HB 999 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0999-00
Page 1 of 6
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Educational Dollars for Duty 2
program; amending s. 250.10, F.S.; revising 3
eligibility for the Educational Dollars for Duty (EDD) 4
program to include members of the Florida National 5
Guard who enroll in certain degree programs in this 6
state or another state; conforming application 7
requirements, requirements for courses included in the 8
EDD, and requirements for adoption of tuition payment 9
guidelines by the Adjutant General; providing an 10
effective date. 11
12
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
14
Section 1. Subsection (7) of section 250.10, Florida 15
Statutes, is amended to read: 16
250.10 Appointment and duties of the Adjutant General.— 17
(7) The Adjutant General shall develop an education 18
assistance program for members in good standing of the Florida 19
National Guard who enroll in an authorized course of study at a 20
public or nonpublic postsecondary institution or technical 21
center in this state or another the state, or who enroll in an 22
authorized course of study through an online degree program 23
provided by a public or nonpublic postsecondary institution or 24
technical center in this state or another state, which 25
HB 999 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0999-00
Page 2 of 6
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
postsecondary instit ution or technical center has been 26
accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United 27
States Department of Education or licensed by the Commission for 28
Independent Education. Education assistance also may be used for 29
training to obtain industry cert ifications approved by the 30
Department of Education pursuant to s. 1008.44 and continuing 31
education to maintain license certifications. The education 32
assistance program shall be known as the Educational Dollars for 33
Duty program (EDD). 34
(a) The program shal l establish application requirements, 35
including, but not limited to, requirements that the applicant: 36
1. Be 17 years of age or older. 37
2. Be presently domiciled in the state. 38
2.3. Be an active drilling member and in good standing in 39
the Florida National Guard at the beginning of and throughout 40
the entire academic term for which benefits are received. 41
3.4. Maintain continuous satisfactory participation in the 42
Florida National Guard for the school term for which benefits 43
are received. 44
4.5. Upon enrollment in the program, complete a memorandum 45
of agreement to: 46
a. Comply with the rules of the program. 47
b. Serve in the Florida National Guard for the period 48
specified in the member's enlistment or reenlistment contract. 49
c. Authorize the release of inf ormation pursuant to 50
HB 999 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0999-00
Page 3 of 6
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
subparagraph (d)6. by the postsecondary institution or technical 51
center to the education service office of the Department of 52
Military Affairs, subject to applicable federal and state law. 53
(b) The program shall define those members of the Florida 54
National Guard who are ineligible to participate in the program 55
and those courses of study which are not authorized for the 56
program. 57
1. Ineligible members include, but are not limited to, a 58
member, commissioned officer, warrant officer, or e nlisted 59
person who has obtained a master's degree using the program. 60
2. Inactive members of the Florida National Guard and 61
members of the Individual Ready Reserve are not eligible to 62
participate in the program. 63
3. Courses not authorized include noncred it courses, 64
courses that do not meet degree requirements, courses that do 65
not meet requirements for completion of career training, or 66
other courses as determined by program definitions. 67
4. The program may not pay repeat course fees. 68
(c) The program may include, but is not limited to: 69
1. Courses at a public or nonpublic postsecondary 70
institution or technical center in this state or another the 71
state, or online degree program courses provided by a public or 72
nonpublic postsecondary institution or technic al center in this 73
state or another state, which postsecondary institution or 74
technical center is accredited by an accrediting body recognized 75
HB 999 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0999-00
Page 4 of 6
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
by the United States Department of Education or licensed by the 76
Commission for Independent Education. 77
2. Training to obtain industry certifications, limited to 78
certifications approved by the Department of Education under s. 79
1008.44. 80
3. Continuing education to maintain a license or 81
certification. Notwithstanding subparagraph (b)1., members who 82
have obtained a maste r's degree using the program are eligible 83
for funding under this subparagraph. 84
4. Licensing and industry certification examination fees. 85
Notwithstanding subparagraph (b)1., members who have obtained a 86
master's degree using the program are eligible for fu nding under 87
this subparagraph. 88
5. Notwithstanding subparagraph (b)3., developmental 89
educational courses. 90
(d) The Adjutant General shall adopt rules for the overall 91
policy, guidance, administration, implementation, and proper use 92
of the program. Such ru les must include, but need not be limited 93
to: 94
1. Guidelines for certification by the Adjutant General of 95
a guard member's eligibility. 96
2. Procedures for notification to a postsecondary 97
institution or technical center of a guard member's termination 98
of eligibility. 99
3. Guidelines for approving courses of study that are 100
HB 999 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0999-00
Page 5 of 6
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
authorized for the program, including online courses, industry 101
certification training, and continuing education to maintain 102
license certifications. 103
4. Guidelines for approving the use o f program funds for 104
licensing and industry certification examination fees. 105
5. Procedures for restitution when a guard member fails to 106
comply with the penalties described in this section. 107
6. Procedures that require a public or nonpublic 108
postsecondary institution or technical center that receives 109
funding from the program to provide information regarding course 110
enrollment, course withdrawal, course cancellation, course 111
completion, course failure, and grade verification of enrolled 112
members to the education service office of the Department of 113
Military Affairs. 114
7. Guidelines for the payment of tuition and fees, not to 115
exceed: 116
a. The highest in-state tuition rate charged by a public 117
postsecondary institution in this the state. If the guard member 118
is enrolled in a public or nonpublic postsecondary institution 119
or technical center in another state, he or she is responsible 120
for payment of any tuition and fees charged by the institution 121
or center in excess of such amount. 122
b. If the guard member is enrolled in a n online degree 123
program, the highest tuition rate charged by a program provided 124
by a public postsecondary institution in this state or another 125
HB 999 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0999-00
Page 6 of 6
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
state. 126
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022. 127