Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 By the Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 1 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled 1

An act relating to educational scholarship programs; 2 creating s. 1011.687, F.S.; creating an operating 3 categorical fund for implementing the Family 4 Empowerment Scholarship Program; providing 5 requirements for the use and disbursement of funds; 6 defining the term “full-time equivalent student”; 7 requiring the Department of Education to release funds 8 if certain criteria are met; providing requirements 9 for the release of each payment; providing 10 requirements for excess funds; creating s. 1011.689, 11 F.S.; creating the educational enrollment 12 stabilization program to provide supplemental state 13 funds to address changes in full-time equivalent 14 student enrollment; requiring the department to use 15 funds to ensure that a school district’s funds are not 16 lower than a specified calculation; requiring the 17 department to use funds to provide a supplements 18 payment to school districts that have a decline in 19 enrollment; providing for the calculation of the 20 supplemental payment; requiring the department to 21 ensure funding is available for certain scholarship 22 programs; requiring the department to appropriate 23 funds from the General Appropriations Act to keep the 24 educational enrollment stabilization program at a 25 minimum balance; amending s. 1011.65, F.S.; requiring 26 that specified data include a verification that 27 certain full-time equivalent student membership survey 28 data has been cross-checked by the department; 29

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 2 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. amending s. 1002.40, F.S.; renaming the Hope 30 Scholarship Program as the Hope Program; repealing s. 31 1002.411, F.S., relating to New Worlds Scholarship 32 Accounts; amending s. 1002.421, F.S.; defining terms; 33 requiring an eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding 34 organization to provide a parent with certain 35 information on scholarship programs; requiring an 36 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization to 37 create a single application for all educational 38 scholarship programs; providing requirements for such 39 application; prohibiting an eligible nonprofit 40 scholarship-funding organization from charging a fee 41 for the application; requiring an eligible nonprofit 42 scholarship-funding organization to establish two 43 application approval windows; providing deadlines for 44 such application approval windows; requiring an 45 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization to 46 review applications and award scholarships in a 47 specified order of priority; requiring an eligible 48 nonprofit scholarship-funding organization to award 49 scholarships to newly eligible students on a first-50 come, first-served basis; requiring a parent to notify 51 the eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding 52 organization within a specified timeframe if a 53 scholarship offer is accepted or declined within a 54 specified timeframe; prohibiting a parent from 55 applying for multiple scholarships for an individual 56 student at the same time; authorizing specified 57 students to apply for a scholarship at any time but 58

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 3 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. only receive payments prospectively; prohibiting an 59 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization 60 from restricting or reserving scholarships for use at 61 a particular school; requiring such organization to 62 notify each parent of a scholarship applicant that 63 participation in the program does not guarantee 64 enrollment at an eligible private school; providing 65 that a parent who submitted an application by a 66 specified date need not submit a new application; 67 authorizing a parent to withdraw their application and 68 reapply; prohibiting an eligible nonprofit 69 scholarship-funding organization from requiring 70 documentation beyond the requirements of the 71 scholarship program; requiring an eligible nonprofit 72 scholarship-funding organization to verify a student’s 73 eligibility upon receipt of an application; requiring 74 an eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization 75 to send a list of verified eligible students to the 76 department by specified dates; requiring the 77 department to assign each verified eligible student a 78 Florida student identification number; requiring the 79 department to use such number for tracking and 80 reporting scholarship data; requiring the department 81 to cross-check each list of verified eligible students 82 with certain other lists; requiring the department to 83 send the cross-checked list to the eligible nonprofit 84 scholarship-funding organization; requiring the 85 department to notify an eligible nonprofit 86 scholarship-funding organization of specified 87

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 4 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. information; requiring an eligible nonprofit 88 scholarship-funding organization to verify a student’s 89 continued eligibility before disbursing each payment; 90 providing criteria for verifying continued 91 eligibility; requiring parents of students receiving 92 scholarship payments to verify specified information; 93 providing criteria for verifying continued 94 eligibility; requiring parents of students receiving 95 scholarship payments to verify specified information; 96 providing that the scholarship program award amounts 97 are the amounts provided in the General Appropriations 98 Act; providing parameters for the calculation of the 99 scholarship amounts for certain students; requiring an 100 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization to 101 establish and maintain a scholarship account for each 102 student; providing methods for the transfer of funds; 103 providing requirements for such accounts; providing 104 that accrued interest is in addition to and not

part 105 of a student’s account; providing that program funds 106 include awarded funds and accrued interest and are 107 available only for authorized expenditures; requiring 108 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations 109 to make payments by funds transfer; providing 110 requirements for such funds transfer; prohibiting a 111 student’s scholarship award from being reduced to 112 cover certain fees; requiring that commodities or 113 services related to the funds transfer system be 114 procured by a specified method; providing an 115 exception; prohibiting an eligible nonprofit 116

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 5 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. scholarship-funding organization from transferring 117 funds to an account that has a balance in excess of a 118 specified amount; authorizing students in a 119 scholarship program to take specified tests and 120 certain assessments; providing an exception; requiring 121 a participating private school to administer or 122 provide for students to take specified tests and 123 assessments; requiring a participating private school 124 to submit a certain written request to the department 125 by a specified date; requiring a school district to 126 administer tests and assessments at a participating 127 private school; requiring an owner or operator to 128 undergo a background screening; providing requirements 129 for the submission of fingerprints; requiring the 130 Department of Law Enforcement to retain such 131 fingerprints in a specified manner and to enter such 132 fingerprints into the statewide automated biometric 133 identification system; requiring that such 134 fingerprints be available for certain purposes and 135 uses; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to 136 run a certain search of such fingerprints; prohibiting 137 an owner or operator who fails the background 138 screening from participating in a scholarship program; 139 prohibiting such owner or operator from transferring 140 ownership or management authority to a relative; 141 defining the term “relative”; requiring an eligible 142 nonprofit scholarship-funding organization to report 143 the annual audit of background screening results to 144 the Department of Education; providing that a 145

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 6 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. participating private school may be sectarian or 146 nonsectarian; revising information required to be 147 provided to the department by an eligible private 148 school; deleting obsolete language; providing 149 construction; requiring the department to publish and 150 update information on its website relating to 151 scholarship programs; requiring the department to 152 investigate complaints; requiring the department to 153 maintain and annually publish a list of tests that 154 satisfy a specified requirement; requiring the 155 department to develop a standard withdrawal form for 156 parents withdrawing a student from public school; 157 providing requirements for such form; requiring the 158 department to develop a uniform reimbursement process; 159 requiring an organization, by a specified date, to 160 approve, deny, or request more information relating to 161 a reimbursement request; requiring the department to 162 coordinate with each organization to provide a 163 participating private school with statewide 164 assessments; deleting the definition of the term 165 “owner or operator”; requiring a school district, by a 166 specified date, to inform certain households of 167 eligibility to apply for a scholarship program; 168 requiring the school district to coordinate with the 169 department to provide a participating private school 170 with statewide assessments; requiring a school 171 district to publish information about a scholarship 172 program on its website; requiring a school district to 173 provide a parent with the withdrawal form upon 174

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 7 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. request; deleting obsolete language; amending s. 175 1002.394, F.S.; deleting obsolete language; providing 176 that authorized uses of program funds include digital 177 devices; providing that authorized uses of program 178 funds include membership dues and activity fees for 179 Career and Technical Student Organizations; providing 180 that tuition and fees that meet certain requirements 181 are eligible for program funds; revising conditions 182 under which a student is no longer eligible for 183 scholarship funding; requiring an eligible nonprofit 184 scholarship-funding organization to notify a parent 185 before closing a student’s account; requiring an 186 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization to 187 report certain information to the Department of 188 Education regarding scholarship accounts closed under 189 certain circumstances; requiring an eligible nonprofit 190 scholarship-funding organization to notify a parent 191 if, upon a student reaching a specified age, a balance 192 exists in the student’s account, the amount of the 193 balance, and how the funds may be used; deleting a 194 provision allowing a public school student to receive 195 a scholarship for transportation; deleting obsolete 196 language; amending s. 1002.395, F.S.; deleting 197 obsolete language; deleting provisions related to 198 scholarship priority; deleting a provision allowing a 199 public school student to receive a scholarship for 200 transportation; revising a provision requiring 201 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations 202 to verify that scholarship funds are used for 203

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 8 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. specified purposes; requiring an eligible nonprofit 204 scholarship-funding organization to report to the 205 department the total number of scholarship accounts 206 closed due to certain reasons; amending s. 1003.485, 207 F.S.; deleting language relating to the purpose of the 208 New Worlds Reading Initiative; conforming a cross-209 reference; amending s. 1008.25, F.S.; making a 210 conforming change; amending s. 1010.305, F.S.; 211 requiring the Auditor General to periodically examine 212 the records of eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding 213 organizations; providing for appropriate adjustments 214 to be made and excess funds to be deducted if criteria 215 and procedures have not been followed by an eligible 216 nonprofit scholarship-funding organization; amending 217 s. 1011.61, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; 218 amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; deleting obsolete language 219 relating to the state-funded discretionary supplement; 220 amending ss. 11.45, 212.099, and 1002.45, F.S.; 221 conforming cross-references; providing an effective 222 date. 223 224 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 225 226

Section

Section 1011.687, Florida Statutes, is created 227 to read: 228 1011.687 Educational scholarship programs; operating 229 categorical fund.— 230

(1) There is created an operating categorical fund for 231 implementing the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program pursuant 232

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 9 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. to s. 1002.394. These funds shall be in the amount provided in 233 the General Appropriations Act and any additional funds 234 transferred from the Educational Enrollment Stabilization Fund 235 pursuant to s. 1011.689. 236

(2) Educational scholarship funding operating categorical 237 funds shall be used to award scholarships as required in s. 238 1002.394 and in accordance with s. 1002.421. Funds shall be 239 disbursed from this fund based on the full-time equivalent 240 scholarship students forecasted or reported as participating in 241 the program. 242

(3) A “full-time equivalent student” for a student 243 participating in a scholarship program under s. 1002.394 or s. 244 1002.395 means a student who receives all 10 scholarship 245 payments, that are distributed on a monthly basis. A student who 246 receives less than 10 payments shall generate a fraction of 247 full-time equivalent student membership proportional to the 248 number of payments received. 249

(4) For the purposes of calculating a scholarship award 250 amount, a full-time equivalent student shall be based upon the 251 student’s county of residence. 252

(5) Contingent upon verification that the organization is 253 in compliance with s. 1002.395(6)(i), the department shall 254 release funds from the operating categorical fund on a quarterly 255 basis to the organization with the first quarter payment 256 released no later than July 30. The funds shall be held by the 257 organization for deposit into the students’ accounts in 258 accordance with the payment schedules. 259 (

a) The first quarter release payment shall be based upon 260 the amount of full-time equivalent student membership forecasted 261

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 10 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. as provided in the General Appropriations Act. 262 (

b) The second, third, and fourth quarter release payments 263 shall be based upon the amount of full-time equivalent student 264 membership reported and cross-checked by the department pursuant 265 to s. 1002.421(3). 266 (

c) If the funds released to the organization are in excess 267 of the funds certified to the department by the organization as 268 the amount distributed for student scholarships in accordance 269 with scholarship program requirements, the department is 270 authorized to adjust the amount of the overpayment in the third 271 and fourth quarter payment releases. 272

Section

Section 1011.689, Florida Statutes, is created 273 to read: 274 1011.689 Educational enrollment stabilization program.—The 275 educational enrollment stabilization program is created to 276 provide supplemental state funds as needed to address changes in 277 full-time equivalent student enrollment throughout the school 278 year in both the Florida Finance Education Program and the 279 educational scholarship programs created pursuant to

chapter 280 1002. 281

(1) SCHOOL DISTRICT STABILIZATION.—To maintain the 282 stability of the operations of public schools, including charter 283 schools, in each school district, the department shall use funds 284 as appropriated to ensure that based on each recalculation of 285 the Florida Education Finance Program, a school district’s funds 286 per unweighted full-time equivalent student are not less than 287 the greater of either the school district’s funds per unweighted 288 full-time equivalent student as appropriated in the General 289 Appropriations Act or the school district’s funds per unweighted 290

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 11 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. full-time equivalent student as recalculated based upon the 291 receipt of the certified taxable value for school purposes 292 pursuant to s. 1011.62(4). 293

(2) SCHOOL DISTRICT DECLINING ENROLLMENT.—To maintain the 294 stability of the operations of public schools, the department 295 shall use funds as appropriated to provide a supplemental 296 payment to school districts that have a decline in unweighted 297 full-time equivalent students between the legislative 298 calculation provided in the General Appropriations Act and the 299 third calculation of the Florida Education Finance Program 300 within the same year.

The supplemental payment shall be computed 301 by multiplying a percentage of the decline in the unweighted 302 full-time equivalent students as determined by the Legislature 303 by the base student allocation and by the comparable wage factor 304 or the small district factor. The percentage used for districts 305 that are fiscally constrained must be greater than the 306 percentage used for non-fiscally constrained districts. The 307 supplemental funds may not be added to the district’s total 308 Florida Education Finance Program funds for any future 309 calculations. 310

(3) FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.—To maintain 311 scholarship award amounts, the department shall use funds as 312 appropriated to ensure that funding is available if the number 313 of full-time equivalent students enrolled in the scholarship 314 program is greater than the amount appropriated in the General 315 Appropriations Act in the educational scholarship funding 316 operating categorical established under s. 1011.687. 317

(4) FLORIDA TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.—If available 318 funds in the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program are 319

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 13 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Program and categorical entitlements of the districts for the 349 fiscal year for which the appropriations are made. These 350 conventions and calculation methods shall remain in effect until 351 further agreements are reached in subsequent allocation 352 conferences called by the commissioner for that purpose.

The 353 commissioner shall also, prior to each recalculation of Florida 354 Education Finance Program and categorical allocations of the 355 districts, provide conference principals with all data necessary 356 to replicate those allocations precisely. This data shall 357 include a matrix by district by program of all full-time 358 equivalent changes made by the department as part of its 359 administration of state full-time equivalent caps.

This data 360 must include verification that the department has cross-checked 361 the full-time equivalent student membership survey data with the 362 full-time equivalent student data for the educational 363 scholarship programs established under

chapter 1002 to avoid 364 duplication. 365

Section

Section 1002.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to 366 read: 367 1002.40 The Hope Scholarship Program.— 368

(1) PURPOSE.—The Hope Scholarship Program is established to 369 provide the parent of a public school student who was subjected 370 to an incident listed in subsection (3) an opportunity to 371 transfer the student to another public school or to request a 372 scholarship for the student to enroll in and attend an eligible 373 private school. 374

(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 375 (a) “Parent” means a resident of this state who is a 376 parent, as defined in s. 1000.21, and whose student reported an 377

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 14 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. incident in accordance with subsection (4). 378 (b) “Program” means the Hope Scholarship Program. 379 (c) “School” means any educational program or activity 380 conducted by a public K-12 educational institution, any school-381 related or school-sponsored program or activity, and riding on a 382 school bus, as defined in s. 1006.25(1), including waiting at a 383 school bus stop. 384

(3) PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.—A student enrolled in a Florida 385 public school in kindergarten through grade 12 is eligible for 386 the educational options described in subsection (4) if the 387 student reported an incident in accordance with that subsection. 388 For purposes of this section, the term “incident” means battery; 389 harassment; hazing; bullying; kidnapping; physical attack; 390 robbery; sexual offenses, harassment, assault, or battery; 391 threat or intimidation; or fighting at school, as defined by the 392 department in accordance with s. 1006.09(6). 393

(4) SCHOOL DISTRICT OBLIGATIONS; PARENTAL OPTIONS.—Upon 394 receipt of a report of an incident, the school principal, or his 395 or her designee, shall provide a copy of the report to the 396 parent and investigate the incident to determine if the incident 397 must be reported as required by s. 1006.09(6). Within 24 hours 398 after receipt of the report, the principal or his or her 399 designee shall provide a copy of the report to the parent of the 400 alleged offender and to the superintendent.

Upon conclusion of 401 the investigation or within 15 days after the incident was 402 reported, whichever occurs first, the school district shall 403 notify the parent of the program, offer the parent an 404 opportunity to enroll his or her student in another public 405 school that has capacity, and notify the parent of their 406

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 15 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. eligibility to apply for a scholarship to attend an eligible 407 private school under ss. 1002.394 and 1002.395. 408

(5) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules 409 to administer this section. 410

Section

Section 1002.411, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 411

Section

Section 1002.421, Florida Statutes, is amended 412 to read: 413 1002.421 State school choice scholarship programs program 414 accountability and oversight.— 415

(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, s. 1002.394, and 416 s. 1002.395, the term: 417 (a) “Approved provider” means a provider approved by the 418 Agency for Persons with Disabilities, a health care practitioner 419 as defined in s. 456.001, or a provider approved by the 420 department pursuant to s. 1002.66. 421 (b) “Choice navigator” means an individual who meets the 422 requirements of s. 1002.395(6)(d)8. and who provides 423 consultations, at a mutually agreed upon location, on the 424 selection of, application for, and enrollment in educational 425 options addressing the academic needs of a student; curriculum 426 selection; and advice on career and postsecondary education 427 opportunities.

However, this

section does not authorize a choice 428 navigator to oversee or exercise control over the curricula or 429 academic programs of a personalized education program. 430 (c) “Curriculum” means a complete course of study for a 431 particular content area or grade level, including any required 432 supplemental materials and associated online instruction. 433 (d) “Disability” means, for a 3- or 4-year-old child or for 434 a student in kindergarten to grade 12, autism spectrum disorder 435

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 16 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental 436 Disorders, Fifth Edition, published by the American Psychiatric 437 Association; cerebral palsy as defined in s. 393.063; Down 438 syndrome as defined in s. 393.063; an intellectual disability as 439 defined in s. 393.063; a speech impairment; a language 440 impairment; an orthopedic impairment; any other health 441 impairment; an emotional or a behavioral disability; a specific 442 learning disability, including, but not limited to, dyslexia, 443 dyscalculia, or developmental aphasia; Phelan-McDermid syndrome 444 as defined in s. 393.063; Prader-Willi syndrome as defined in s. 445 393.063; spina bifida as defined in s. 393.063; being a high-446 risk child as defined in s. 393.063(22)(a); muscular dystrophy; 447 Williams syndrome; rare diseases that affect patient populations 448 of fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States, as 449 defined by the National Organization for Rare Disorders; 450 anaphylaxis; a hearing impairment, including deafness; a visual 451 impairment, including blindness; traumatic brain injury; 452 hospital or homebound; or identification as dual sensory 453 impaired, as defined by rules of the State Board of Education 454 and evidenced by reports from local school districts.

The term 455 “hospital or homebound” includes a student who has a medically 456 diagnosed physical or psychiatric condition or illness, as 457 defined by the state board in rule, and who is confined to the 458 home or hospital for more than 6 months. 459 (e) “Eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization” 460 or “organization” means a state university; or an independent 461 college or university that is eligible to participate in the 462 William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Grant 463 Program; is located and chartered in this state; is not for 464

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 17 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. profit; is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the 465 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; or is a charitable 466 organization that: 467 1. Is exempt from federal income tax pursuant to s. 468 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; 469 2. Is a Florida entity formed under

chapter 605,

chapter 470 607, or

chapter 617 and whose principal office is located in 471 this state; and 472 3. Complies with 1002.395(6) and (15). 473 (f) “Eligible postsecondary educational institution” means 474 a Florida College System institution; a state university; a 475 school district technical center; a school district adult 476 general education center; an independent college or university 477 that is eligible to participate in the William L. Boyd, IV, 478 Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program under s. 479 1009.89; or an accredited independent postsecondary educational 480 institution as defined in s. 1005.02 which is licensed to 481 operate in this state under

part III of

chapter 1005 or is 482 approved to participate in a reciprocity agreement as defined in 483 s. 1000.35(2). 484 (g) “Eligible private school” means a private school as 485 defined in s. 1002.01 which is located in Florida and which 486 offers an education to students in any grades K-12 and meets the 487 requirements in this section. 488 (h) “Household income” has the same meaning as the term 489 “income” as defined in the Income Eligibility Guidelines for 490 free and reduced price meals under the National School Lunch 491 Program in 7 C.F.R.

part 210 as published in the Federal 492 Register by the United States Department of Agriculture. 493

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 18 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. (i) “IEP” means an individual education plan, regardless of 494 whether the plan has been reviewed or revised within the last 12 495 months. 496 (j) “Inactive” means that no eligible expenditures have 497 been made from an account. 498 (k) “Job coach” means an individual employed to help people 499 with disabilities learn, accommodate to, and perform their work 500 duties. 501 (l) “Law enforcement officer” has the same meaning as 502 provided in s. 943.10(1). 503 (m) “Owner or operator” includes: 504 1.

An owner, a president, an officer, or a director of an 505 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization or a person 506 with equivalent decisionmaking authority over an eligible 507 nonprofit scholarship-funding organization; or 508 2.

An owner, an operator, a superintendent, or a principal 509 of an eligible private school or a person with equivalent 510 decisionmaking authority over an eligible private school. 511 (n) “Parent” means a resident of this state who is a parent 512 as defined in s. 1000.21. 513 (o) “Personalized education program” has the same meaning 514 as in s. 1002.01. 515 (p) “Personalized education student” means a student whose 516 parent applies to an eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding 517 organization for participation in a personalized education 518 program. 519 (q) “Student learning plan” means a customized learning 520 plan developed by a parent at least annually to guide 521 instruction for his or her student and to identify the goods and 522

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 19 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. services needed to address the academic needs of his or her 523 student. 524

(2) SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS.— 525 (

a) An eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization 526 must provide the parent with information on each scholarship 527 program established pursuant to this

chapter which clearly 528 outlines the eligibility requirements of and authorized uses of 529 funds for each program to enable the parent of a student to 530 determine which program best fits the needs of each student. 531 Specifically, for a student applying based on eligibility 532 pursuant to s. 1002.394(3)(

b) or s. 1002.395, except for 533 students eligible pursuant to a personalized education program, 534 a participating private school must discuss the school’s 535 academic programs and policies, specialized services, code of 536 conduct, and attendance policies before enrollment with the 537 parent to determine which programs and services may meet the 538 student’s individual needs. 539 (

b) The organization must create a single application for 540 all educational scholarship programs established pursuant to 541 this

chapter in a manner that creates an electronic record of 542 the application, which must include the date the application was 543 submitted, the date the application was approved or denied, and 544 the date the scholarship was accepted or declined. The 545 organization may not charge a fee for the application. 546 (

c) The organization must establish two application 547 approval windows each school year during which a parent of an 548 eligible student, including renewal students, may apply for an 549 educational scholarship program pursuant to this chapter, except 550 for personalized education students, who may only apply during 551

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 20 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. the fall application window. 552 1.a. For the 2025-2026 school year, the application 553 deadline for the fall application window must be no later than 554 July 15. 555 b. For the 2026-2027 school year and thereafter, the 556 application deadline for the fall application window must be no 557 later than May 31. 558 2. The application deadline for the spring application 559 window must be no later than November 1. 560 (

d) An organization must review applications and award 561 scholarships using the following priorities: 562 1. An application for a student who is eligible pursuant to 563 s. 1002.394(3)(

a) or s. 1002.395 and: 564 a. Whose household income level does not exceed 185 percent 565 of the federal poverty level or who is in foster care or out-of-566 home care; and then 567 b. Whose household income level exceeds 185 percent of the 568 federal poverty level but does not exceed 400 percent of the 569 federal poverty level. 570 2. An application for a student who is eligible and 571 received a scholarship during the previous school year. 572 3.

An application for a student who was affected by the 573 disapproval of an organization’s participation by the department 574 pursuant to s. 1002.395 during the previous school year. 575 576 The organization must award scholarships to newly eligible 577 students on a first-come, first-served basis unless the student 578 is seeking priority pursuant to this paragraph. 579 (

e) A parent must notify the organization within 30 days, 580

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 21 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. except for the 2025-2026 school year for which the parent must 581 notify the organization within 15 days, of the application 582 window deadline whether the scholarship offer is accepted or 583 declined. A failure to respond within the timeframe established 584 results in an automatic declination of the scholarship. A parent 585 of a student who is awarded funds during the fall does not need 586 to reapply during the spring application window.

A parent of a 587 student who is awarded funds during the spring window may only 588 receive five of the 10 payment installments for the school year. 589 (

f) A parent may not apply for multiple scholarships under 590 s. 1002.394 or s. 1002.395 for an individual student at the same 591 time. 592 (

g) Notwithstanding the application window deadlines, a 593 student in foster care or out-of-home care who is a dependent 594 child of a member of the United States Armed Forces or who 595 reported an incident pursuant to s. 1002.40 may apply for a 596 scholarship at any time but may only receive payments 597 prospectively. 598 (

h) An organization may not restrict or reserve 599 scholarships for use at a particular eligible private school or 600 provide scholarships to a child of an owner or operator of such 601 school. The organization must notify each parent of a 602 scholarship applicant that participation in the scholarship 603 program does not guarantee enrollment at an eligible private 604 school. 605 (

i) For the 2025-2026 school year, a parent who applies for 606 a scholarship by April 30, 2025, does not need to submit a new 607 application pursuant to the requirements of this

section but 608 must, by the time the organization is required to send its 609

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 22 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. verified list to the department, provide the documentation 610 required for eligibility. However, a parent may withdraw their 611 application and reapply pursuant to the requirements of this 612 section. 613 614 An eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization may not 615 further regulate, exercise control over, or require 616 documentation beyond the requirements of the scholarship 617 programs unless the regulation, control, or documentation is 618 necessary for participation in the program. 619

(3) ENROLLMENT VERIFICATION.—Upon receipt of an 620 application, the eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding 621 organization must verify each student’s initial or continuing 622 eligibility. Each student must apply for a scholarship each 623 academic year. An organization may not grant multiyear 624 scholarships in one approval process. 625 (

a) To verify eligibility the organization must request for 626 each student and include in each student’s file all of the 627 following information: 628 1. More than one form of proof of residency or proof that 629 the student is the dependent of an active duty member of the 630 United States Armed Forces who has received permanent change of 631 station orders to this state or, at the time of renewal, whose 632 home of record or state of legal residence is Florida. 633 2. A copy of the student’s birth certificate. 634 3.

For a student who was enrolled in public school in the 635 school year prior to participation in the scholarship program, 636 proof that the parent submitted the standard withdrawal form to 637 the public school at which the student was previously enrolled. 638

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 23 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 4. The following documentation from the parent attesting 639 that while the student receives scholarship payments, the 640 student will be enrolled in and in compliance with the 641 applicable attendance requirements under ss. 1003.01(16) and 642 1003.21(1): 643 a. A copy of the notice of a parent’s intent to establish 644 and maintain a home education program pursuant to s. 1002.41; 645 b.

A personalized education program and a copy of the 646 student learning plan that has been reviewed and verified by the 647 organization pursuant to s. 1002.395(7)(c); or 648 c. A letter of admission or enrollment from an eligible 649 private school for the school year in which the student is 650 applying. 651 (

b) In addition, if the student: 652 1. Previously participated in a scholarship program, the 653 organization must request for each student the assessment 654 results necessary to verify compliance with subsection (7). 655 2. Is seeking priority eligible based upon household 656 income, the parent of the student must authorize the 657 organization to access information needed for income eligibility 658 determination and verification held by other state or federal 659 agencies, including the Department of Revenue, the Department of 660 Children and Families, the Department of Education, the 661 Department of Commerce, and the Agency for Health Care 662 Administration. 663 (

c) An organization must send to the department a list of 664 verified eligible students and any information necessary for the 665 department to review the list by: 666 1. August 15 for the 2025-2026 school year for the fall 667

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 24 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. application window. 668 2. July 15 for the 2026-2027 school year and each school 669 year thereafter for the fall application window. 670 3. December 15 for the spring application window. 671 (

d) The department must assign each verified eligible 672 student a Florida student identification number. Once a student 673 is assigned a Florida student identification number, the 674 organization must use that number for the reporting and tracking 675 of all scholarship data. 676 (

e) The department must cross-check each list of verified 677 eligible students with the most recent public school enrollment 678 lists and each list of verified eligible students applying to 679 receive a scholarship award before an organization makes any 680 payments to avoid duplication between organizations and between 681 the organizations and the public schools. 682 (

f) The department, after the list of verified eligible 683 students has been cross-checked and each student has been 684 assigned a Florida student identification number, shall send the 685 updated list to the organization who may then fund students 686 based on the department’s list of verified eligible students. 687 The department must notify an organization of any of the 688 organization’s identified students who were submitted for a 689 scholarship from another organization and which organization the 690 student shall receive funding from. 691

(4) PRE-PAYMENT VERIFICATION.—Prior to the disbursement of 692 each scholarship payment, the organization must verify the 693 student’s continued eligibility based upon the requirements of 694 the applicable student’s scholarship program. 695 (

a) For scholarship programs that require private school 696

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 25 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. enrollment, the organization must verify that the student is 697 enrolled in and in attendance at an eligible participating 698 private school. 699 (

b) Prior to the receipt of each scholarship payment, a 700 parent of the student must attest that the student is not 701 enrolled full-time in a public school and is enrolled in and in 702 attendance at, unless excused for illness or other good cause: 703 1. A home education program; 704 2. A personalized education program; or 705 3. An eligible private school. 706 (

c) The organization may not make any payment into a 707 student’s account upon notification that the student is enrolled 708 in a public school unless the organization can verify the 709 student’s continued eligibility. An organization is liable to 710 the state for payments made in violation of this subsection and 711 must reimburse the state for funds that were improperly awarded 712 which cannot be recovered. 713

(5) SCHOLARSHIP AWARD AMOUNTS AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE.— 714 (

a) Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, the calculated 715 scholarship program award amounts shall be the amounts provided 716 in the General Appropriations Act which are based upon the 717 amounts by basic program and program for exceptional students 718 under the Florida Education Finance Program. These amounts shall 719 be adjusted annually based upon the value of the percentage 720 change increase in per student funding at the state level for 721 public school districts as provided in the General 722 Appropriations Act. 723 1. The calculated scholarship amount for a student 724 determined eligible pursuant to s. 1002.394(3)(

a) or s. 1002.395 725

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 26 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. shall be based upon the student’s current grade level and county 726 of residence. 727 2. The calculated scholarship amount for a student 728 determined eligible pursuant to s. 1002.394(3)(

b) must be based 729 upon the student’s current grade level, exceptional student 730 program, and county of residence. 731 a. The calculated scholarship amount for a student who 732 received a Gardiner Scholarship pursuant to former s. 1002.385 733 in the 2020-2021 school year shall be the greater of the amount 734 calculated pursuant to this subsection or the amount the student 735 received for the 2020-2021 school year. 736 b. The calculated scholarship amount for a student who 737 received a John M.

McKay Scholarship pursuant to former s. 738 1002.39 in the 2020-2021 school year shall be the greater of the 739 amount calculated pursuant to this subsection or the amount the 740 student received for the 2020-2021 school year. 741 (

b) The scholarship award shall be divided into 10 equal 742 installments. The organization must make payments no later than 743 August 20, except for the 2025-2026 school year for which the 744 first payment must be made no later than September 1, September 745 15, October 15, November 15, January 15, February 15, March 15, 746 April 15, and May 15 of each school year in which the 747 scholarship is in force and in accordance with the pre-payment 748 verification process. The first payment must be for two 749 installments. 750

(6) SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS.—The organization must establish 751 and maintain a separate scholarship account for each student 752 enrolled in a scholarship program. For each account, the 753 organization must maintain a record of accrued interest which is 754

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 27 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. retained in the student’s account. Accrued interest in the 755 student’s account is in addition to, and not part of, the 756 awarded funds. Program funds include both the awarded funds and 757 accrued interest and are available only for authorized program 758 expenditures. 759 (

a) Payment of the scholarship by the eligible nonprofit 760 scholarship-funding organization shall be by funds transfer, 761 including, but not limited to, debit cards, electronic payment 762 cards, or any means of payment the department deems commercially 763 viable or cost-effective. A student’s scholarship award may not 764 be reduced to cover debit card or electronic payment fees. 765 Commodities or services related to the development of such 766 transfer system must be procured by competitive solicitation 767 unless purchased from a state term contract pursuant to s. 768 287.056. 769 (

b) For students eligible pursuant to s. 1002.394(3)(

a) or 770 s. 1002.395, except for those students enrolled in a 771 personalized education program: 772 1. The organization must commit scholarship funds on behalf 773 of the student for tuition and fees that the parent must pay at 774 a participating private school before scholarship account funds 775 may be used for additional authorized uses under s. 776 1002.394(4)(

a) or s. 1002.395(4)(d). A parent is responsible for 777 all eligible expenses in excess of the scholarship amount. An 778 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization shall ensure 779 that the parent has approved a funds transfer before any 780 scholarship funds are deposited. The parent may not designate 781 any entity or individual associated with a participating private 782 school as the parent’s attorney in fact to approve a funds 783

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 28 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. transfer. 784 2. After funds have been committed pursuant to subparagraph 785 1., funds may be used as authorized in s. 1002.394(4)(

a) and as 786 authorized in the organization’s purchasing handbook by paying 787 for the authorized use directly and then submitting a 788 reimbursement request to the organization. An organization may 789 require the use of an online platform for direct purchases of 790 products if such use does not limit a parent’s choice of 791 curriculum or academic programs. If a parent purchases a product 792 identical to one offered by an organization’s online platform 793 for a lower price, the organization must reimburse the parent 794 the cost of the product. 795 3.

The initial payment shall be made after the 796 organization’s verification of admission acceptance, and 797 subsequent payments shall be made upon verification of continued 798 enrollment and attendance at a participating private school. 799 Payments for tuition and fees for full-time enrollment shall be 800 made within 7 business days after approval by the parent and the 801 private school. 802 4. An organization may not transfer any funds to an account 803 of a student which has a balance in excess of $24,000. 804 (

c) For students eligible pursuant to s. 1002.394(3)(b): 805 1. The organization must verify qualifying educational 806 expenditures pursuant to the requirements of s. 1002.394(4)(b). 807 The organization must verify any expenditures made pursuant to 808 s. 1002.394(4)(b)1. and 2. before the distribution of funds. 809 Review of expenditures made for services specified in s. 810 1002.394(4)(b)3.-16. may be completed after the purchase is 811 made. 812

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 29 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 2. An organization may not transfer any funds to an account 813 of a student which has a balance in excess of $50,000. 814 (

d) The parent of a student who fails to comply with this 815 subsection forfeits the scholarship. An organization must notify 816 the parent when a scholarship account is closed and program 817 funds revert to the state. 818

(7) TESTING REQUIREMENTS.—A student participating in a 819 scholarship program in grades 3 through 10 may take the 820 nationally norm-referenced tests that are identified by the 821 department or take the statewide assessments pursuant to s. 822 1008.22. Students with disabilities for whom standardized 823 testing is not appropriate are exempt from this requirement. 824 (

a) A participating private school must annually administer 825 or make provision for students participating in the program in 826 grades 3 through 10 to take one of the nationally norm-827 referenced tests or cooperate with a student whose parent 828 chooses to participate in the statewide assessments pursuant to 829 s. 1008.22. A parent must require his or her student 830 participating in the program to take the norm-referenced tests 831 offered by the participating private school. The parent may also 832 choose to have the student participate in the statewide 833 assessments pursuant to s. 1008.22. 834 (b)1.

If the participating private school chooses to offer 835 and administer the statewide assessments pursuant to s. 1008.22 836 to all students who attend the private school in grades 3 837 through 10, it must submit a request in writing to the 838 department by March 1 of each year in order to administer the 839 statewide assessments in the subsequent school year. In turn, 840 upon the request of the department, a school district shall 841

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 30 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. coordinate with the department to provide to a participating 842 private school the statewide assessments and any related 843 materials for administering the assessments. 844 2. A school district is responsible for administering tests 845 at a participating private school, including: 846 a. Providing training for private school staff on test 847 security and assessment administration procedures; 848 b. Distributing testing materials to a private school; 849 c.

Retrieving testing materials from a private school; 850 d. Providing the required format for a private school to 851 submit information to the district for test administration and 852 enrollment purposes; and 853 e. Providing any required assistance, monitoring, or 854 investigation related to administering tests and assessments at 855 a private school. 856 3. A participating private school shall report a student’s 857 scores to his or her parent.

By August 15 of each year, a 858 participating private school must report the scores of all 859 participating students to a state university as described in s. 860 1002.395(9)(b)3. 861 4. If a parent requests that the student participating in 862 the program take statewide assessments pursuant to s. 1008.22 863 and the participating private school has not chosen to offer and 864 administer the statewide assessments, the district in which the 865 participating private school is located must provide locations 866 and times for the student to take the assessments.

The parent is 867 responsible for transporting the student to the assessment site 868 designated by the school district. 869 5. For students determined eligible pursuant to s. 870

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 31 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 1002.395(7)(b), an organization must receive eligible student 871 test scores, and beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, by 872 August 15, annually report test scores for such students to a 873 state university pursuant to s. 1002.395(9)(b)3. 874

(8) BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENTS.— 875 (

a) Each owner or operator or an individual providing 876 services under s. 1002.394(4)(b)4. or s. 1002.395(6)(d)4., prior 877 to employment or engagement to provide services, to undergo 878 level 2 background screening as provided under

chapter 435. The 879 fingerprints for the background screening must be electronically 880 submitted to the Department of Law Enforcement and may be taken 881 by an authorized law enforcement agency or a private company 882 that is trained to take fingerprints. However, the complete set 883 of fingerprints of an owner or operator or service provider may 884 not be taken by the owner or operator or service provider. The 885 owner or operator or service provider shall provide a copy of 886 the results of the state and national criminal history check to 887 the Department of Education.

The cost of the background 888 screening may be borne by the owner or operator or service 889 provider. 890 1. Every 5 years following employment or engagement to 891 provide services, an owner or operator or service provider must 892 meet level 2 screening standards as described in s. 435.04, at 893 which time the owner or operator or service provider shall 894 request the Department of Law Enforcement to forward the 895 fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for level 2 896 screening.

If the fingerprints of an owner or operator or 897 service provider are not retained by the Department of Law 898 Enforcement under subparagraph 2., the owner or operator or 899

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 32 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. service provider must electronically file a complete set of 900 fingerprints with the Department of Law Enforcement. Upon 901 submission of fingerprints for this purpose, the owner or 902 operator or service provider shall request that the Department 903 of Law Enforcement forward the fingerprints to the Federal 904 Bureau of Investigation for level 2 screening, and the 905 fingerprints shall be retained by the Department of Law 906 Enforcement under subparagraph 2. 907 2.

Fingerprints submitted to the Department of Law 908 Enforcement as required by this paragraph must be retained by 909 the Department of Law Enforcement in a manner approved by rule 910 and entered in the statewide automated biometric identification 911 system authorized by s. 943.05(2)(b). The fingerprints must 912 thereafter be available for all purposes and uses authorized for 913 arrest fingerprints entered in the statewide automated biometric 914 identification system pursuant to s. 943.051. 915 3.

The Department of Law Enforcement shall run a search of 916 all arrest fingerprints received under s. 943.051 against the 917 fingerprints retained in the statewide automated biometric 918 identification system under subparagraph 2. Any arrest record 919 that is identified with an owner’s or operator’s fingerprints 920 must be reported to the owner or operator or service provider, 921 who must report to the Department of Education. Any costs 922 associated with the search shall be borne by the owner or 923 operator or service provider. 924 4.

An owner or operator who fails the level 2 background 925 screening is not eligible to participate in a scholarship 926 program under this chapter. A service provider must submit a 927 notarized attestation to the organization and make the 928

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 33 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. background screening results available upon request. A person 929 that fails to make the background screening results available 930 upon request to either the parent or organization is 931 disqualified from participating in the program. No later than 932 December 1, 2025, an organization may not provide scholarship 933 funds to a person or provider that has not submitted the 934 notarized attestation. 935 5.

In addition to the offenses listed in s. 435.04, a 936 person required to undergo background screening pursuant to this 937 part or authorizing statutes may not have an arrest awaiting 938 final disposition for, must not have been found guilty of, or 939 entered a plea of nolo contendere to, regardless of 940 adjudication, and must not have been adjudicated delinquent for, 941 and the record must not have been sealed or expunged for, any of 942 the following offenses or any similar offense of another 943 jurisdiction: 944 a. Any authorizing statutes, if the offense was a felony. 945 b.

This chapter, if the offense was a felony. 946 c.

Section 409.920, relating to Medicaid provider fraud. 947 d.

Section 409.9201, relating to Medicaid fraud. 948 e.

Section 741.28, relating to domestic violence. 949 f.

Section 817.034, relating to fraudulent acts through 950 mail, wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic, or 951 photooptical systems. 952 g.

Section 817.234, relating to false and fraudulent 953 insurance claims. 954 h.

Section 817.505, relating to patient brokering. 955 i.

Section 817.568, relating to criminal use of personal 956 identification information. 957

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 34 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. j.

Section 817.60, relating to obtaining a credit card 958 through fraudulent means. 959 k.

Section 817.61, relating to fraudulent use of credit 960 cards, if the offense was a felony. 961 l.

Section 831.01, relating to forgery. 962 m.

Section 831.02, relating to uttering forged instruments. 963 n.

Section 831.07, relating to forging bank bills, checks, 964 drafts, or promissory notes. 965 o.

Section 831.09, relating to uttering forged bank bills, 966 checks, drafts, or promissory notes. 967 p.

Section 831.30, relating to fraud in obtaining medicinal 968 drugs. 969 q.

Section 831.31, relating to the sale, manufacture, 970 delivery, or possession with the intent to sell, manufacture, or 971 deliver any counterfeit controlled substance, if the offense was 972 a felony. 973 6. At least 30 calendar days before a transfer of ownership 974 of a private school, the owner or operator shall notify the 975 parent of each scholarship student. 976 7. The owner or operator of a private school that has been 977 deemed ineligible to participate in a scholarship program 978 pursuant to this

chapter may not transfer ownership or 979 management authority of the school to a relative in order to 980 participate in a scholarship program as the same school or a new 981 school. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “relative” 982 means father, mother, son, daughter, grandfather, grandmother, 983 brother, sister, uncle, aunt, cousin, nephew, niece, husband, 984 wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, 985 brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, 986

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 35 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half 987 sister. 988 (

b) An organization must report the annual audit of 989 background screening results required under this subsection to 990 the department. 991

(9) PRIVATE SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY AND OBLIGATIONS.—A private 992 school participating in an educational scholarship program 993 established pursuant to this

chapter may be sectarian or 994 nonsectarian and must be a private school as defined in s. 995 1002.01 in this state, be registered, and be in compliance with 996 all requirements of this

section in addition to private school 997 requirements outlined in s. 1002.42, specific requirements 998 identified within respective scholarship program laws, and other 999 provisions of Florida law that apply to private schools. 1000 Additionally, a private school participating in an educational 1001 scholarship program pursuant to this chapter, and must: 1002 (

a) Comply with the antidiscrimination provisions of 42 1003 U.S.C. s. 2000d. 1004 (

b) Notify the department of its intent to participate in a 1005 scholarship program. 1006 (

c) Notify the department of any change in the school’s 1007 name, school director, mailing address, or physical location 1008 within 15 days after the change. 1009 (

d) Provide to the department or scholarship-funding 1010 organization all documentation required for a student’s 1011 participation or required by the organization to process a 1012 scholarship payment, including the private school’s and 1013 student’s individual fee schedule, and attendance verification 1014 as required by the department or scholarship-funding 1015

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 36 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. organization, prior to scholarship payment. Such information 1016 must be provided by the deadlines established by the 1017 organization and in accordance with the requirements of this 1018

section or ss. 1002.394 and 1002.395. A student is not eligible 1019 to receive a scholarship payment if the private school fails to 1020 meet the deadlines. 1021 (

e) Annually complete and submit to the department a 1022 notarized scholarship compliance statement certifying that all 1023 school employees and contracted personnel with direct student 1024 contact have undergone background screening pursuant to s. 1025 435.12 and have met the screening standards as provided in s. 1026 435.04. 1027 (

f) Demonstrate fiscal soundness and accountability by: 1028 1. Being in operation for at least 3 school years or 1029 obtaining a surety bond or letter of credit for the amount equal 1030 to the scholarship funds for any quarter and filing the surety 1031 bond or letter of credit with the department. 1032 2. Requiring the parent of each scholarship student to 1033 personally restrictively endorse the scholarship warrant to the 1034 school or to approve a funds transfer before any funds are 1035 deposited for a student.

The school may not act as attorney in 1036 fact for the parent of a scholarship student under the authority 1037 of a power of attorney executed by such parent, or under any 1038 other authority, to endorse a scholarship warrant or approve a 1039 funds transfer on behalf of such parent. 1040 (

g) Meet applicable state and local health, safety, and 1041 welfare laws, codes, and rules, including: 1042 1. Firesafety. 1043 2. Building safety. 1044

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 37 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. (

h) Employ or contract with teachers who hold baccalaureate 1045 or higher degrees, have at least 3 years of teaching experience 1046 in public or private schools, or have special skills, knowledge, 1047 or expertise that qualifies them to provide instruction in 1048 subjects taught. 1049 (

i) Maintain a physical location in the state at which each 1050 student has regular and direct contact with teachers. Regular 1051 and direct contact with teachers may be satisfied for students 1052 enrolled in a personalized education program if students have 1053 regular and direct contact with teachers at the physical 1054 location at least 2 school days per week and the student 1055 learning plan addresses the remaining instructional time. 1056 (

j) Publish on the school’s website, or provide in a 1057 written format, information for parents regarding the school, 1058 including, but not limited to, programs, services, the 1059 qualifications of classroom teachers, and a statement that a 1060 parentally placed private school student with a disability does 1061 not have an individual right to receive some or all of the 1062 special education and related services that the student would 1063 receive if enrolled in a public school under the Individuals 1064 with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as amended. 1065 (

k) At a minimum, provide the parent of each scholarship 1066 student with a written explanation of the student’s progress on 1067 a quarterly basis. 1068 (

l) Cooperate with a student whose parent chooses to 1069 participate in the statewide assessments pursuant to s. 1008.22. 1070 (

m) Require each employee and contracted personnel with 1071 direct student contact, upon employment or engagement to provide 1072 services, to undergo a state and national background screening, 1073

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 38 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. pursuant to s. 943.0542, by electronically filing with the 1074 Department of Law Enforcement a complete set of fingerprints 1075 taken by an authorized law enforcement agency or an employee of 1076 the private school, a school district, or a private company who 1077 is trained to take fingerprints and deny employment to or 1078 terminate an employee if he or she fails to meet the screening 1079 standards under s. 435.04.

Results of the screening shall be 1080 provided to the participating private school. For purposes of 1081 this paragraph: 1082 1. An “employee or contracted personnel with direct student 1083 contact” means any employee or contracted personnel who has 1084 unsupervised access to a scholarship student for whom the 1085 private school is responsible. 1086 2. The costs of fingerprinting and the background check 1087 shall not be borne by the state. 1088 3.

Continued employment of an employee or contracted 1089 personnel after notification that he or she has failed the 1090 background screening under this paragraph shall cause a private 1091 school to be ineligible for participation in a scholarship 1092 program. 1093 4. An employee or contracted personnel holding a valid 1094 Florida teaching certificate who has been fingerprinted pursuant 1095 to s. 1012.32 is not required to comply with the provisions of 1096 this paragraph. 1097 5. All fingerprints submitted to the Department of Law 1098 Enforcement as required by this

section shall be retained by the 1099 Department of Law Enforcement in a manner provided by rule and 1100 entered in the statewide automated biometric identification 1101 system authorized by s. 943.05(2)(b). Such fingerprints shall 1102

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 39 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. thereafter be available for all purposes and uses authorized for 1103 arrest fingerprints entered in the statewide automated biometric 1104 identification system pursuant to s. 943.051. 1105 6. The Department of Law Enforcement shall search all 1106 arrest fingerprints received under s. 943.051 against the 1107 fingerprints retained in the statewide automated biometric 1108 identification system under subparagraph 5. Any arrest record 1109 that is identified with the retained fingerprints of a person 1110 subject to the background screening under this

section shall be 1111 reported to the employing school with which the person is 1112 affiliated. Each private school participating in a scholarship 1113 program is required to participate in this search process by 1114 informing the Department of Law Enforcement of any change in the 1115 employment or contractual status of its personnel whose 1116 fingerprints are retained under subparagraph 5.

The Department 1117 of Law Enforcement shall adopt a rule setting the amount of the 1118 annual fee to be imposed upon each private school for performing 1119 these searches and establishing the procedures for the retention 1120 of private school employee and contracted personnel fingerprints 1121 and the dissemination of search results. The fee may be borne by 1122 the private school or the person fingerprinted. 1123 7.

Employees and contracted personnel whose fingerprints 1124 are not retained by the Department of Law Enforcement under 1125 subparagraphs 5. and 6. are required to be refingerprinted and 1126 must meet state and national background screening requirements 1127 upon reemployment or reengagement to provide services in order 1128 to comply with the requirements of this section. 1129 8. Every 5 years following employment or engagement to 1130 provide services with a private school, employees or contracted 1131

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 40 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. personnel required to be screened under this

section must meet 1132 screening standards under s. 435.04, at which time the private 1133 school shall request the Department of Law Enforcement to 1134 forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation 1135 for national processing. If the fingerprints of employees or 1136 contracted personnel are not retained by the Department of Law 1137 Enforcement under subparagraph 5., employees and contracted 1138 personnel must electronically file a complete set of 1139 fingerprints with the Department of Law Enforcement.

Upon 1140 submission of fingerprints for this purpose, the private school 1141 shall request that the Department of Law Enforcement forward the 1142 fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for national 1143 processing, and the fingerprints shall be retained by the 1144 Department of Law Enforcement under subparagraph 5. 1145 (

n) Adopt policies establishing standards of ethical 1146 conduct for educational support employees, instructional 1147 personnel, and school administrators.

The policies must require 1148 all educational support employees, instructional personnel, and 1149 school administrators, as defined in s. 1012.01, to complete 1150 training on the standards; establish the duty of educational 1151 support employees, instructional personnel, and school 1152 administrators to report, and procedures for reporting, alleged 1153 misconduct by other educational support employees, instructional 1154 personnel, and school administrators which affects the health, 1155 safety, or welfare of a student; and include an explanation of 1156 the liability protections provided under ss. 39.203 and 768.095. 1157 A private school, or any of its employees, may not enter into a 1158 confidentiality agreement regarding terminated or dismissed 1159 educational support employees, instructional personnel, or 1160

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 41 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. school administrators, or employees, personnel, or 1161 administrators who resign in lieu of termination, based in whole 1162 or in part on misconduct that affects the health, safety, or 1163 welfare of a student, and may not provide the employees, 1164 personnel, or administrators with employment references or 1165 discuss the employees’, personnel’s, or administrators’ 1166 performance with prospective employers in another educational 1167 setting, without disclosing the employees’, personnel’s, or 1168 administrators’ misconduct.

Any part of an agreement or contract 1169 that has the purpose or effect of concealing misconduct by 1170 educational support employees, instructional personnel, or 1171 school administrators which affects the health, safety, or 1172 welfare of a student is void, is contrary to public policy, and 1173 may not be enforced. 1174 (

o) Before employing a person in any position that requires 1175 direct contact with students, conduct employment history checks 1176 of previous employers, screen the person through use of the 1177 screening tools described in s. 1001.10(5), and document the 1178 findings. If unable to contact a previous employer, the private 1179 school must document efforts to contact the employer. The 1180 private school may not employ a person whose educator 1181 certificate is revoked, who is barred from reapplying for an 1182 educator certificate, or who is on the disqualification list 1183 maintained by the department pursuant to s. 1001.10(4)(b). 1184 (

p) Require each owner or operator of the private school, 1185 prior to employment or engagement to provide services, to 1186 undergo level 2 background screening as provided under

chapter 1187 435. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “owner or 1188 operator” means an owner, operator, superintendent, or principal 1189

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 42 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. of, or a person with equivalent decisionmaking authority over, a 1190 private school participating in a scholarship program 1191 established pursuant to this chapter. The fingerprints for the 1192 background screening must be electronically submitted to the 1193 Department of Law Enforcement and may be taken by an authorized 1194 law enforcement agency or a private company who is trained to 1195 take fingerprints.

However, the complete set of fingerprints of 1196 an owner or operator may not be taken by the owner or operator. 1197 The owner or operator shall provide a copy of the results of the 1198 state and national criminal history check to the Department of 1199 Education. The cost of the background screening may be borne by 1200 the owner or operator. 1201 1.

Every 5 years following employment or engagement to 1202 provide services, each owner or operator must meet level 2 1203 screening standards as described in s. 435.04, at which time the 1204 owner or operator shall request the Department of Law 1205 Enforcement to forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of 1206 Investigation for level 2 screening. If the fingerprints of an 1207 owner or operator are not retained by the Department of Law 1208 Enforcement under subparagraph 2., the owner or operator must 1209 electronically file a complete set of fingerprints with the 1210 Department of Law Enforcement.

Upon submission of fingerprints 1211 for this purpose, the owner or operator shall request that the 1212 Department of Law Enforcement forward the fingerprints to the 1213 Federal Bureau of Investigation for level 2 screening, and the 1214 fingerprints shall be retained by the Department of Law 1215 Enforcement under subparagraph 2. 1216 2. Fingerprints submitted to the Department of Law 1217 Enforcement as required by this paragraph must be retained by 1218

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 43 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. the Department of Law Enforcement in a manner approved by rule 1219 and entered in the statewide automated biometric identification 1220 system authorized by s. 943.05(2)(b). The fingerprints must 1221 thereafter be available for all purposes and uses authorized for 1222 arrest fingerprints entered in the statewide automated biometric 1223 identification system pursuant to s. 943.051. 1224 3.

The Department of Law Enforcement shall search all 1225 arrest fingerprints received under s. 943.051 against the 1226 fingerprints retained in the statewide automated biometric 1227 identification system under subparagraph 2. Any arrest record 1228 that is identified with an owner’s or operator’s fingerprints 1229 must be reported to the owner or operator, who must report to 1230 the Department of Education. Any costs associated with the 1231 search shall be borne by the owner or operator. 1232 4.

An owner or operator who fails the level 2 background 1233 screening is not eligible to participate in a scholarship 1234 program under this chapter. 1235 5.

In addition to the offenses listed in s. 435.04, a 1236 person required to undergo background screening pursuant to this 1237 part or authorizing statutes may not have an arrest awaiting 1238 final disposition for, must not have been found guilty of, or 1239 entered a plea of nolo contendere to, regardless of 1240 adjudication, and must not have been adjudicated delinquent for, 1241 and the record must not have been sealed or expunged for, any of 1242 the following offenses or any similar offense of another 1243 jurisdiction: 1244 a. Any authorizing statutes, if the offense was a felony. 1245 b.

This chapter, if the offense was a felony. 1246 c.

Section 409.920, relating to Medicaid provider fraud. 1247

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 44 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. d.

Section 409.9201, relating to Medicaid fraud. 1248 e.

Section 741.28, relating to domestic violence. 1249 f.

Section 817.034, relating to fraudulent acts through 1250 mail, wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic, or 1251 photooptical systems. 1252 g.

Section 817.234, relating to false and fraudulent 1253 insurance claims. 1254 h.

Section 817.505, relating to patient brokering. 1255 i.

Section 817.568, relating to criminal use of personal 1256 identification information. 1257 j.

Section 817.60, relating to obtaining a credit card 1258 through fraudulent means. 1259 k.

Section 817.61, relating to fraudulent use of credit 1260 cards, if the offense was a felony. 1261 l.

Section 831.01, relating to forgery. 1262 m.

Section 831.02, relating to uttering forged instruments. 1263 n.

Section 831.07, relating to forging bank bills, checks, 1264 drafts, or promissory notes. 1265 o.

Section 831.09, relating to uttering forged bank bills, 1266 checks, drafts, or promissory notes. 1267 p.

Section 831.30, relating to fraud in obtaining medicinal 1268 drugs. 1269 q.

Section 831.31, relating to the sale, manufacture, 1270 delivery, or possession with the intent to sell, manufacture, or 1271 deliver any counterfeit controlled substance, if the offense was 1272 a felony. 1273 6. At least 30 calendar days before a transfer of ownership 1274 of a private school, the owner or operator shall notify the 1275 parent of each scholarship student. 1276

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 45 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 7. The owner or operator of a private school that has been 1277 deemed ineligible to participate in a scholarship program 1278 pursuant to this

chapter may not transfer ownership or 1279 management authority of the school to a relative in order to 1280 participate in a scholarship program as the same school or a new 1281 school. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “relative” 1282 means father, mother, son, daughter, grandfather, grandmother, 1283 brother, sister, uncle, aunt, cousin, nephew, niece, husband, 1284 wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, 1285 brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, 1286 stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half 1287 sister. 1288 (p)(

q) Provide a report from an independent certified 1289 public accountant who performs the agreed-upon procedures 1290 developed pursuant to s. 1002.395(6)(

l) s. 1002.395(6)(

q) if the 1291 private school receives more than $250,000 in funds from 1292 scholarships awarded under this

chapter in a state fiscal year. 1293 A private school subject to this subsection must annually submit 1294 the report by September 15 to the scholarship-funding 1295 organization that awarded the majority of the school’s 1296 scholarship funds. The agreed-upon procedures must be conducted 1297 in accordance with attestation standards established by the 1298 American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. 1299 (q)(

r) Prohibit education support employees, instructional 1300 personnel, and school administrators from employment in any 1301 position that requires direct contact with students if the 1302 personnel or administrators are ineligible for such employment 1303 pursuant to this

section or s. 1012.315, or have been terminated 1304 or have resigned in lieu of termination for sexual misconduct 1305

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 46 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. with a student. If the prohibited conduct occurs subsequent to 1306 employment, the private school must report the person and the 1307 disqualifying circumstances to the department for inclusion on 1308 the disqualification list maintained pursuant to s. 1309 1001.10(4)(b). 1310 (r)(

s) Not be owned or operated by a person or an entity 1311 domiciled in, owned by, or in any way controlled by a foreign 1312 country of concern or foreign principal as defined in s. 1313 288.860. A violation of this paragraph constitutes an imminent 1314 threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the school’s 1315 students and to the public, sufficient to justify immediate 1316 suspension of payment of scholarship funds under paragraph 1317 (11)(e) (3)(e), as well as denial, suspension, or revocation of 1318 a school’s participation in a scholarship program under 1319 paragraph (11)(b) (3)(b). 1320 (

s) The inclusion of eligible private schools within 1321 options available to Florida public school students does not 1322 expand the regulatory authority of the state, its officers, or 1323 any school district to impose any additional regulation of 1324 private schools beyond that reasonably necessary to enforce 1325 requirements expressly set forth in this section. 1326 1327 The department shall suspend the payment of funds to a private 1328 school that knowingly fails to comply with this subsection or 1329 subsection (8), and shall prohibit the school from enrolling new 1330 scholarship students, for 1 fiscal year and until the school 1331 complies.

If a private school fails to meet the requirements of 1332 this subsection or subsection (8) or has consecutive years of 1333 material exceptions listed in the report required under 1334

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 47 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. paragraph (p) (q), the commissioner may determine that the 1335 private school is ineligible to participate in a scholarship 1336 program. 1337 (10)

(2) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OBLIGATIONS.— 1338 (

a) The Department of Education shall: 1339 1. Annually verify the eligibility of private schools that 1340 meet the requirements of this section, specific requirements 1341 identified within respective scholarship program laws, and other 1342 provisions of state law that apply to private schools. 1343 2. Establish a toll-free hotline that provides parents and 1344 private schools with information on participation in the 1345 scholarship programs. 1346 3.

Publish and update, as necessary, information on the 1347 department website about the educational scholarship programs 1348 established under this chapter, including, but not limited to, 1349 student eligibility criteria, parental responsibilities, and 1350 relevant data. The information must include a list of approved 1351 providers as required by s. 1002.66, eligible postsecondary 1352 educational institutions, eligible private schools, and eligible 1353 organizations and may identify or provide links to lists of 1354 other approved providers. 1355 4.3.

Establish a process by which individuals may notify 1356 the department of any violation by a parent, private school, or 1357 school district of state laws relating to program participation. 1358 If the department has reasonable cause to believe that a 1359 violation of this

section or any rule adopted by the State Board 1360 of Education has occurred, it shall conduct an inquiry or make a 1361 referral to the appropriate agency for an investigation. A 1362 department inquiry is not subject to the requirements of

chapter 1363

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 48 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 120. 1364 5. Investigate any written complaint of a violation of this 1365

section by a parent, a student, a participating private school, 1366 a public school, a school district, an organization, a provider, 1367 or another appropriate party in accordance with the process 1368 established under s. 1002.421. 1369 6.4. Require an annual, notarized, sworn compliance 1370 statement from participating private schools certifying 1371 compliance with state laws, and retain such records. 1372 7.5. Coordinate with the entities conducting the health 1373 inspection for a private school to obtain copies of the 1374 inspection reports. 1375 8.6.

Conduct site visits to private schools entering a 1376 scholarship program for the first time. Beginning with the 2019-1377 2020 school year, a private school is not eligible to receive 1378 scholarship payments until a satisfactory site visit has been 1379 conducted and the school is in compliance with all other 1380 requirements of this section. 1381 9.7. Coordinate with the State Fire Marshal to obtain 1382 access to fire inspection reports for private schools.

The 1383 authority conducting the fire safety inspection shall certify to 1384 the State Fire Marshal that the annual inspection has been 1385 completed and that the school is in full compliance. The 1386 certification shall be made electronically or by such other 1387 means as directed by the State Fire Marshal. 1388 10.8. Upon the request of a participating private school 1389 authorized to administer statewide assessments, provide at no 1390 cost to the school the statewide assessments administered under 1391 s. 1008.22 and any related materials for administering the 1392

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 49 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. assessments. Students at a private school may be assessed using 1393 the statewide assessments if the addition of those students and 1394 the school does not cause the state to exceed its contractual 1395 caps for the number of students tested and the number of testing 1396 sites. The state shall provide the same materials and support to 1397 a private school that it provides to a public school.

A private 1398 school that chooses to administer statewide assessments under s. 1399 1008.22 shall follow the requirements set forth in ss. 1008.22 1400 and 1008.24, rules adopted by the State Board of Education to 1401 implement those sections, and district-level testing policies 1402 established by the district school board. 1403 11. Maintain and annually publish a list of nationally 1404 norm-referenced tests identified for purposes of satisfying the 1405 testing requirements in subsection (7). The tests must meet 1406 industry standards of quality in accordance with state board 1407 rule. 1408 12.

Develop a standard withdrawal form for parents who are 1409 withdrawing their students from public school to enroll in a 1410 scholarship program under this chapter. The form must include 1411 the student’s Florida Education Identification number, full 1412 name, date of birth, school or program from which the student is 1413 withdrawing, and date of withdrawal. 1414 (

b) The department may conduct site visits to any private 1415 school participating in a scholarship program pursuant to this 1416

chapter that has received a complaint about a violation of state 1417 law or state board rule pursuant to subparagraph (a)4. (a)3. or 1418 has received a notice of noncompliance or a notice of proposed 1419 action within the previous 2 years. 1420 (

c) Annually, by December 15, the department shall report 1421

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 50 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of 1422 the House of Representatives its actions in implementing 1423 accountability in the scholarship programs under this section, 1424 any substantiated allegations or violations of law or rule by an 1425 eligible private school under this section, and the corrective 1426 action taken. 1427 (

d) The department shall develop a uniform reimbursement 1428 process that organizations must use when processing 1429 reimbursement requests, including invoices, pursuant to s. 1430 1002.394(11)(b)6. or s. 1002.395(6)(u). An organization must 1431 approve, deny, or request more information relating to a 1432 reimbursement request within 30 days after receipt of such 1433 request. The department shall coordinate with each organization 1434 to develop a process to collect input and feedback from parents, 1435 private schools, and providers before an organization may 1436 implement substantial modifications or enhancements to the 1437 reimbursement process. 1438 (11)

(3) COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AUTHORITY AND 1439 OBLIGATIONS.—The Commissioner of Education: 1440 (

a) Shall deny, suspend, or revoke a private school’s 1441 participation in a scholarship program if it is determined that 1442 the private school has failed to comply with this

section or 1443 exhibits a previous pattern of failure to comply. However, if 1444 the noncompliance is correctable within a reasonable amount of 1445 time, not to exceed 45 days, and if the health, safety, or 1446 welfare of the students is not threatened, the commissioner may 1447 issue a notice of noncompliance which provides the private 1448 school with a timeframe within which to provide evidence of 1449 compliance before taking action to suspend or revoke the private 1450

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 51 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. school’s participation in the scholarship program. 1451 (

b) May deny, suspend, or revoke a private school’s 1452 participation in a scholarship program if the commissioner 1453 determines that an owner or operator of the private school is 1454 operating or has operated an educational institution in this 1455 state or in another state or jurisdiction in a manner contrary 1456 to the health, safety, or welfare of the public or if the owner 1457 or operator has exhibited a previous pattern of failure to 1458 comply with this

section or specific requirements identified 1459 within respective scholarship program laws. For purposes of this 1460 subsection, the term “owner or operator” has the same meaning as 1461 provided in paragraph (1)(p). 1462 (

c) May permanently deny or revoke the authority of an 1463 owner, officer, or director to establish or operate a private 1464 school in the state and include such individual on the 1465 disqualification list maintained by the department pursuant to 1466 s. 1001.10(4)(

b) if the commissioner decides that the owner, 1467 officer, or director: 1468 1. Is operating or has operated an educational institution 1469 in the state or another state or jurisdiction in a manner 1470 contrary to the health, safety, or welfare of the public; or 1471 2. Has operated an educational institution that closed 1472 during the school year.

An individual may be removed from the 1473 disqualification list if the individual reimburses the 1474 department or eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding 1475 organization the amount of scholarship funds received by the 1476 educational institution during the school year in which it 1477 closed. 1478 (d)1. In making such a determination, may consider factors 1479

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 52 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. that include, but are not limited to, acts or omissions by an 1480 owner or operator which led to a previous denial, suspension, or 1481 revocation of participation in a state or federal education 1482 scholarship program; an owner’s or operator’s failure to 1483 reimburse the department or scholarship-funding organization for 1484 scholarship funds improperly received or retained by a school; 1485 the imposition of a prior criminal sanction related to an 1486 owner’s or operator’s management or operation of an educational 1487 institution; the imposition of a civil fine or administrative 1488 fine, license revocation or suspension, or program eligibility 1489 suspension, termination, or revocation related to an owner’s or 1490 operator’s management or operation of an educational 1491 institution; or other types of criminal proceedings in which an 1492 owner or operator was found guilty of, regardless of 1493 adjudication, or entered a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, 1494 any offense involving fraud, deceit, dishonesty, or moral 1495 turpitude. 1496 2.

The commissioner’s determination is subject to the 1497 following: 1498 a. If the commissioner intends to deny, suspend, or revoke 1499 a private school’s participation in the scholarship program, the 1500 department shall notify the private school of such proposed 1501 action in writing by certified mail and regular mail to the 1502 private school’s address of record with the department. The 1503 notification shall include the reasons for the proposed action 1504 and notice of the timelines and procedures set forth in this 1505 paragraph. 1506 b.

The private school that is adversely affected by the 1507 proposed action shall have 15 days after receipt of the notice 1508

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 53 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. of proposed action to file with the department’s agency clerk a 1509 request for a proceeding pursuant to ss. 120.569 and 120.57. If 1510 the private school is entitled to a hearing under s. 120.57(1), 1511 the department shall forward the request to the Division of 1512 Administrative Hearings. 1513 c.

Upon receipt of a request referred pursuant to this 1514 subparagraph, the director of the Division of Administrative 1515 Hearings shall expedite the hearing and assign an administrative 1516 law judge who shall commence a hearing within 30 days after the 1517 receipt of the formal written request by the division and enter 1518 a recommended order within 30 days after the hearing or within 1519 30 days after receipt of the hearing transcript, whichever is 1520 later. Each party shall be allowed 10 days in which to submit 1521 written exceptions to the recommended order.

A final order shall 1522 be entered by the agency within 30 days after the entry of a 1523 recommended order. The provisions of this sub-subparagraph may 1524 be waived upon stipulation by all parties. 1525 (

e) May immediately suspend payment of scholarship funds if 1526 it is determined that there is probable cause to believe that 1527 there is: 1528 1. An imminent threat to the health, safety, or welfare of 1529 the students; 1530 2. A previous pattern of failure to comply with this 1531 section; or 1532 3. Fraudulent activity on the part of the private school. 1533 Notwithstanding s. 1002.22, in incidents of alleged fraudulent 1534 activity pursuant to this section, the department’s Office of 1535 Inspector General is authorized to release personally 1536 identifiable records or reports of students to the following 1537

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 54 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. persons or organizations: 1538 a. A court of competent jurisdiction in compliance with an 1539 order of that court or the attorney of record in accordance with 1540 a lawfully issued subpoena, consistent with the Family 1541 Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. s. 1232g. 1542 b.

A person or entity authorized by a court of competent 1543 jurisdiction in compliance with an order of that court or the 1544 attorney of record pursuant to a lawfully issued subpoena, 1545 consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 1546 20 U.S.C. s. 1232g. 1547 c.

Any person, entity, or authority issuing a subpoena for 1548 law enforcement purposes when the court or other issuing agency 1549 has ordered that the existence or the contents of the subpoena 1550 or the information furnished in response to the subpoena not be 1551 disclosed, consistent with the Family Educational Rights and 1552 Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. s. 1232g, and 34 C.F.R. s. 99.31. 1553 1554 The commissioner’s order suspending payment pursuant to this 1555 paragraph may be appealed pursuant to the same procedures and 1556 timelines as the notice of proposed action set forth in 1557 subparagraph (d)2. 1558

(12) SCHOOL DISTRICT OBLIGATIONS.— 1559 (

a) By January 1 of each year, a school district shall 1560 inform all households within the district receiving free or 1561 reduced-priced meals under the National School Lunch Act of 1562 their eligibility to apply for a scholarship program established 1563 under this chapter. The form of such notice shall be provided by 1564 the department, and the school district shall include the 1565 provided form in any normal correspondence with eligible 1566

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 55 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. households. If an organization requests a special communication 1567 to be issued to households within the district receiving free or 1568 reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Act, the 1569 organization shall reimburse the district for the cost of 1570 postage. Such notice is limited to once a year. 1571 (

b) Upon the request of the department, a school district 1572 shall coordinate with the department to provide to a 1573 participating private school the statewide assessments 1574 administered under s. 1008.22 and any related materials for 1575 administering the assessments. For a student participating in a 1576 scholarship program established under this

chapter whose parent 1577 requests that the student take the statewide assessments under 1578 s. 1008.22, the district in which the student attends a 1579 participating private school shall provide locations and times 1580 to take all statewide assessments. A school district is 1581 responsible for implementing test administrations at a 1582 participating private school, including: 1583 1. Providing training for private school staff on test 1584 security and assessment administration procedures; 1585 2. Distributing testing materials to a private school; 1586 3.

Retrieving testing materials from a private school; 1587 4. Providing the required format for a private school to 1588 submit information to the district for test administration and 1589 enrollment purposes; and 1590 5. Providing any required assistance, monitoring, or 1591 investigation at a private school. 1592 (

c) Each school district must publish information about a 1593 scholarship program established under this

chapter on the 1594 district’s website homepage. At a minimum, the published 1595

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 56 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. information must include a website link to the scholarship 1596 programs published on the department’s website as well as a 1597 telephone number and e-mail address that students and parents 1598 may use to contact relevant personnel in the school district to 1599 obtain information about the scholarship. 1600 (

d) A school district, upon the request of a parent, must 1601 provide the parent of a student enrolled in a school in the 1602 school district the standard withdrawal form developed by the 1603 department. The school district must sign a completed form 1604 within 10 days after receipt. The school district must also 1605 publish the withdrawal form on its website in a downloadable 1606 format 1607

(4) The inclusion of eligible private schools within 1608 options available to Florida public school students does not 1609 expand the regulatory authority of the state, its officers, or 1610 any school district to impose any additional regulation of 1611 private schools beyond those reasonably necessary to enforce 1612 requirements expressly set forth in this section. 1613 (13)

(5) RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education shall 1614 adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer 1615 this section, including rules to establish a deadline for 1616 private school applications for participation and timelines for 1617 the department to conduct site visits. 1618

Section 7. Subsections (2) through (12) of

section 1619 1002.394, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1620 1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.— 1621

(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 1622 (a) “Approved provider” means a provider approved by the 1623 Agency for Persons with Disabilities, a health care practitioner 1624

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 57 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. as defined in s. 456.001, or a provider approved by the 1625 department pursuant to s. 1002.66. 1626 (b) “Choice navigator” has the same meaning as in s. 1627 1002.395(2). 1628 (c) “Curriculum” means a complete course of study for a 1629 particular content area or grade level, including any required 1630 supplemental materials and associated online instruction. 1631 (d) “Department” means the Department of Education. 1632 (e) “Disability” means, for a 3- or 4-year-old child or for 1633 a student in kindergarten to grade 12, autism spectrum disorder, 1634 as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental 1635 Disorders, Fifth Edition, published by the American Psychiatric 1636 Association; cerebral palsy, as defined in s. 393.063; Down 1637 syndrome, as defined in s. 393.063; an intellectual disability, 1638 as defined in s. 393.063; a speech impairment; a language 1639 impairment; an orthopedic impairment; any other health 1640 impairment; an emotional or a behavioral disability; a specific 1641 learning disability, including, but not limited to, dyslexia, 1642 dyscalculia, or developmental aphasia; Phelan-McDermid syndrome, 1643 as defined in s. 393.063; Prader-Willi syndrome, as defined in 1644 s. 393.063; spina bifida, as defined in s. 393.063; being a 1645 high-risk child, as defined in s. 393.063(22)(a); muscular 1646 dystrophy; Williams syndrome; rare diseases which affect patient 1647 populations of fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United 1648 States, as defined by the National Organization for Rare 1649 Disorders; anaphylaxis; a hearing impairment, including 1650 deafness; a visual impairment, including blindness; traumatic 1651 brain injury; hospital or homebound; or identification as dual 1652 sensory impaired, as defined by rules of the State Board of 1653

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 58 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

Education and evidenced by reports from local school districts. 1654 The term “hospital or homebound” includes a student who has a 1655 medically diagnosed physical or psychiatric condition or 1656 illness, as defined by the state board in rule, and who is 1657 confined to the home or hospital for more than 6 months. 1658 (f) “Eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization” 1659 or “organization” has the same meaning as in s. 1002.395(2). 1660 (g) “Eligible postsecondary educational institution” means 1661 a Florida College System institution; a state university; a 1662 school district technical center; a school district adult 1663 general education center; an independent college or university 1664 that is eligible to participate in the William L.

Boyd, IV, 1665 Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program under s. 1666 1009.89; or an accredited independent postsecondary educational 1667 institution, as defined in s. 1005.02, which is licensed to 1668 operate in this state under

part III of

chapter 1005 or is 1669 approved to participate in a reciprocity agreement as defined in 1670 s. 1000.35(2). 1671 (h) “Eligible private school” has the same meaning as in s. 1672 1002.395(2). 1673 (i) “IEP” means an individual education plan, regardless of 1674 whether the plan has been reviewed or revised within the last 12 1675 months. 1676 (j) “Inactive” means that no eligible expenditures have 1677 been made from an account funded pursuant to paragraph (12)(b). 1678 (k) “Job coach” means an individual employed to help people 1679 with disabilities learn, accommodate to, and perform their work 1680 duties. 1681 (l) “Law enforcement officer” has the same meaning as 1682

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 59 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. provided in s. 943.10(1). 1683 (m) “Parent” means a resident of this state who is a 1684 parent, as defined in s. 1000.21. 1685 (b)(n) “Program” means the Family Empowerment Scholarship 1686 Program. 1687

(3) SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.— 1688 (a)1. A parent of a student may apply pursuant to s. 1689 1002.421 for and receive from the state a scholarship for the 1690 purposes specified in paragraph (4)(

a) if the student: 1691 1.a. Is a resident of this state or the dependent child of 1692 an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces who has 1693 received permanent change of station orders to this state; and 1694 2.b. Is eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 1695 in a public school in this state or received a scholarship under 1696 the Hope Scholarship Program in the 2023-2024 school year. 1697 2. Priority must be given in the following order: 1698 a.

A student whose household income level does not exceed 1699 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who is in foster 1700 care or out-of-home care. 1701 b. A student whose household income level exceeds 185 1702 percent of the federal poverty level, but does not exceed 400 1703 percent of the federal poverty level. 1704 (

b) A parent of a student with a disability may apply 1705 pursuant to s. 1002.421 for and receive from the state a 1706 scholarship for the purposes specified in paragraph (4)(

b) if 1707 the student: 1708 1. Is a resident of this state or the dependent child of an 1709 active duty member of the United States Armed Forces who has 1710 received permanent change of station orders to this state or, at 1711

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 60 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. the time of renewal, whose home of record or state of legal 1712 residence is Florida; 1713 2. Is 3 or 4 years of age during the year in which the 1714 student applies for program participation or is eligible to 1715 enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 in a public school in 1716 this state; 1717 3. Has a disability as defined in subsection (2); and 1718 4.

Is the subject of an IEP written in accordance with 1719 rules of the State Board of Education or with the applicable 1720 rules of another state or has received a diagnosis of a 1721 disability from a physician who is licensed under

chapter 458 or 1722

chapter 459, a psychologist who is licensed under

chapter 490, 1723 or a physician who holds an active license issued by another 1724 state or territory of the United States, the District of 1725 Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 1726

(4) AUTHORIZED USES OF PROGRAM FUNDS.— 1727 (

a) Program funds awarded to a student determined eligible 1728 pursuant to paragraph (3)(

a) may be used for: 1729 1. Tuition and fees at an eligible private school. 1730 2. Instructional materials, including digital materials, 1731 digital devices, and Internet resources. 1732 3. Curriculum as defined in subsection (2). 1733 4. Tuition and fees associated with full-time or part-time 1734 enrollment in an eligible postsecondary educational institution 1735 or a program offered by the postsecondary educational 1736 institution, unless the program is subject to s. 1009.25 or 1737 reimbursed pursuant to s. 1009.30; an approved preapprenticeship 1738 program as defined in s. 446.021(5) which is not subject to s. 1739 1009.25 and complies with all applicable requirements of the 1740

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 61 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. department pursuant to

chapter 1005; a private tutoring program 1741 authorized under s. 1002.43; a virtual program offered by a 1742 department-approved private online provider that meets the 1743 provider qualifications specified in s. 1002.45(2)(a); the 1744 Florida Virtual School as a private paying student; or an 1745 approved online course offered pursuant to s. 1003.499 or s. 1746 1004.0961. 1747 5. Fees for nationally standardized, norm-referenced 1748 achievement tests, Advanced Placement Examinations, industry 1749 certification examinations, assessments related to postsecondary 1750 education, or other assessments. 1751 6.

Contracted services provided by a public school or 1752 school district, including classes. A student who receives 1753 contracted services under this subparagraph is not considered 1754 enrolled in a public school for eligibility purposes as 1755 specified in subsection (6) but rather attending a public school 1756 on a part-time basis as authorized under s. 1002.44. 1757 7. Tuition and fees for part-time tutoring services or fees 1758 for services provided by a choice navigator.

Such services must 1759 be provided by a person who holds a valid Florida educator’s 1760 certificate pursuant to s. 1012.56, a person who holds an 1761 adjunct teaching certificate pursuant to s. 1012.57, a person 1762 who has a bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree in the subject 1763 area or related subject area in which instruction is given, a 1764 person who has demonstrated a mastery of subject area knowledge 1765 pursuant to s. 1012.56(5), or a person certified by a nationally 1766 or internationally recognized research-based training program as 1767 approved by the department.

As used in this subparagraph, the 1768 term “part-time tutoring services” does not qualify as regular 1769

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 62 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. school attendance as defined in s. 1003.01(16)(e). 1770 8. Membership dues and related activity fees for 1771 participation in Career and Technical Student Organizations. 1772 (

b) Program funds awarded to a student with a disability 1773 determined eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(

b) may be used for 1774 the following purposes: 1775 1. Instructional materials, including digital devices, 1776 digital periphery devices, and assistive technology devices that 1777 allow a student to access instruction or instructional content 1778 and training on the use of and maintenance agreements for these 1779 devices. 1780 2. Curriculum as defined in subsection (2). 1781 3. Specialized services by approved providers or by a 1782 hospital in this state which are selected by the parent. These 1783 specialized services may include, but are not limited to: 1784 a.

Applied behavior analysis services as provided in ss. 1785 627.6686 and 641.31098. 1786 b. Services provided by speech-language pathologists as 1787 defined in s. 468.1125(8). 1788 c. Occupational therapy as defined in s. 468.203. 1789 d. Services provided by physical therapists as defined in 1790 s. 486.021(8). 1791 e. Services provided by listening and spoken language 1792 specialists and an appropriate acoustical environment for a 1793 child who has a hearing impairment, including deafness, and who 1794 has received an implant or assistive hearing device. 1795 4.

Tuition and fees associated with full-time or part-time 1796 enrollment in a home education program that meets all of the 1797 following requirements: 1798

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 63 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. a. Provides educational courses or activities. 1799 b. Has a publicly available description of courses and 1800 activities. 1801 c. Has a tuition and fee schedule. 1802 d. Makes the tuition and fees payable to a registered 1803 business entity. 1804 5.

Tuition and fees associated with full-time or part-time 1805 enrollment in; an eligible private school; an eligible 1806 postsecondary educational institution or a program offered by 1807 the postsecondary educational institution, unless the program is 1808 subject to s. 1009.25 or reimbursed pursuant to s. 1009.30; an 1809 approved preapprenticeship program as defined in s. 446.021(5) 1810 which is not subject to s. 1009.25 and complies with all 1811 applicable requirements of the department pursuant to

chapter 1812 1005; a private tutoring program authorized under s. 1002.43; a 1813 virtual program offered by a department-approved private online 1814 provider that meets the provider qualifications specified in s. 1815 1002.45(2)(a); the Florida Virtual School as a private paying 1816 student; or an approved online course offered pursuant to s. 1817 1003.499 or s. 1004.0961. 1818 6.5.

Fees for nationally standardized, norm-referenced 1819 achievement tests, Advanced Placement Examinations, industry 1820 certification examinations, assessments related to postsecondary 1821 education, or other assessments. 1822 7.6. Contributions to the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid 1823 College Program pursuant to s. 1009.98 or the Florida College 1824 Savings Program pursuant to s. 1009.981 for the benefit of the 1825 eligible student. 1826 8.7. Contracted services provided by a public school or 1827

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 64 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. school district, including classes. A student who receives 1828 services under a contract under this paragraph is not considered 1829 enrolled in a public school for eligibility purposes as 1830 specified in subsection (6) but rather attending a public school 1831 on a part-time basis as authorized under s. 1002.44. 1832 9.8. Tuition and fees for part-time tutoring services or 1833 fees for services provided by a choice navigator.

Such services 1834 must be provided by a person who holds a valid Florida 1835 educator’s certificate pursuant to s. 1012.56, a person who 1836 holds an adjunct teaching certificate pursuant to s. 1012.57, a 1837 person who has a bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree in the 1838 subject area or related subject area in which instruction is 1839 given, a person who has demonstrated a mastery of subject area 1840 knowledge pursuant to s. 1012.56(5), or a person certified by a 1841 nationally or internationally recognized research-based training 1842 program as approved by the department.

As used in this 1843 subparagraph, the term “part-time tutoring services” does not 1844 qualify as regular school attendance as defined in s. 1845 1003.01(16)(e). 1846 10.9. Fees for specialized summer education programs. 1847 11.10. Fees for specialized after-school education 1848 programs. 1849 12.11.

Transition services provided by job coaches. 1850 Transition services are a coordinated set of activities which 1851 are focused on improving the academic and functional achievement 1852 of a student with a disability to facilitate the student’s 1853 movement from school to postschool activities and are based on 1854 the student’s needs. 1855 13.12. Fees for an annual evaluation of educational 1856

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 65 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. progress by a state-certified teacher under s. 1002.41(1)(f), if 1857 this option is chosen for a home education student. 1858 14.13. Tuition and fees associated with programs offered by 1859 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program providers approved 1860 pursuant to s. 1002.55, school readiness providers approved 1861 pursuant to s. 1002.88, and prekindergarten programs offered by 1862 an eligible private school. 1863 15.14.

Fees for services provided at a center that is a 1864 member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic 1865 Horsemanship International. 1866 16.15. Fees for services provided by a therapist who is 1867 certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists or 1868 credentialed by the Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. 1869 17. Membership dues and related activity fees for 1870 participation in Career and Technical Student Organizations. 1871

(5) TERM OF SCHOLARSHIP.—For purposes of continuity of 1872 educational choice: 1873 (a)1. A scholarship funded to an eligible student pursuant 1874 to paragraph (3)(

a) shall remain in force until: 1875 a. The organization determines that the student is not 1876 eligible for program renewal; 1877 b. The Commissioner of Education suspends or revokes 1878 program participation or use of funds; 1879 c. The student’s parent has forfeited participation in the 1880 program for failure to comply with the scholarship program 1881 requirements subsection (10); 1882 d. The student, who uses the scholarship for tuition and 1883 fees pursuant to subparagraph (4)(a)1., enrolls in a public 1884 school. However, if a student enters a Department of Juvenile 1885

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 7030 602-02932-25 20257030__ Page 66 of 139 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Justice detention center for a period of no more than 21 days, 1886 the student is not considered to have returned to a public 1887 school on a full-time basis for that purpose; or 1888 e. The student graduates from high school or attains 21 1889 years of age, whichever occurs first. 1890 2.a. The student’s scholarship account must be closed and 1891 any remaining funds