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Florida Legislative Session 2008 Updates
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State Programs Highlights:
- All Florida Medallion Scholars attending any of the 28 public community colleges or
state colleges, enrolled and classified as associate degree-seeking students
will continue to receive 100% of tuition and approved fees for courses leading
to an associate degree.
- All Florida Medallion Scholars attending any of the 28 public community colleges
or state colleges, enrolled and classified as baccalaureate degree-seeking
students will receive 75% of tuition and approved fees.
- Senate Bill 1716 established the Florida College System, which provides for specified
community colleges to award baccalaureate degrees as well as associate degrees and certificate programs of study.
- Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program Appropriation
- Funding of $436.1 million for 169,895 students, a 13.8% budget increase.
- Funding provides for tuition and approved fees (excluding the tuition differential at eligible
state universities) per scholar level at a public postsecondary institution.
- Award amounts for private postsecondary institutions will be available in August.
- The annual college related expense allowance for Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) will be $375
to be divided equally between terms.
- Florida Student Assistance Grant Programs (FSAG) Appropriation
- Funding of $127.6 million for all FSAG sectors, a 2.1% budget decrease, with an increased maximum
award amount of $1,916, to be divided equally between terms.
- William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG)
- Funding of $97 million, a 2.1% budget decrease, to provide support to 34,195 students at
an annual award of $2,837 to be divided equally between terms.
- Access to Better Learning and Education Grant (ABLE)
- Funding of $4.4 million, a 6.9% budget increase, to provide support to 3,756 students at an
annual award of $1,182, to be divided equally between terms.
- New Technology Fees Not Covered by Bright Futures and Scholarships for Children/Spouses
of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (CSDDV) - beginning with the 2009-10 academic year.
- Amends the establishment of a separate fee for technology, not to exceed 5% of the tuition per
credit hour and the out-of-state fee in Sections 1009.23 and .24, Florida Statutes, at community
colleges and workforce institutions.
- Prohibits the fee from being included in any award under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
Program; and also affects CSDDV per Section 1009.5385, Florida Statutes, which requires CSDDV to adhere
to the same use of funds as outlined in Bright Futures awards.
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Florida Legislative Session 2007C Enacts Changes to
State Scholarship & Grant Programs
Effective January 1, 2008
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Senate Bill 2C
State Appropriations
The overall state student financial aid budget was reduced by less than 2% for the 2007-08 academic
year due to State revenue shortfalls. The effect of this reduction should only be noticed by
students in two programs; the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
Program changes are listed below under Senate Bill 10C, and in the First Generation Matching Grant Program,
some spring term awards may be reduced as determined by each institution.
Senate Bill 8C
Tuition and Fee Increases, effective January 1, 2008
- Tuition increases are authorized for public universities, community colleges, and vocational/technical
centers beginning January 1, 2008. Any state scholarship and grant program that calculates awards based on
tuition may include such increases for student awards in terms that begin on or after January 1, 2008. Fixed
award amounts for students attending private institutions will be adjusted to reflect any tuition increases.
- Beginning with the 2008-09 fiscal year and each year thereafter, tuition specified in Senate Bill 8C shall
increase at the beginning of each fall semester at a rate equal to inflation, unless otherwise provided in the
General Appropriations Act.
- Technology fees charged by state universities and authorized to be created beginning in the
2009-10 academic year, will not be paid by the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
Senate Bill 10C
Changes to the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, effective January 1, 2008
- Early Admit students will no longer be eligible to apply for Bright Futures prior to their senior year
in high school. Students may apply for an award beginning December 1 of the
student’s high school graduation year.
- Early Admit students funded in the 2007-08 academic year will be disbursed Bright Futures
funds after January 1, 2008, contingent upon the availability of funds. OSFA will notify all
institutions of such student eligibility in December 2007 for potential Term 2 Early Admit awards.
- For any term beginning as of January 1, 2008, students will receive an educational allowance
of $225, reduced from $300, prorated by hours and terms, as specified
in the General Appropriations Act (Senate Bill 2C). Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program fixed
award amounts for private postsecondary institutions, with this allotment reduction, will be calculated
and posted to the Web site in December 2007.
- The Florida Legislature will annually determine the amount of the college-related expense
allotment beginning with the 2008-09 academic year.
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