmitted to institutions in advance of 140 the registration period; requiring institutions to 141 notify students of award amounts; requiring 142 institutions to determine the eligibility status of 143 each student at a specified time; prohibiting 144 institutions from being required to reevaluate student 145

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 6 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. eligibility after the specified time; requiring 146 institutions to report specified information to the 147 department; requiring institutions to remit to the 148 department any undisbursed advances within a specified 149 timeframe; requiring the state board to adopt rules; 150 amending s. 1009.893, F.S.; requiring a student who 151 enrolls in a baccalaureate degree program in specified 152 academic years to comply with certain requirements to 153 attain a Benacquisto Scholarship; providing that the 154 amount awarded under the program will be as specified 155 in the General Appropriations Act; providing an 156 effective date. 157 158 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 159 160

Section 1. Paragraphs (

c) and (

d) of subsection (1) of 161

section 1009.25, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 162 1009.25 Fee exemptions.— 163

(1) The following students are exempt from the payment of 164 tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that 165 provides workforce education programs, Florida College System 166 institution, or state university: 167 (

c) A student who is, or was at the time he or she reached 168 18 years of age, in the custody of the Department of Children 169 and Families or who, after spending at least 6 months in the 170 custody of the department after reaching 16 years of age, was 171 placed in a guardianship by the court. Such exemption includes 172 fees associated with enrollment in applied academics for adult 173 education instruction. The exemption remains valid until the 174

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 7 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. student reaches 28 years of age. 175 (

d) A student who is, or was at the time he or she reached 176 18 years of age, in the custody of a relative or nonrelative 177 under s. 39.5085 or s. 39.6225 or who was adopted from the 178 Department of Children and Families after May 5, 1997. Such 179 exemption includes fees associated with enrollment in applied 180 academics for adult education instruction. The exemption remains 181 valid until the student reaches 28 years of age. 182

Section 2. Paragraph (

a) of subsection (1) of

section 183 1009.40, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (

c) is 184 added to that subsection, to read: 185 1009.40 General requirements for student eligibility for 186 state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants.— 187 (1)(

a) The general requirements for eligibility of students 188 for state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants 189 consist of the following: 190 1.

Achievement of the academic requirements of and 191 acceptance at a state university or Florida College System 192 institution; a nursing diploma school approved by the Florida 193 Board of Nursing; a Florida college or university which is 194 accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the State 195 Board of Education; a Florida institution the credits of which 196 are acceptable for transfer to state universities; a career 197 center; or a private career institution accredited by an 198 accrediting agency recognized by the State Board of Education. 199 2.

Residency in this state for no less than 1 year 200 preceding the award of aid or a tuition assistance grant for a 201 program established pursuant to s. 1009.50, s. 1009.505, s. 202 1009.51, s. 1009.52, s. 1009.53, s. 1009.60, s. 1009.62, s. 203

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 8 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 1009.71, s. 1009.711, s. 1009.72, s. 1009.73, s. 1009.75, s. 204 1009.77, s. 1009.89, or s. 1009.891, or s. 1009.894. Residency 205 in this state must be for purposes other than to obtain an 206 education. Resident status for purposes of receiving state 207 financial aid awards shall be determined in the same manner as 208 resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21. 209 3.

Submission of certification attesting to the accuracy, 210 completeness, and correctness of information provided to 211 demonstrate a student’s eligibility to receive state financial 212 aid awards or tuition assistance grants. Falsification of such 213 information shall result in the denial of a pending application 214 and revocation of an award or grant currently held to the extent 215 that no further payments shall be made.

Additionally, students 216 who knowingly make false statements in order to receive state 217 financial aid awards or tuition assistance grants commit a 218 misdemeanor of the second degree subject to the provisions of s. 219 837.06 and shall be required to return all state financial aid 220 awards or tuition assistance grants wrongfully obtained. 221 (

c) Eligibility for state financial aid awards and tuition 222 assistance grants must be reevaluated each term based on the 223 program of study to which the student has been admitted and in 224 which he or she is enrolled. Beginning with the 2022-2023 225 academic year and thereafter, eligibility for such awards and 226 grants is contingent on the student’s enrollment in a career 227 certificate or degree program on an approved list developed 228 pursuant to s. 1009.46(2)(a). 229 1. A student who has been admitted to such a program: 230 a. Is eligible to receive an award for each term that he or 231 she is enrolled in the program. 232

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 9 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. b. Is ineligible to receive funding for each term that he 233 or she is enrolled in a program that is not on an approved list. 234 2. A student who has not yet been admitted to a program is 235 eligible to receive funding for up to 60 credit hours or until 236 he or she is enrolled in a program that is not on an approved 237 list, whichever comes first. 238 3.

The program of study identified on an approved list 239 shall apply to a student if the program to which the he or she 240 is admitted is on an approved list at the time of admittance to 241 the program or at the time he or she initially entered an 242 eligible Florida postsecondary institution. 243

Section

Section 1009.46, Florida Statutes, is created to 244 read: 245 1009.46 Duties of postsecondary educational institutions 246 for state financial aid and tuition assistance programs.— 247 (1)(

a) Each postsecondary educational institution that 248 receives state funds for state financial aid and tuition 249 assistance programs shall: 250 1. Complete and return the annual application for state aid 251 funds in the format and by the date established by the 252 department; 253 2. Maintain complete, accurate, and auditable student 254 records documenting the institution’s administration of state 255 financial aid and tuition assistance funds; 256 3. Verify eligibility of enrolled students with the 257 department each academic term; 258 4.

Verify eligibility of enrolled students by reporting the 259 program of study to the department using the most recent 260 classification instruction program taxonomy for the certificate 261

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 10 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. or degree level as developed by the United States Department of 262 Education’s National Center for Education Statistics; 263 5. Disburse state financial aid and tuition assistance to 264 eligible students; 265 6. Notify students annually regarding the renewal 266 requirements for each state-funded award for which they are 267 eligible; 268 7.

Complete and return to the department in the format and 269 by the date established by the department all reports for the 270 administration of state funds; 271 8. Complete and return to the department in the format and 272 by the date established by the department all legislatively 273 required reports; 274 9. Retain required records for the later of 5 years or 275 until such records are audited and any audit exceptions are 276 resolved; and 277 10.

Refund to the department any undisbursed advances 278 within 60 days after the end of the regular registration each 279 fall and spring term, within 30 days after the end of the summer 280 term, or within 60 days after the date that a student’s 281 ineligibility is determined. 282 (

b) These requirements do not preclude higher standards 283 specified in other sections of this part or rules of the state 284 board. 285 (

c) An institution that fails to perform its duties in 286 administering state financial aid or tuition assistance programs 287 must be placed on probation by the department. 288 1. The department shall provide allocations on a 289 reimbursement basis to a participating institution that fails to 290

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 11 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. timely remit undisbursed funds for the previous academic year. 291 2. The department may suspend or revoke an institution’s 292 eligibility to participate in state-funded programs if the 293 institution fails to provide the required audits, fails to 294 resolve audit findings, or fails to timely provide statutorily 295 required reports by established deadlines. 296 (2)(

a) By December 31, 2021, the Board of Governors and the 297 State Board of Education shall each approve a list of career 298 certificate and undergraduate and graduate degree programs 299 offered by a district career center, charter technical career 300 center, Florida College System institution, or state university, 301 as applicable, which lead directly to employment. 302 (

b) In determining which programs will be included on a 303 list, the Board of Governors and the State Board of Education 304 shall consider national, state, and regional industry demand for 305 certificateholders and graduates of such degree programs. For 306 each certificate and degree program listed, the Board of 307 Governors and the State Board of Education must identify 308 occupations, current job openings, estimates of job growth, and 309 employment wages. Each approved list must also include 310 appropriate certificate and degree programs offered by eligible 311 independent colleges and universities. 312 (

c) Each approved list must be updated by each December 31. 313

Section 4. Paragraph (

a) of subsection (4) and subsection 314 (5) of

section 1009.50, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 315 1009.50 Florida Public Student Assistance Grant Program; 316 eligibility for grants.— 317 (4)(

a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Public 318 Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to 319

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 12 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by 320 the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least 321 the prior year’s distribution of funds and, the number of 322 eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the 323 standardization of the expected family contribution, and 324 provisions for unused funds. The formula must account for 325 changes in the number of eligible students across all student 326 assistance grant programs established pursuant to this

section 327 and ss. 1009.505, 1009.51, and 1009.52. 328

(5) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for state student 329 assistance grants may be deposited in the State Student 330 Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and 331 pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end 332 of any fiscal year which has been allocated to the Florida 333 Public Student Assistance Grant Program shall remain therein and 334 shall be available for carrying out the purposes of this 335 section. 336

Section 5. Subsection (5) of

section 1009.505, Florida 337 Statutes, is amended to read: 338 1009.505 Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education 339 Student Assistance Grant Program.— 340

(5) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for state student 341 assistance grants may be deposited in the State Student 342 Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and 343 pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end 344 of any fiscal year which has been allocated to the Florida 345 Public Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant 346 Program shall remain therein and shall be available for carrying 347 out the purposes of this section. 348

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Section 6. Paragraph (

a) of subsection (4) and subsection 349 (5) of

section 1009.51, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 350 1009.51 Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program; 351 eligibility for grants.— 352 (4)(

a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Private 353 Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to 354 eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by 355 the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least 356 the prior year’s distribution of funds and, the number of 357 eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the 358 standardization of the expected family contribution, and 359 provisions for unused funds. The formula must account for 360 changes in the number of eligible students across all student 361 assistance grant programs established pursuant to this

section 362 and ss. 1009.50, 1009.505, and 1009.52. 363

(5) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for Florida 364 private student assistance grants may be deposited in the State 365 Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding s. 366 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust 367 fund at the end of any fiscal year which has been allocated to 368 the Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program shall 369 remain therein and shall be available for carrying out the 370 purposes of this

section and as otherwise provided by law. 371

Section 7. Paragraph (

a) of subsection (4) and subsection 372 (6) of

section 1009.52, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 373 1009.52 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant 374 Program; eligibility for grants.— 375 (4)(

a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Postsecondary 376 Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to 377

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 14 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by 378 the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least 379 the prior year’s distribution of funds and, the number of 380 eligible applicants who did not receive awards, the 381 standardization of the expected family contribution, and 382 provisions for unused funds. The formula must account for 383 changes in the number of eligible students across all student 384 assistance grant programs established pursuant to this

section 385 and ss. 1009.50, 1009.505, and 1009.51. 386

(6) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for Florida 387 postsecondary student assistance grants may be deposited in the 388 State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Notwithstanding 389 s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust 390 fund at the end of any fiscal year which has been allocated to 391 the Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program shall 392 remain therein and shall be available for carrying out the 393 purposes of this

section and as otherwise provided by law. 394

Section 8. Subsections (3), (4), and (7) of

section 395 1009.53, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 396 1009.53 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.— 397

(3) The Department of Education shall administer the Bright 398 Futures Scholarship Program according to rules and procedures 399 established by the State Board of Education. A single 400 application must be sufficient for a student to apply for any of 401 the awards. The department shall advertise the availability of 402 the scholarship program and shall notify students, teachers, 403 parents, certified school counselors, and principals or other 404 relevant school administrators of the criteria and application 405 procedures. The department must begin this process of 406

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 15 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. notification no later than September January 1 of each year. 407

(4) Funding for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program must 408 be allocated from the Education Enhancement Trust Fund and must 409 be provided before allocations from that fund are calculated for 410 disbursement to other educational entities. 411 (

a) If funds appropriated are not adequate to provide the 412 maximum allowable award to each eligible applicant, awards in 413 all components of the program must be prorated using the same 414 percentage reduction. 415 (

b) Notwithstanding s. 216.301, if all funds allocated to 416 the Bright Futures Scholarship Program are not used in any 417 fiscal year, up to 10 percent of the total allocation may be 418 carried forward and used for awards in the following year. 419

(7) A student may receive only one type of award from the 420 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program at any given time, 421 but may transfer from one type of award to another through the 422 renewal application process, if the student’s eligibility status 423 changes. However, a student is not eligible to transfer from a 424 Florida Medallion Scholarship, a Florida Gold Seal CAPE 425 Scholarship, or a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship to a 426 Florida Academic Scholarship.

A student who receives an award 427 from the program may also receive a federal family education 428 loan or a federal direct loan, and the value of the award must 429 be considered in the certification or calculation of the 430 student’s loan eligibility. 431

Section 9. Paragraph (

c) is added to subsection (3) of 432

section 1009.532, Florida Statutes, to read: 433 1009.532 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program; 434 student eligibility requirements for renewal awards.— 435

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 16 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. (3) 436 (

c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), beginning with students 437 initially funded in the 2022-2023 academic year, the maximum 438 number of credit hours which can be awarded must be reduced by 439 the number of postsecondary credit hours the student has earned 440 from articulated acceleration mechanisms under s. 1007.27. 441

Section 10. Subsections (1) and (2) of

section 1009.534, 442 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 443 1009.534 Florida Academic Scholars award.— 444

(1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic Scholars 445 award if he or she meets the general eligibility requirements 446 for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and: 447 (

a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as 448 calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or its equivalent, in high 449 school courses that are designated by the State Board of 450 Education as college-preparatory academic courses and has 451 attained at least the score required under s. 1009.531(6)(

a) on 452 the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic 453 Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered 454 Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, 455 or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program; 456 (

b) Has attended a home education program according to s. 457 1002.41 during grades 11 and 12, has completed the International 458 Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the International 459 Baccalaureate Diploma, or has completed the Advanced 460 International Certificate of Education curriculum but failed to 461 earn the Advanced International Certificate of Education 462 Diploma, and has attained at least the score required under s. 463 1009.531(6)(

a) on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of 464

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 17 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or 465 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College 466 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the ACT 467 Assessment Program; 468 (

c) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma 469 from the International Baccalaureate Office or an Advanced 470 International Certificate of Education Diploma from the 471 University of Cambridge International Examinations Office; 472 (

d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement 473 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a 474 scholar or finalist; or 475 (

e) Has been granted academic honors by one or more of the 476 College Board National Recognition Programs for students from 477 underrepresented communities; or recognized by the National 478 Hispanic Recognition Program as a scholar recipient 479 (

f) For a high school student who graduated in the 2021-480 2022 academic year and thereafter: 481 1. Has earned an associate degree with a minimum 482 postsecondary cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 483 scale before graduating from high school; or 484 2.

Has earned a College Board Advanced Placement Capstone 485 Diploma with scores of 4 or higher on six Advanced Placement 486 examinations. 487 488 The student must complete a program of volunteer service work, 489 as approved by the district school board, the administrators of 490 a nonpublic school, or the Department of Education for home 491 education program students, which must include a minimum of 75 492 hours of service work for high school students graduating in the 493

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 18 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 2010-2011 academic year and 100 hours of service work for high 494 school students graduating in the 2011-2012 academic year and 495 thereafter.

The student must identify a social or civic issue or 496 a professional area that interests him or her, develop a plan 497 for his or her personal involvement in addressing the issue or 498 learning about the area, and, through papers or other 499 presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her experience. 500 Except for credit earned through service-learning courses 501 adopted pursuant to s. 1003.497, the student may not receive 502 remuneration or academic credit for the volunteer service work 503 performed.

Such work may include, but is not limited to, a 504 business or governmental internship, work for a nonprofit 505 community service organization, or activities on behalf of a 506 candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer service must 507 be documented in writing, and the document must be signed by the 508 student, the student’s parent or guardian, and a representative 509 of the organization for which the student performed the 510 volunteer service work. 511

(2) A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a 512 certificate, diploma, associate, or baccalaureate degree program 513 at a public or nonpublic postsecondary education institution is 514 eligible for an award equal to the amount specified necessary to 515 pay 100 percent of tuition and fees established under ss. 516 1009.22(3), (5), (6), and (7); 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), 517 and (11); and 1009.24(4), (7)-(13), (14)(r), and (16), as 518 applicable, and is eligible for an additional stipend for 519 textbooks, to assist with the payment of educational expenses as 520 funds are specifically appropriated in the General 521 Appropriations Act to assist with the payment of educational 522

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 19 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. expenses. 523

Section

Section 1009.5341, Florida Statutes, is amended 524 to read: 525 1009.5341 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship awards for 526 graduate study.— 527

(1) For the 2021-2022 academic year, Florida Bright Futures 528 Scholarship recipients who graduate in the 2010-2011 academic 529 year and thereafter with a baccalaureate degree in 7 semesters, 530 or the equivalent or fewer hours, and wish to pursue graduate 531 study may apply the unused portion of their Florida Academic 532 Scholars award or Florida Medallion Scholars award toward 1 533 semester of graduate study, not to exceed 15 semester hours paid 534 at the undergraduate rate. A baccalaureate degree may include, 535 but is not limited to, college credits earned through 536 articulated acceleration mechanisms pursuant to s. 1007.27. 537

(2) Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, a Bright 538 Futures scholarship recipient may apply the unused portion of 539 his or her Florida Academic Scholars award or Florida Medallion 540 Scholars award toward graduate study in a degree field on an 541 approved list developed pursuant to s. 1009.46(2)(a), which must 542 be paid at the undergraduate rate. 543

Section 12. Subsections (1) and (2) of

section 1009.535, 544 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 545 1009.535 Florida Medallion Scholars award.— 546

(1) A student is eligible for a Florida Medallion Scholars 547 award if he or she meets the general eligibility requirements 548 for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and: 549 (

a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0 as 550 calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or the equivalent, in high 551

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 20 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. school courses that are designated by the State Board of 552 Education as college-preparatory academic courses and has 553 attained at least the score required under s. 1009.531(6)(

b) on 554 the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic 555 Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered 556 Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, 557 or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program; 558 (

b) Has completed the International Baccalaureate 559 curriculum but failed to earn the International Baccalaureate 560 Diploma or has completed the Advanced International Certificate 561 of Education curriculum but failed to earn the Advanced 562 International Certificate of Education Diploma, and has attained 563 at least the score required under s. 1009.531(6)(

b) on the 564 combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic 565 Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered 566 Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, 567 or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program; 568 (

c) Has attended a home education program according to s. 569 1002.41 during grades 11 and 12 and has attained at least the 570 score required under s. 1009.531(6)(

b) on the combined verbal 571 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the 572 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic 573 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an 574 equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program; 575 (

d) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement program 576 of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a scholar or 577 finalist but has not completed the program of volunteer service 578 work required under s. 1009.534; or 579 (

e) Has been granted academic honors by one or more of the 580

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 21 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. College Board National Recognition Programs for students from 581 underrepresented communities recognized by the National Hispanic 582 Recognition Program as a scholar, but has not completed the 583 program of volunteer service work required under s. 1009.534; or 584 (

f) For a high school student who graduates in the 2021-585 2022 academic year and thereafter: 586 1. Has earned an associate degree with a minimum cumulative 587 postsecondary grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale before 588 graduating from high school; or 589 2.

Has earned an Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma with 590 scores of 3 or higher on six Advanced Placement Examinations. 591 592 A high school student graduating in the 2011-2012 academic year 593 and thereafter must complete at least 75 hours of volunteer 594 service work approved by the district school board, the 595 administrators of a nonpublic school, or the Department of 596 Education for home education program students.

The student must 597 identify a social or civic issue or a professional area that 598 interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal 599 involvement in addressing the issue or learning about the area, 600 and, through papers or other presentations, evaluate and reflect 601 upon his or her experience. Except for credit earned through 602 service-learning courses adopted pursuant to s. 1003.497, the 603 student may not receive remuneration or academic credit for 604 volunteer service work performed.

Such work may include, but is 605 not limited to, a business or governmental internship, work for 606 a nonprofit community service organization, or activities on 607 behalf of a candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer 608 service must be documented in writing, and the document must be 609

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 22 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. signed by the student, the student’s parent or guardian, and a 610 representative of the organization for which the student 611 performed the volunteer service work. 612

(2) A Florida Medallion Scholar who is enrolled in a 613 certificate, diploma, associate, or baccalaureate degree program 614 at a public or nonpublic postsecondary education institution is 615 eligible, beginning in the fall 2018 semester, for an award 616 equal to the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act 617 necessary to pay 75 percent of tuition and fees established 618 under ss. 1009.22(3), (5), (6), and (7); 1009.23(3), (4), (7), 619 (8), (10), and (11); and 1009.24(4), (7)-(13), (14)(r), and 620 (16), as applicable, to assist with the payment of educational 621 expenses.

Beginning in the fall 2021 semester, a Florida 622 Medallion Scholar who is enrolled in an associate degree program 623 at a Florida College System institution is eligible for an award 624 equal to the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act 625 necessary to pay 100 percent of tuition and fees established 626 under s. 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11) to assist 627 with the payment of educational expenses. 628

Section

Section 1009.71, Florida Statutes, is created 629 to read: 630 1009.71 Florida Bright Opportunities Grant Program.— 631

(1) ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.—The Florida Bright 632 Opportunities Grant Program is established and shall be 633 administered by the participating institutions in accordance 634 with rules of the State Board of Education. The program shall 635 provide an award equal to the amount necessary to cover tuition 636 and registration fees, after applying all other federal and 637 state financial aid, for eligible students at a Florida College 638

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 23 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. System institution, a career center operated by a district 639 school board under s. 1001.44, or a charter technical career 640 center under s. 1002.34. 641

(2) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to be eligible for the program, a 642 student must have a tuition and registration fee balance not 643 covered by all federal financial and state financial aid, and: 644 (

a) Be enrolled as a student seeking a degree or career 645 certificate, in an associate degree, technical certificate, 646 applied technology diploma, or clock hour certificate program at 647 a Florida College System institution, or a clock hour career 648 certificate or diploma program at a district career center or 649 charter technical career center. The students must be enrolled 650 for at least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent per term, at a 651 Florida College System institution, district career center, or 652 charter technical career center; 653 (

b) Meet the requirements under s. 1009.40(1)(a)2. and 3. 654 and (c); and 655 (

c) Qualify and remain eligible each academic year for the 656 Pell Grant. 657 658 An institution may not impose additional criteria to determine a 659 student’s eligibility to receive a grant under this section. 660

(3) GRANT AWARD.—The program shall: 661 (

a) Cover remaining tuition and registration fees, with a 662 stipend for books as specified in the General Appropriations 663 Act, for eligible students after all other federal and state 664 financial aid is applied to tuition and fees. 665 (

b) Be allocated, subject to the availability of funding, 666 on a first-come, first-served basis. The award may not exceed 667

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 24 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. the cost of tuition and fees at that institution, plus a stipend 668 for books as determined in the General Appropriations Act. 669 Returning students shall receive priority over new students. 670

(4) AWARD DURATION.—A student is eligible to receive an 671 award for the number of semesters or quarters specified in s. 672 1009.40(3). 673

(5) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.— 674 (

a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Bright 675 Opportunities Grant Program must be distributed to eligible 676 institutions in accordance with a formula approved by the State 677 Board of Education. The formula must consider at least the prior 678 year’s distribution of funds and the number of eligible 679 applicants who did not receive awards. 680 (

b) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, payment of 681 grants must be transmitted to the institution in advance of the 682 registration period. Institutions shall notify students of the 683 amount of their awards. 684 (

c) The eligibility status of each student to receive a 685 disbursement must be determined by each institution as of the 686 end of its regular registration period, inclusive of a drop-add 687 period. Institutions may not be required to reevaluate a 688 student’s eligibility status after this date for purposes of 689 changing eligibility determinations previously made. 690 (

d) Each participating institution shall report to the 691 department by the established date the number of students 692 eligible for the program for each academic term. Each 693 institution also shall report to the department any necessary 694 demographic and eligibility data for such students. 695 (

e) Institutions shall certify to the department within 30 696

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 25 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. days after the end of regular registration each term the amount 697 of funds disbursed to each student. Institutions shall remit to 698 the department any undisbursed advances for the fall, spring, 699 and summer terms within 30 days after the end of the summer 700 term. 701

(6) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules 702 to implement this section. 703

Section

Section 1009.711, Florida Statutes, is created 704 to read: 705 1009.711 Florida Endeavor Scholarship Program.— 706

(1) ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.—The Florida Endeavor 707 Scholarship Program is established and shall be administered by 708 participating institutions in accordance with rules of the State 709 Board of Education. The program shall provide an award equal to 710 the amount necessary to cover tuition and registration fees for 711 eligible students at a Florida College System institution, a 712 career center operated by a district school board under s. 713 1001.44, or a charter technical career center under s. 1002.34. 714

(2) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to be eligible for the program, a 715 student may not have earned a high school credential prior to 716 enrolling at the institution, and must: 717 (

a) Be enrolled in a career certificate or noncollege-718 credit applied technology diploma program or in a General 719 Education Program at a Florida College System institution, a 720 district career center, or a charter technical career center; 721 (

b) Meet the requirements under s. 1009.40(1)(a)2. and 3. 722 and (c); 723 (

c) Earn at least 225 clock hours; and 724 (

d) Earn a minimum 2.5 postsecondary grade point average. 725

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 26 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 726 An institution may not impose additional criteria to determine a 727 student’s eligibility to receive a grant under this section. 728

(3) SCHOLARSHIP AWARD.—A student is eligible to receive an 729 award equal to the amount to cover tuition and registration fees 730 for a career certificate or applied technology diploma program 731 for the number of semesters or quarters specified in s. 732 1009.40(3). The award may not exceed the cost of tuition and 733 registration fees at that institution. The institution shall 734 award scholarships subject to the availability of funding, on a 735 first-come, first-served basis. Returning students must be given 736 priority over new students. 737

(4) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.— 738 (

a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Endeavor 739 Scholarship Program must be distributed to eligible institutions 740 in accordance with a formula approved by the State Board of 741 Education. The formula must consider at least the prior year’s 742 distribution of funds and the number of eligible applicants who 743 did not receive awards. 744 (

b) Subject to the appropriation of funds by the 745 Legislature, the department shall transmit payment of grants to 746 the institution in advance of the registration period. 747 Institutions shall notify students of the amount of their 748 awards. 749 (

c) The eligibility status of each student to receive a 750 disbursement must be determined by each institution as of the 751 end of its regular registration period, inclusive of a drop-add 752 period. Institutions may not be required to reevaluate a 753 student’s eligibility status after this date for purposes of 754

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 27 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. changing eligibility determinations previously made. 755 (

d) Each participating institution shall report to the 756 department by the established date the number of students 757 eligible for the program for each academic term. Each 758 institution also shall report to the department any necessary 759 demographic and eligibility data for such students. 760 (

e) Institutions shall certify to the department within 30 761 days after the end of regular registration each term the amount 762 of funds disbursed to each student. Institutions shall remit to 763 the department any undisbursed advances for the fall, spring, 764 and summer terms within 30 days after the end of the summer 765 term. 766

(5) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules 767 to implement this section. 768

Section 15. Paragraph (

b) of subsection (4) and subsection 769 (5) of

section 1009.893, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 770 1009.893 Benacquisto Scholarship Program.— 771

(4) In order to be eligible for an initial award under the 772 scholarship program, a student must meet the requirements of 773 paragraph (

a) or paragraph (b). 774 (

b) A student who initially enrolls in a baccalaureate 775 degree program in the 2018-2019 through 2021-2022 academic years 776 year or later and who is not a resident of this state, as 777 determined in s. 1009.40 and rules of the State Board of 778 Education, must: 779 1. Physically reside in this state on or near the campus of 780 the postsecondary educational institution in which the student 781 is enrolled; 782 2. Earn a high school diploma from a school outside Florida 783

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 28 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. which is comparable to a standard Florida high school diploma or 784 its equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s. 785 1003.4282, or s. 1003.435 or must complete a home education 786 program in another state; and 787 3.

Be accepted by and enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate 788 degree program at an eligible regionally accredited Florida 789 public or independent postsecondary educational institution 790 during the fall academic term following high school graduation. 791 (5)(a)1.

An eligible student who meets the requirements of 792 paragraph (4)(a), who is a National Merit Scholar, and who 793 attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution 794 shall receive a scholarship award as specified in the General 795 Appropriations Act equal to the institutional cost of attendance 796 minus the sum of the student’s Florida Bright Futures 797 Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship. 798 2.

An eligible student who meets the requirements of 799 paragraph (4)(b), who is a National Merit Scholar, and who 800 attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution 801 shall receive a scholarship award as specified in the General 802 Appropriations Act equal to the institutional cost of attendance 803 for a resident of this state minus the student’s National Merit 804 Scholarship. Such student is exempt from the payment of out-of-805 state fees. 806 (

b) An eligible student who is a National Merit Scholar and 807 who attends a Florida independent postsecondary educational 808 institution shall receive a scholarship award as specified in 809 the General Appropriations Act equal to the highest cost of 810 attendance for a resident of this state enrolled at a Florida 811 public university, as reported by the Board of Governors of the 812

Florida Senate - 2021 SB 86 12-00821G-21 202186__ Page 29 of 29 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. State University System, minus the sum of the student’s Florida 813 Bright Futures Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship. 814

Section 16. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021. 815