Bill Text: FL S1272 | 2023 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Educational Grants
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 4-1-1)
Status: (Passed) 2023-05-18 - Chapter No. 2023-93 [S1272 Detail]
Download: Florida-2023-S1272-Enrolled.html
ENROLLED
2023 Legislature CS for SB 1272
20231272er
1
2 An act relating to educational grants; creating s.
3 1009.521, F.S.; providing education grants under the
4 William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student
5 Education Grant Program to certain students who were
6 eligible as of a specified date to receive grants
7 under the former Access to Better Learning and
8 Education Grant Program; providing education grants to
9 eligible students at for-profit colleges or
10 universities under certain conditions; prescribing
11 criteria for participating institutions; requiring
12 that institutions that wish to participate provide
13 notice to the Department of Education by a certain
14 date; requiring that such institutions comply with
15 specified provision; amending s. 1009.40, F.S.; adding
16 a cross reference to the eligibility requirement for
17 residency; providing an effective date.
18
19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21 Section 1. Section 1009.521, Florida Statutes, is created
22 to read:
23 1009.521 Educational grants to former eligible tuition
24 assistance grant students.—
25 (1)(a) The department shall issue a grant pursuant to s.
26 1009.89 to any full-time degree-seeking undergraduate student
27 who meets the requirements of s. 1009.89(4)(a) and (b)1. and is
28 registered at an independent nonprofit university that, as of
29 January 1, 2021, was eligible for the Access to Better Learning
30 and Education Grant Program, as created by former s. 1009.891,
31 if such university has been located in this state for more than
32 20 years; offers nursing programs at its Florida campus which
33 include licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN),
34 including associate of science in nursing (ASN) and bachelor of
35 science in nursing (BSN), accelerated BSN, practical nurse
36 bridge to ASN, and practical nurse bridge to BSN; and is
37 accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
38 (b) The department shall issue a grant pursuant to s.
39 1009.89 to any full-time degree-seeking undergraduate student
40 who meets the requirements of s. 1009.89(4)(a) and (b)1. and is
41 registered at an independent for-profit college or university
42 located in and chartered by this state, accredited by an
43 accrediting agency or association recognized by the database
44 created and maintained by the United States Department of
45 Education, was licensed by the department on or before October
46 1, 2021, and has Level 6 accreditation from the Commission on
47 Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
48 (2) An institution that meets the criteria specified in
49 paragraph (1)(a) or paragraph (1)(b) may not be a state
50 university or Florida College System institution. In addition,
51 the institution must have a secular purpose, and the receipt of
52 state aid by students at the institution may not have the
53 primary effect of advancing or impeding religion or result in an
54 excessive entanglement between the state and any religious sect.
55 (3) To qualify for funding under this section, an
56 institution must exercise a one-time option to participate by
57 notifying the department, in writing, of its decision to
58 participate on or before September 1, 2023, and must comply with
59 s. 1009.89(5)(a)-(c).
60 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
61 1009.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
62 1009.40 General requirements for student eligibility for
63 state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants.—
64 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of students
65 for state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants
66 consist of the following:
67 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
68 acceptance at a state university or Florida College System
69 institution; a nursing diploma school approved by the Florida
70 Board of Nursing; a Florida college or university which is
71 accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the State
72 Board of Education; a Florida institution the credits of which
73 are acceptable for transfer to state universities; a career
74 center; or a private career institution accredited by an
75 accrediting agency recognized by the State Board of Education.
76 2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
77 preceding the award of aid or a tuition assistance grant for a
78 program established pursuant to s. 1009.50, s. 1009.505, s.
79 1009.51, s. 1009.52, s. 1009.521, s. 1009.53, s. 1009.60, s.
80 1009.62, s. 1009.72, s. 1009.73, s. 1009.75, s. 1009.77, s.
81 1009.89, or s. 1009.894. Residency in this state must be for
82 purposes other than to obtain an education. Resident status for
83 purposes of receiving state financial aid awards shall be
84 determined in the same manner as resident status for tuition
85 purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21.
86 3. Submission of certification attesting to the accuracy,
87 completeness, and correctness of information provided to
88 demonstrate a student’s eligibility to receive state financial
89 aid awards or tuition assistance grants. Falsification of such
90 information shall result in the denial of a pending application
91 and revocation of an award or grant currently held to the extent
92 that no further payments shall be made. Additionally, students
93 who knowingly make false statements in order to receive state
94 financial aid awards or tuition assistance grants commit a
95 misdemeanor of the second degree subject to the provisions of s.
96 837.06 and shall be required to return all state financial aid
97 awards or tuition assistance grants wrongfully obtained.
98 Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
