| 15 | 15 | | An act relating to education; amending ss. 11.45, 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | 212.099, and 327.371, F.S.; conforming cross -3 |
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| 17 | 17 | | references; amending s. 1002.01, F.S.; defining the 4 |
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| 18 | 18 | | term "personalized education program"; amending s. 5 |
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| 19 | 19 | | 1002.394, F.S.; providing and revising definitions; 6 |
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| 20 | 20 | | revising student eligibility and ineligibility 7 |
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| 21 | 21 | | requirements for the Family Empowerment Scholarship 8 |
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| 22 | 22 | | Program; revising the approved uses of scholarship 9 |
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| 23 | 23 | | funds; providing that certain scholarships remain in 10 |
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| 24 | 24 | | force until certain criteria are met; requiring the 11 |
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| 25 | 25 | | closure of a scholarship account and the reversion of 12 |
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| 26 | 26 | | funds to the state under certain circumstances; 13 |
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| 27 | 27 | | authorizing reimbursements for certain expenditures 14 |
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| 28 | 28 | | until certain criteria are met; revising obligations 15 |
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| 29 | 29 | | of school districts, the Department of Education, 16 |
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| 30 | 30 | | private schools, and eligible nonprofit scholarship -17 |
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| 31 | 31 | | funding organizations; revising responsibilities of 18 |
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| 32 | 32 | | parents; requiring scholarship funds to be deposited 19 |
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| 33 | 33 | | by funds transfers rather than through warrant 20 |
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| 34 | 34 | | endorsement; requiring certain criteria to be met 21 |
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| 35 | 35 | | before the funding of certain scholarships; revising 22 |
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| 36 | 36 | | provisions for the calculation of an award amount for 23 |
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| 37 | 37 | | certain students; prohibiting the transfer of funds to 24 |
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| 38 | 38 | | an eligible student's account under certain 25 |
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| 46 | 46 | | Page 2 of 114 |
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| 47 | 47 | | 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 |
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| 48 | 48 | | |
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| 49 | 49 | | |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | conditions; deleting obsolete language; conforming 26 |
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| 52 | 52 | | provisions and cross-references to changes made by the 27 |
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| 53 | 53 | | act; amending s. 1002.395, F.S.; providing and 28 |
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| 54 | 54 | | revising definitions; revising student eligibility and 29 |
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| 55 | 55 | | ineligibility requirements for the Florida Tax Credit 30 |
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| 56 | 56 | | Scholarship Program; revising obligations of eligibl e 31 |
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| 57 | 57 | | nonprofit scholarship -funding organizations and the 32 |
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| 58 | 58 | | department; establishing certain limitations on the 33 |
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| 59 | 59 | | number of scholarships funded through the program; 34 |
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| 60 | 60 | | revising the approved uses of scholarship funds; 35 |
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| 61 | 61 | | revising requirements for the use of certain 36 |
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| 62 | 62 | | contributions for administrative expenses; revising 37 |
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| 63 | 63 | | the amount of funds that must be awarded through 38 |
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| 64 | 64 | | scholarships; requiring the development of specified 39 |
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| 65 | 65 | | guidelines; authorizing organizations to require the 40 |
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| 66 | 66 | | use of an online platform for specified purchases so 41 |
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| 67 | 67 | | long as such use does not limit specified choices; 42 |
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| 68 | 68 | | requiring an organization to provide reimbursement in 43 |
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| 69 | 69 | | specified circumstances; requiring organizations to 44 |
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| 70 | 70 | | submit specified quarterly reports; revising 45 |
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| 71 | 71 | | responsibilities of parents; requiring scholarship 46 |
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| 72 | 72 | | funds to be deposited by funds transfers rather than 47 |
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| 73 | 73 | | through warrant endorsement; requiring the department 48 |
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| 74 | 74 | | to annually publish a list of specified tests; 49 |
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| 75 | 75 | | revising the requirements of a specified annual 50 |
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| 83 | 83 | | Page 3 of 114 |
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| 84 | 84 | | 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 |
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| 85 | 85 | | |
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| 86 | 86 | | |
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| 87 | 87 | | |
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| 88 | 88 | | report; requiring the department to notify school 51 |
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| 89 | 89 | | districts of specified estimates; prohibiting the 52 |
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| 90 | 90 | | transfer of funds to an eligible student's account 53 |
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| 91 | 91 | | under certain conditions; providing that certain 54 |
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| 92 | 92 | | scholarships remain in force until certain criteria 55 |
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| 93 | 93 | | are met; authorizing reimbursements for certain 56 |
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| 94 | 94 | | expenditures until certain criteria are met; requiring 57 |
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| 95 | 95 | | the closure of a scholarship account and the reversion 58 |
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| 96 | 96 | | of funds to the state under certain circumstances; 59 |
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| 97 | 97 | | requiring the Office of Independent Education and 60 |
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| 98 | 98 | | Parental Choice to provide a specified number of 61 |
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| 99 | 99 | | application periods for specified purposes; deleting 62 |
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| 100 | 100 | | obsolete language; conforming provisions and cross -63 |
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| 101 | 101 | | references to changes made by the act; amending s. 64 |
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| 102 | 102 | | 1002.40, F.S.; conforming cross -references; amending 65 |
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| 103 | 103 | | s. 1002.421, F.S.; revising the eligibility criteria 66 |
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| 104 | 104 | | and obligations of private schools participating in 67 |
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| 105 | 105 | | certain educational scholarship programs; revising the 68 |
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| 106 | 106 | | criteria for the Commissioner of Education to 69 |
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| 107 | 107 | | permanently deny or revoke the authority of certain 70 |
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| 108 | 108 | | individuals to establish or operate a private school 71 |
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| 109 | 109 | | in the state; authorizing the commissioner to include 72 |
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| 110 | 110 | | specified individuals on a specified disqualification 73 |
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| 111 | 111 | | list; authorizing such individuals to be removed from 74 |
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| 112 | 112 | | such list if they provide specified reimbursements; 75 |
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| 120 | 120 | | Page 4 of 114 |
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| 121 | 121 | | 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 |
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| 122 | 122 | | |
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| 123 | 123 | | |
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| 124 | 124 | | |
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| 125 | 125 | | conforming cross-references; creating s. 100 2.44, 76 |
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| 126 | 126 | | F.S.; authorizing public schools, including charter 77 |
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| 127 | 127 | | schools, to enroll certain students on a part -time 78 |
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| 128 | 128 | | basis; providing funding for such students; 79 |
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| 129 | 129 | | prohibiting certain students from being reported for 80 |
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| 130 | 130 | | funding; providing that such students are not 81 |
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| 131 | 131 | | considered to be in regular attendance at such 82 |
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| 132 | 132 | | schools; amending s. 1003.01, F.S.; conforming 83 |
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| 133 | 133 | | provisions and cross -references to changes made by the 84 |
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| 134 | 134 | | act; requiring the State Board of Education to develop 85 |
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| 135 | 135 | | and recommend to the Governor and the Legislature for 86 |
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| 136 | 136 | | adoption during the 2024 legislative session repeals 87 |
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| 137 | 137 | | and revisions to the Florida Early Learning -20 88 |
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| 138 | 138 | | Education Code by a specified date,; providing 89 |
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| 139 | 139 | | requirements for the state board relating to such 90 |
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| 140 | 140 | | recommendations; amending s. 1001.10, F.S.; requiring 91 |
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| 141 | 141 | | the Commissioner of Education to develop an online 92 |
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| 142 | 142 | | portal for specified purpose; providing requirements 93 |
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| 143 | 143 | | for such portal; amending s. 1002.20, F.S.; conforming 94 |
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| 144 | 144 | | a cross-reference; amending s. 1003.25, F.S.; revising 95 |
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| 145 | 145 | | the timeframe in which student records must be 96 |
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| 146 | 146 | | transferred; amending s. 1003.4282, F.S.; deleting the 97 |
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| 147 | 147 | | online course requirement for a standard high school 98 |
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| 148 | 148 | | diploma; amending s. 1006.21, F.S.; authorizing a 99 |
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| 149 | 149 | | district school board to use other vehicles to 100 |
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| 157 | 157 | | Page 5 of 114 |
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| 158 | 158 | | 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 |
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| 159 | 159 | | |
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| 160 | 160 | | |
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| 161 | 161 | | |
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| 162 | 162 | | transport students; amending s. 1006.22, F.S.; 101 |
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| 163 | 163 | | deleting a requirement that district school boards use 102 |
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| 164 | 164 | | school buses for all regular transportation; deleting 103 |
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| 165 | 165 | | provisions relating to circumstances in which students 104 |
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| 166 | 166 | | may be transported in privately owned motor vehicles; 105 |
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| 167 | 167 | | conforming a provision to changes made by th e act; 106 |
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| 168 | 168 | | amending ss. 1006.25 and 1006.27, F.S.; conforming a 107 |
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| 169 | 169 | | cross-reference and provisions to changes made by the 108 |
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| 170 | 170 | | act; amending s. 1011.71, F.S.; authorizing a 109 |
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| 171 | 171 | | specified district school board levy to be used to pay 110 |
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| 172 | 172 | | salaries and benefits for specified empl oyees; 111 |
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| 173 | 173 | | amending s. 1012.56, F.S.; exempting specified 112 |
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| 174 | 174 | | individuals from certain mastery of general knowledge 113 |
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| 175 | 175 | | requirements; revising the acceptable means of 114 |
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| 176 | 176 | | demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge and 115 |
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| 177 | 177 | | mastery of professional preparation and education 116 |
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| 178 | 178 | | competence, respectively; revising requirements for 117 |
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| 179 | 179 | | the department to issue temporary certificates; 118 |
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| 180 | 180 | | revising the validity period for certain temporary 119 |
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| 181 | 181 | | certificates; amending s. 1013.64, F.S.; providing 120 |
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| 182 | 182 | | that certain construction projects are exempt from th e 121 |
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| 183 | 183 | | total cost per student station requirements; amending 122 |
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| 184 | 184 | | ss. 1002.321, 1003.5716, 1003.499, 1003.27, 1003.485, 123 |
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| 185 | 185 | | and 1009.30, F.S.; conforming cross -references and 124 |
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| 186 | 186 | | provisions to changes made by the act; providing 125 |
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| 194 | 194 | | Page 6 of 114 |
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| 195 | 195 | | 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 |
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| 196 | 196 | | |
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| 197 | 197 | | |
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| 198 | 198 | | |
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| 199 | 199 | | effective dates. 126 |
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| 200 | 200 | | 127 |
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| 201 | 201 | | Be It Enacted by the Leg islature of the State of Florida: 128 |
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| 202 | 202 | | 129 |
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| 203 | 203 | | Section 1. Paragraph (l) of subsection (2) of section 130 |
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| 204 | 204 | | 11.45, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 131 |
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| 205 | 205 | | 11.45 Definitions; duties; authorities; reports; rules. — 132 |
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| 206 | 206 | | (2) DUTIES.—The Auditor General shall: 133 |
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| 207 | 207 | | (l) At least once every 3 years, conduct operational 134 |
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| 208 | 208 | | audits of the accounts and records of eligible nonprofit 135 |
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| 209 | 209 | | scholarship-funding organizations receiving eligible 136 |
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| 210 | 210 | | contributions under s. 1002.395, including any contracts for 137 |
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| 211 | 211 | | services with related entities, to determine com pliance with the 138 |
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| 212 | 212 | | provisions of that section. Such audits shall include, but not 139 |
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| 213 | 213 | | be limited to, a determination of the eligible nonprofit 140 |
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| 214 | 214 | | scholarship-funding organization's compliance with s. 141 |
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| 215 | 215 | | 1002.395(6)(l) s. 1002.395(6)(j). The Auditor General shall 142 |
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| 216 | 216 | | provide its report on the results of the audits to the Governor, 143 |
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| 217 | 217 | | the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 144 |
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| 218 | 218 | | Representatives, the Chief Financial Officer, and the 145 |
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| 219 | 219 | | Legislative Auditing Committee, within 30 days of completion of 146 |
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| 220 | 220 | | the audit. 147 |
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| 221 | 221 | | 148 |
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| 222 | 222 | | The Auditor General shall perform his or her duties 149 |
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| 223 | 223 | | independently but under the general policies established by the 150 |
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| 231 | 231 | | Page 7 of 114 |
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| 232 | 232 | | 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 |
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| 233 | 233 | | |
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| 234 | 234 | | |
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| 235 | 235 | | |
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| 236 | 236 | | Legislative Auditing Committee. This subsection does not limit 151 |
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| 237 | 237 | | the Auditor General's discretionary authority to conduct other 152 |
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| 238 | 238 | | audits or engagements o f governmental entities as authorized in 153 |
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| 239 | 239 | | subsection (3). 154 |
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| 240 | 240 | | Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and paragraph 155 |
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| 241 | 241 | | (c) of subsection (7) of section 212.099, Florida Statutes, are 156 |
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| 242 | 242 | | amended to read: 157 |
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| 243 | 243 | | 212.099 Credit for contributions to eligible nonprofit 158 |
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| 244 | 244 | | scholarship-funding organizations. — 159 |
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| 245 | 245 | | (1) As used in this section, the term: 160 |
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| 246 | 246 | | (c) "Eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization" 161 |
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| 247 | 247 | | or "organization" has the same meaning as provided in s. 162 |
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| 248 | 248 | | 1002.395(2) s. 1002.395(2)(f). 163 |
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| 249 | 249 | | (7) 164 |
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| 250 | 250 | | (c) The organization may, subject to the limitations of s. 165 |
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| 251 | 251 | | 1002.395(6)(l)1. s. 1002.395(6)(j)1., use eligible contributions 166 |
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| 252 | 252 | | received during the state fiscal year in which such 167 |
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| 253 | 253 | | contributions are collected for administrative expenses. 168 |
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| 254 | 254 | | Section 3. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section 169 |
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| 255 | 255 | | 327.371, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 170 |
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| 256 | 256 | | 327.371 Human-powered vessels regulated. — 171 |
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| 257 | 257 | | (1) A person may operate a human -powered vessel within the 172 |
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| 258 | 258 | | boundaries of the marked channel of the Florida Intracoastal 173 |
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| 259 | 259 | | Waterway as defined in s. 327.02: 174 |
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| 260 | 260 | | (c) When participating in practices or competitions for 175 |
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| 268 | 268 | | Page 8 of 114 |
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| 269 | 269 | | 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 |
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| 270 | 270 | | |
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| 271 | 271 | | |
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| 272 | 272 | | |
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| 273 | 273 | | interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club rowing 176 |
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| 274 | 274 | | teams affiliated with an educational institution identified in 177 |
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| 275 | 275 | | s. 1000.21, s. 1002.01(3) s. 1002.01(2), s. 1003.01(2), s. 178 |
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| 276 | 276 | | 1005.02(4), or s. 1005.03(1)(d), if the adjacent area outside of 179 |
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| 277 | 277 | | the marked channel is not suitable for such practice or 180 |
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| 278 | 278 | | competition. The teams must use their best efforts to make use 181 |
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| 279 | 279 | | of the adjacent area outside of the marked channel. The 182 |
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| 280 | 280 | | commission must be notified in writing of the details of any 183 |
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| 281 | 281 | | such competition, and the notification must include, but need 184 |
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| 282 | 282 | | not be limited to, the date, time, and location of the 185 |
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| 283 | 283 | | competition. 186 |
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| 284 | 284 | | Section 4. Section 1002.01, Florida Statutes, is amended 187 |
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| 285 | 285 | | to read: 188 |
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| 286 | 286 | | 1002.01 Definitions. — 189 |
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| 287 | 287 | | (1) A "home education program" means the sequentially 190 |
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| 288 | 288 | | progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her 191 |
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| 289 | 289 | | parent in order to satisfy the attendance requirements of ss. 192 |
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| 290 | 290 | | 1002.41, 1003.01(13), and 1003.21(1). 193 |
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| 291 | 291 | | (2) A "personalized education program" means the 194 |
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| 292 | 292 | | sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by 195 |
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| 293 | 293 | | his or her parent to satisfy the attendance requirements of ss. 196 |
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| 294 | 294 | | 1003.01(13) and 1003.21(1) while registered with an eligible 197 |
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| 295 | 295 | | nonprofit scholarship -funding organization pursuant to s. 198 |
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| 296 | 296 | | 1002.395. A personalized education student shall be provided the 199 |
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| 297 | 297 | | same flexibility and opportunities as provided in s. 1002.41(3) -200 |
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| 305 | 305 | | Page 9 of 114 |
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| 306 | 306 | | 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 |
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| 307 | 307 | | |
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| 308 | 308 | | |
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| 309 | 309 | | |
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| 310 | 310 | | (12). 201 |
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| 311 | 311 | | (3)(2) A "private school" is a nonpublic school defined as 202 |
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| 312 | 312 | | an individual, association, copartn ership, or corporation, or 203 |
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| 313 | 313 | | department, division, or section of such organizations, that 204 |
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| 314 | 314 | | designates itself as an educational center that includes 205 |
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| 315 | 315 | | kindergarten or a higher grade or as an elementary, secondary, 206 |
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| 316 | 316 | | business, technical, or trade school below colle ge level or any 207 |
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| 317 | 317 | | organization that provides instructional services that meet the 208 |
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| 318 | 318 | | intent of s. 1003.01(13) or that gives preemployment or 209 |
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| 319 | 319 | | supplementary training in technology or in fields of trade or 210 |
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| 320 | 320 | | industry or that offers academic, literary, or career trai ning 211 |
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| 321 | 321 | | below college level, or any combination of the above, including 212 |
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| 322 | 322 | | an institution that performs the functions of the above schools 213 |
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| 323 | 323 | | through correspondence or extension, except those licensed under 214 |
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| 324 | 324 | | the provisions of chapter 1005. A private school may be a 215 |
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| 325 | 325 | | parochial, religious, denominational, for -profit, or nonprofit 216 |
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| 326 | 326 | | school. This definition does not include home education programs 217 |
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| 327 | 327 | | conducted in accordance with s. 1002.41. 218 |
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| 328 | 328 | | Section 5. Paragraphs (b) through (m) of subsection (2) of 219 |
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| 329 | 329 | | section 1002.394, Florid a Statutes, are redesignated as 220 |
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| 330 | 330 | | paragraphs (c) through (n), respectively, present paragraphs 221 |
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| 331 | 331 | | (e), (f), and (g) of subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection 222 |
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| 332 | 332 | | (3), subsection (4), paragraph (a) of subsection (5), paragraph 223 |
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| 333 | 333 | | (f) of subsection (6), paragraphs (b), (d), (f), and (g) of 224 |
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| 334 | 334 | | subsection (7), paragraph (a) of subsection (8), paragraphs (a) 225 |
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| 342 | 342 | | Page 10 of 114 |
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| 343 | 343 | | 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 |
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| 344 | 344 | | |
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| 345 | 345 | | |
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| 346 | 346 | | |
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| 347 | 347 | | and (b) of subsection (10), paragraph (a) of subsection (11), 226 |
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| 348 | 348 | | and subsection (12) are amended, and a new paragraph (b) is 227 |
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| 349 | 349 | | added to subsection (2), paragraph (c) is ad ded to subsection 228 |
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| 350 | 350 | | (8), and paragraph (d) is added to subsection (9) of that 229 |
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| 351 | 351 | | section, to read: 230 |
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| 352 | 352 | | 1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. — 231 |
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| 353 | 353 | | (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 232 |
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| 354 | 354 | | (b) "Choice navigator" has the same meaning as in s. 233 |
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| 355 | 355 | | 1002.395(2). 234 |
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| 356 | 356 | | (f)(e) "Eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 235 |
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| 357 | 357 | | organization" or "organization" has the same meaning as provided 236 |
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| 358 | 358 | | in s. 1002.395(2) s. 1002.395(2)(f). 237 |
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| 359 | 359 | | (g)(f) "Eligible postsecondary educational institution" 238 |
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| 360 | 360 | | means a Florida College System institution; a state university; 239 |
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| 361 | 361 | | a school district technical center; a school district adult 240 |
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| 362 | 362 | | general education center; an independent college or university 241 |
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| 363 | 363 | | that is eligible to participate in the William L. Boyd, IV, 242 |
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| 364 | 364 | | Effective Access to Student Education Gr ant Program under s. 243 |
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| 365 | 365 | | 1009.89; or an accredited independent postsecondary educational 244 |
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| 366 | 366 | | institution, as defined in s. 1005.02, which is licensed to 245 |
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| 367 | 367 | | operate in this state under part III of chapter 1005 or is 246 |
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| 368 | 368 | | approved to participate in a reciprocity agreement a s defined in 247 |
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| 369 | 369 | | s. 1000.35(2). 248 |
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| 370 | 370 | | (h)(g) "Eligible private school" has the same meaning as 249 |
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| 371 | 371 | | provided in s. 1002.395(2) s. 1002.395(2)(g). 250 |
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| 379 | 379 | | Page 11 of 114 |
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| 380 | 380 | | 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 |
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| 381 | 381 | | |
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| 382 | 382 | | |
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| 383 | 383 | | |
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| 384 | 384 | | (3) SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY. — 251 |
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| 385 | 385 | | (a)1. A parent of a student may request and receive from 252 |
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| 386 | 386 | | the state a scholarship for the purposes specified in paragraph 253 |
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| 387 | 387 | | (4)(a) if the student is a resident of this state and is 254 |
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| 388 | 388 | | eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 in a public 255 |
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| 389 | 389 | | school in this state. : 256 |
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| 390 | 390 | | 1. The student is on the direct certification list 257 |
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| 391 | 391 | | pursuant to s. 1002.395(2)( c) or the student's household income 258 |
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| 392 | 392 | | level does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level; 259 |
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| 393 | 393 | | 2. The student is currently placed, or during the previous 260 |
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| 394 | 394 | | state fiscal year was placed, in foster care or in out -of-home 261 |
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| 395 | 395 | | care as defined in s. 39.01; 262 |
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| 396 | 396 | | 3. The student's household income level does not exceed 263 |
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| 397 | 397 | | 375 percent of the federal poverty level or an adjusted maximum 264 |
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| 398 | 398 | | percent of the federal poverty level that is increased by 25 265 |
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| 399 | 399 | | percentage points in the fiscal year following any fiscal year 266 |
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| 400 | 400 | | in which more than 5 percent of the available scholarships 267 |
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| 401 | 401 | | authorized under paragraph (12)(a) have not been funded; 268 |
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| 402 | 402 | | 4. The student is a sibling of a student who is 269 |
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| 403 | 403 | | participating in the scholarship program under this subsection 270 |
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| 404 | 404 | | and such siblings reside in the same ho usehold; 271 |
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| 405 | 405 | | 5. The student is a dependent child of a member of the 272 |
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| 406 | 406 | | United States Armed Forces; or 273 |
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| 407 | 407 | | 6. The student is a dependent child of a law enforcement 274 |
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| 408 | 408 | | officer. 275 |
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| 416 | 416 | | Page 12 of 114 |
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| 417 | 417 | | 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 |
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| 418 | 418 | | |
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| 419 | 419 | | |
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| 420 | 420 | | |
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| 421 | 421 | | 2. Priority must be given in the following order: to 276 |
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| 422 | 422 | | a. A student whose household income level does not exceed 277 |
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| 423 | 423 | | 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who is in foster 278 |
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| 424 | 424 | | care or out-of-home care. 279 |
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| 425 | 425 | | b. A student whose household income level exceeds 185 280 |
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| 426 | 426 | | percent of the federal poverty level, but does not excee d 400 281 |
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| 427 | 427 | | percent of the federal poverty level. 282 |
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| 428 | 428 | | (4) AUTHORIZED USES OF PROGRAM FUNDS. — 283 |
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| 429 | 429 | | (a) Program funds awarded to a student determined eligible 284 |
|---|
| 430 | 430 | | pursuant to paragraph (3)(a) may be used for: 285 |
|---|
| 431 | 431 | | 1. Tuition and fees at an eligible private school .; or 286 |
|---|
| 432 | 432 | | 2. Transportation to a Florida public school in which a 287 |
|---|
| 433 | 433 | | student is enrolled and that is different from the school to 288 |
|---|
| 434 | 434 | | which the student was assigned or to a lab school as defined in 289 |
|---|
| 435 | 435 | | s. 1002.32. 290 |
|---|
| 436 | 436 | | 3. Instructional materials, including digital materials 291 |
|---|
| 437 | 437 | | and Internet resources. 292 |
|---|
| 438 | 438 | | 4. Curriculum as defined in subsection (2). 293 |
|---|
| 439 | 439 | | 5. Tuition and fees associated with full -time or part-time 294 |
|---|
| 440 | 440 | | enrollment in an eligible postsecondary educational institution 295 |
|---|
| 441 | 441 | | or a program offered by the postsecondary educational 296 |
|---|
| 442 | 442 | | institution, unless the program is subject to s. 1009.25 or 297 |
|---|
| 443 | 443 | | reimbursed pursuant to s. 1009.30; an approved preapprenticeship 298 |
|---|
| 444 | 444 | | program as defined in s. 446.021(5) which is not subject to s. 299 |
|---|
| 445 | 445 | | 1009.25 and complies with all applicable requirements of the 300 |
|---|
| 453 | 453 | | Page 13 of 114 |
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| 454 | 454 | | 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 |
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| 455 | 455 | | |
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| 456 | 456 | | |
|---|
| 457 | 457 | | |
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| 458 | 458 | | department pursuant to chapter 1005; a private tutoring program 301 |
|---|
| 459 | 459 | | authorized under s. 1002.43; a virtual program offered by a 302 |
|---|
| 460 | 460 | | department-approved private online provider that meets the 303 |
|---|
| 461 | 461 | | provider qualifications specified in s. 1002.45(2)(a); the 304 |
|---|
| 462 | 462 | | Florida Virtual School as a private paying student; or an 305 |
|---|
| 463 | 463 | | approved online course offered pursuant to s. 1003.499 or s. 306 |
|---|
| 464 | 464 | | 1004.0961. 307 |
|---|
| 465 | 465 | | 6. Fees for nationally standardized, norm -referenced 308 |
|---|
| 466 | 466 | | achievement tests, Advanced Placement Examinations, industry 309 |
|---|
| 467 | 467 | | certification examinations, assessments relate d to postsecondary 310 |
|---|
| 468 | 468 | | education, or other assessments. 311 |
|---|
| 469 | 469 | | 7. Contracted services provided by a public school or 312 |
|---|
| 470 | 470 | | school district, including classes. A student who receives 313 |
|---|
| 471 | 471 | | contracted services under this subparagraph is not considered 314 |
|---|
| 472 | 472 | | enrolled in a public school for eligibility purposes as 315 |
|---|
| 473 | 473 | | specified in subsection (6) but rather attending a public school 316 |
|---|
| 474 | 474 | | on a part-time basis as authorized under s. 1002.44. 317 |
|---|
| 475 | 475 | | 8. Tuition and fees for part -time tutoring services or 318 |
|---|
| 476 | 476 | | fees for services provided by a choice navigator. Su ch services 319 |
|---|
| 477 | 477 | | must be provided by a person who holds a valid Florida 320 |
|---|
| 478 | 478 | | educator's certificate pursuant to s. 1012.56, a person who 321 |
|---|
| 479 | 479 | | holds an adjunct teaching certificate pursuant to s. 1012.57, a 322 |
|---|
| 480 | 480 | | person who has a bachelor's degree or a graduate degree in the 323 |
|---|
| 481 | 481 | | subject area in which instruction is given, a person who has 324 |
|---|
| 482 | 482 | | demonstrated a mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to s. 325 |
|---|
| 490 | 490 | | Page 14 of 114 |
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| 491 | 491 | | 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 |
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| 492 | 492 | | |
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| 493 | 493 | | |
|---|
| 494 | 494 | | |
|---|
| 495 | 495 | | 1012.56(5), or a person certified by a nationally or 326 |
|---|
| 496 | 496 | | internationally recognized research -based training program as 327 |
|---|
| 497 | 497 | | approved by the department. As used in this subparagraph, the 328 |
|---|
| 498 | 498 | | term "part-time tutoring services" does not qualify as regular 329 |
|---|
| 499 | 499 | | school attendance as defined in s. 1003.01(13)(e) if the student 330 |
|---|
| 500 | 500 | | is determined eligible pursuant to subparagraph (3)(a)1. or 331 |
|---|
| 501 | 501 | | subparagraph (3)(a)2 . 332 |
|---|
| 502 | 502 | | (b) Program funds awarded to a student with a disability 333 |
|---|
| 503 | 503 | | determined eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) may be used for 334 |
|---|
| 504 | 504 | | the following purposes: 335 |
|---|
| 505 | 505 | | 1. Instructional materials, including digital devices, 336 |
|---|
| 506 | 506 | | digital periphery devices, and assistive technology d evices that 337 |
|---|
| 507 | 507 | | allow a student to access instruction or instructional content 338 |
|---|
| 508 | 508 | | and training on the use of and maintenance agreements for these 339 |
|---|
| 509 | 509 | | devices. 340 |
|---|
| 510 | 510 | | 2. Curriculum as defined in subsection (2). 341 |
|---|
| 511 | 511 | | 3. Specialized services by approved providers or by a 342 |
|---|
| 512 | 512 | | hospital in this state which are selected by the parent. These 343 |
|---|
| 513 | 513 | | specialized services may include, but are not limited to: 344 |
|---|
| 514 | 514 | | a. Applied behavior analysis services as provided in ss. 345 |
|---|
| 515 | 515 | | 627.6686 and 641.31098. 346 |
|---|
| 516 | 516 | | b. Services provided by speech -language pathologists as 347 |
|---|
| 517 | 517 | | defined in s. 468.1125(8). 348 |
|---|
| 518 | 518 | | c. Occupational therapy as defined in s. 468.203. 349 |
|---|
| 519 | 519 | | d. Services provided by physical therapists as defined in 350 |
|---|
| 527 | 527 | | Page 15 of 114 |
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| 528 | 528 | | 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 |
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| 529 | 529 | | |
|---|
| 530 | 530 | | |
|---|
| 531 | 531 | | |
|---|
| 532 | 532 | | s. 486.021(8). 351 |
|---|
| 533 | 533 | | e. Services provided by listening and spoken language 352 |
|---|
| 534 | 534 | | specialists and an appropriate acoustical envi ronment for a 353 |
|---|
| 535 | 535 | | child who has a hearing impairment, including deafness, and who 354 |
|---|
| 536 | 536 | | has received an implant or assistive hearing device. 355 |
|---|
| 537 | 537 | | 4. Tuition and or fees associated with full -time or part-356 |
|---|
| 538 | 538 | | time enrollment in a home education program ;, an eligible 357 |
|---|
| 539 | 539 | | private school;, an eligible postsecondary educational 358 |
|---|
| 540 | 540 | | institution or a program offered by the postsecondary 359 |
|---|
| 541 | 541 | | educational institution, unless the program is subject to s. 360 |
|---|
| 542 | 542 | | 1009.25 or reimbursed pursuant to s. 1009.30; an approved 361 |
|---|
| 543 | 543 | | preapprenticeship program as defined in s. 446.021(5) which is 362 |
|---|
| 544 | 544 | | not subject to s. 1009.25 and complies with all applicable 363 |
|---|
| 545 | 545 | | requirements of the department pursuant to chapter 1005; a 364 |
|---|
| 546 | 546 | | private tutoring program authorized under s. 1002.43 ;, a virtual 365 |
|---|
| 547 | 547 | | program offered by a department -approved private online provider 366 |
|---|
| 548 | 548 | | that meets the provider qualifications specified in s. 367 |
|---|
| 549 | 549 | | 1002.45(2)(a);, the Florida Virtual School as a private paying 368 |
|---|
| 550 | 550 | | student;, or an approved online course offered pursuant to s. 369 |
|---|
| 551 | 551 | | 1003.499 or s. 1004.0961. 370 |
|---|
| 552 | 552 | | 5. Fees for nationally standa rdized, norm-referenced 371 |
|---|
| 553 | 553 | | achievement tests, Advanced Placement Examinations, industry 372 |
|---|
| 554 | 554 | | certification examinations, assessments related to postsecondary 373 |
|---|
| 555 | 555 | | education, or other assessments. 374 |
|---|
| 556 | 556 | | 6. Contributions to the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid 375 |
|---|
| 564 | 564 | | Page 16 of 114 |
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| 565 | 565 | | 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 |
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| 566 | 566 | | |
|---|
| 567 | 567 | | |
|---|
| 568 | 568 | | |
|---|
| 569 | 569 | | College Program pursuant to s. 1009.98 or the Florida College 376 |
|---|
| 570 | 570 | | Savings Program pursuant to s. 1009.981 for the benefit of the 377 |
|---|
| 571 | 571 | | eligible student. 378 |
|---|
| 572 | 572 | | 7. Contracted services provided by a public school or 379 |
|---|
| 573 | 573 | | school district, including classes. A student who receives 380 |
|---|
| 574 | 574 | | services under a contract under this paragraph is not considered 381 |
|---|
| 575 | 575 | | enrolled in a public school for eligibility purposes as 382 |
|---|
| 576 | 576 | | specified in subsection (6) but rather attending a public school 383 |
|---|
| 577 | 577 | | on a part-time basis as authorized under s. 1002.44 . 384 |
|---|
| 578 | 578 | | 8. Tuition and fees for part -time tutoring services or 385 |
|---|
| 579 | 579 | | fees for services provided by a choice navigator. Such services 386 |
|---|
| 580 | 580 | | must be provided by a person who holds a valid Florida 387 |
|---|
| 581 | 581 | | educator's certificate pursuant to s. 1012.56, a person who 388 |
|---|
| 582 | 582 | | holds an adjunct teaching certificate pursuant to s. 1012.57, a 389 |
|---|
| 583 | 583 | | person who has a bachelor's degree or a graduate degree in the 390 |
|---|
| 584 | 584 | | subject area in which instruction is given, a person who has 391 |
|---|
| 585 | 585 | | demonstrated a mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to s. 392 |
|---|
| 586 | 586 | | 1012.56(5), or a person certified by a nationally or 393 |
|---|
| 587 | 587 | | internationally recognized research -based training program as 394 |
|---|
| 588 | 588 | | approved by the department. As used in this subparagraph 395 |
|---|
| 589 | 589 | | paragraph, the term "part-time tutoring services" does not 396 |
|---|
| 590 | 590 | | qualify as regular school attendance as defined in s. 397 |
|---|
| 591 | 591 | | 1003.01(13)(e). 398 |
|---|
| 592 | 592 | | 9. Fees for specialized summer education programs. 399 |
|---|
| 593 | 593 | | 10. Fees for specialized after -school education programs. 400 |
|---|
| 601 | 601 | | Page 17 of 114 |
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| 602 | 602 | | 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 |
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| 603 | 603 | | |
|---|
| 604 | 604 | | |
|---|
| 605 | 605 | | |
|---|
| 606 | 606 | | 11. Transition services provided by job coaches. 401 |
|---|
| 607 | 607 | | 12. Fees for an annual evaluation of educational progress 402 |
|---|
| 608 | 608 | | by a state-certified teacher under s. 100 2.41(1)(f), if this 403 |
|---|
| 609 | 609 | | option is chosen for a home education student. 404 |
|---|
| 610 | 610 | | 13. Tuition and fees associated with programs offered by 405 |
|---|
| 611 | 611 | | Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program providers approved 406 |
|---|
| 612 | 612 | | pursuant to s. 1002.55 and school readiness providers approved 407 |
|---|
| 613 | 613 | | pursuant to s. 1002.88. 408 |
|---|
| 614 | 614 | | 14. Fees for services provided at a center that is a 409 |
|---|
| 615 | 615 | | member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic 410 |
|---|
| 616 | 616 | | Horsemanship International. 411 |
|---|
| 617 | 617 | | 15. Fees for services provided by a therapist who is 412 |
|---|
| 618 | 618 | | certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists or 413 |
|---|
| 619 | 619 | | credentialed by the Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. 414 |
|---|
| 620 | 620 | | (5) TERM OF SCHOLARSHIP. —For purposes of continuity of 415 |
|---|
| 621 | 621 | | educational choice: 416 |
|---|
| 622 | 622 | | (a)1. A scholarship awarded to an eligible student 417 |
|---|
| 623 | 623 | | pursuant to paragraph (3)(a) shall remain in force until: 418 |
|---|
| 624 | 624 | | a. The organization determines that the student is not 419 |
|---|
| 625 | 625 | | eligible for program renewal; 420 |
|---|
| 626 | 626 | | b. The Commissioner of Education suspends or revokes 421 |
|---|
| 627 | 627 | | program participation or use of funds; 422 |
|---|
| 628 | 628 | | c. The student's parent has forfeited participation in the 423 |
|---|
| 629 | 629 | | program for failure to comply with subsection (10); 424 |
|---|
| 630 | 630 | | d. The student enrolls in a public school. However, if a 425 |
|---|
| 638 | 638 | | Page 18 of 114 |
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| 639 | 639 | | 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 |
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| 640 | 640 | | |
|---|
| 641 | 641 | | |
|---|
| 642 | 642 | | |
|---|
| 643 | 643 | | student enters a Department of Juvenile Justice detention center 426 |
|---|
| 644 | 644 | | for a period of no more than 21 days, the student is not 427 |
|---|
| 645 | 645 | | considered to have returned t o a public school on a full -time 428 |
|---|
| 646 | 646 | | basis for that purpose; or 429 |
|---|
| 647 | 647 | | e. The student graduates from high school or attains 21 430 |
|---|
| 648 | 648 | | years of age, whichever occurs first. 431 |
|---|
| 649 | 649 | | 2.a. The student's scholarship account must be closed and 432 |
|---|
| 650 | 650 | | any remaining funds shall revert to the state after: 433 |
|---|
| 651 | 651 | | (I) Denial or revocation of program eligibility by the 434 |
|---|
| 652 | 652 | | commissioner for fraud or abuse, including, but not limited to, 435 |
|---|
| 653 | 653 | | the student or student's parent accepting any payment, refund, 436 |
|---|
| 654 | 654 | | or rebate, in any manner, from a provider of any services 437 |
|---|
| 655 | 655 | | received pursuant to paragraph (4)(a); or 438 |
|---|
| 656 | 656 | | (II) Two consecutive fiscal years in which an account has 439 |
|---|
| 657 | 657 | | been inactive. 440 |
|---|
| 658 | 658 | | b. Reimbursements for program expenditures may continue 441 |
|---|
| 659 | 659 | | until the account balance is expended or remaining funds have 442 |
|---|
| 660 | 660 | | reverted to the stat e student returns to a public school, 443 |
|---|
| 661 | 661 | | graduates from high school, or reaches the age of 21, whichever 444 |
|---|
| 662 | 662 | | occurs first. A scholarship student who enrolls in a public 445 |
|---|
| 663 | 663 | | school or public school program is considered to have returned 446 |
|---|
| 664 | 664 | | to a public school for the purp ose of determining the end of the 447 |
|---|
| 665 | 665 | | scholarship's term. However, if a student enters a Department of 448 |
|---|
| 666 | 666 | | Juvenile Justice detention center for a period of no more than 449 |
|---|
| 667 | 667 | | 21 days, the student is not considered to have returned to a 450 |
|---|
| 675 | 675 | | Page 19 of 114 |
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| 676 | 676 | | 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 |
|---|
| 677 | 677 | | |
|---|
| 678 | 678 | | |
|---|
| 679 | 679 | | |
|---|
| 680 | 680 | | public school for that purpose. 451 |
|---|
| 681 | 681 | | (6) SCHOLARSHIP PROHIBITIONS. —A student is not eligible 452 |
|---|
| 682 | 682 | | for a Family Empowerment Scholarship while he or she is: 453 |
|---|
| 683 | 683 | | (f) Participating in virtual instruction pursuant to s. 454 |
|---|
| 684 | 684 | | 1002.455 that receives state funding pursuant to the student's 455 |
|---|
| 685 | 685 | | participation. 456 |
|---|
| 686 | 686 | | (7) SCHOOL DISTRICT OBLIGATIONS. — 457 |
|---|
| 687 | 687 | | (b)1. The parent of a student with a disability who does 458 |
|---|
| 688 | 688 | | not have an IEP in accordance with subparagraph (3)(b)4. or who 459 |
|---|
| 689 | 689 | | seeks a reevaluation of an existing IEP may request an IEP 460 |
|---|
| 690 | 690 | | meeting and evaluation from the school distr ict in order to 461 |
|---|
| 691 | 691 | | obtain or revise a matrix of services. The school district shall 462 |
|---|
| 692 | 692 | | notify a parent who has made a request for an IEP that the 463 |
|---|
| 693 | 693 | | district is required to complete the IEP and matrix of services 464 |
|---|
| 694 | 694 | | within 30 days after receiving notice of the parent' s request. 465 |
|---|
| 695 | 695 | | The school district shall conduct a meeting and develop an IEP 466 |
|---|
| 696 | 696 | | and a matrix of services within 30 days after receipt of the 467 |
|---|
| 697 | 697 | | parent's request in accordance with State Board of Education 468 |
|---|
| 698 | 698 | | rules. The district must accept the diagnosis and consider t he 469 |
|---|
| 699 | 699 | | service plan of the licensed professional providing the 470 |
|---|
| 700 | 700 | | diagnosis pursuant to subparagraph (3)(b)4. The school district 471 |
|---|
| 701 | 701 | | must complete a matrix that assigns the student to one of the 472 |
|---|
| 702 | 702 | | levels of service as they existed before the 2000 -2001 school 473 |
|---|
| 703 | 703 | | year. For a nonpublic school student without an IEP, the school 474 |
|---|
| 704 | 704 | | district is authorized to use evaluation reports and plans of 475 |
|---|
| 712 | 712 | | Page 20 of 114 |
|---|
| 713 | 713 | | 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 |
|---|
| 714 | 714 | | |
|---|
| 715 | 715 | | |
|---|
| 716 | 716 | | |
|---|
| 717 | 717 | | care developed by the licensed professionals under subparagraph 476 |
|---|
| 718 | 718 | | (4)(b)3. to complete the matrix of services. 477 |
|---|
| 719 | 719 | | 2.a. The school district mus t provide the student's parent 478 |
|---|
| 720 | 720 | | and the department with the student's matrix level within 10 479 |
|---|
| 721 | 721 | | calendar days after its completion. 480 |
|---|
| 722 | 722 | | b. The department shall notify the parent and the 481 |
|---|
| 723 | 723 | | organization of the amount of the funds awarded within 10 days 482 |
|---|
| 724 | 724 | | after receiving the school district's notification of the 483 |
|---|
| 725 | 725 | | student's matrix level. 484 |
|---|
| 726 | 726 | | c. A school district may change a matrix of services only 485 |
|---|
| 727 | 727 | | if the change is a result of an IEP reevaluation or to correct a 486 |
|---|
| 728 | 728 | | technical, typographical, or calculation error. 487 |
|---|
| 729 | 729 | | (d) The school district in which a participating student 488 |
|---|
| 730 | 730 | | resides must notify the student and his or her parent about the 489 |
|---|
| 731 | 731 | | locations and times to take all statewide assessments under s. 490 |
|---|
| 732 | 732 | | 1008.22 if the student chooses to participate in such 491 |
|---|
| 733 | 733 | | assessments. Upon the request of the department, a school 492 |
|---|
| 734 | 734 | | district shall coordinate with the department to provide to a 493 |
|---|
| 735 | 735 | | participating private school the statewide assessments 494 |
|---|
| 736 | 736 | | administered under s. 1008.22 and any related materials for 495 |
|---|
| 737 | 737 | | administering the assessments. For a student who pa rticipates in 496 |
|---|
| 738 | 738 | | the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program whose parent requests 497 |
|---|
| 739 | 739 | | that the student take the statewide assessments under s. 498 |
|---|
| 740 | 740 | | 1008.22, the district in which the student attends a private 499 |
|---|
| 741 | 741 | | school shall provide locations and times to take all statew ide 500 |
|---|
| 749 | 749 | | Page 21 of 114 |
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| 750 | 750 | | 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 |
|---|
| 751 | 751 | | |
|---|
| 752 | 752 | | |
|---|
| 753 | 753 | | |
|---|
| 754 | 754 | | assessments. A school district is responsible for implementing 501 |
|---|
| 755 | 755 | | test administrations at a participating private school, 502 |
|---|
| 756 | 756 | | including the: 503 |
|---|
| 757 | 757 | | 1. Provision of training for private school staff on test 504 |
|---|
| 758 | 758 | | security and assessment administration procedures; 505 |
|---|
| 759 | 759 | | 2. Distribution of testing materials to a private school; 506 |
|---|
| 760 | 760 | | 3. Retrieval of testing materials from a private school; 507 |
|---|
| 761 | 761 | | 4. Provision of the required format for a private school 508 |
|---|
| 762 | 762 | | to submit information to the district for test administration 509 |
|---|
| 763 | 763 | | and enrollment purposes ; and 510 |
|---|
| 764 | 764 | | 5. Provision of any required assistance, monitoring, or 511 |
|---|
| 765 | 765 | | investigation at a private school. 512 |
|---|
| 766 | 766 | | (f) A school district shall report all students who are 513 |
|---|
| 767 | 767 | | receiving a scholarship under this program. Students receiving a 514 |
|---|
| 768 | 768 | | scholarship shall be reported sepa rately from other students 515 |
|---|
| 769 | 769 | | reported for purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program. 516 |
|---|
| 770 | 770 | | (g) A school district shall be held harmless for students 517 |
|---|
| 771 | 771 | | who are receiving a scholarship under this program from the 518 |
|---|
| 772 | 772 | | weighted enrollment ceiling for group 2 progr ams in s. 519 |
|---|
| 773 | 773 | | 1011.62(1)(d)3.b. during the first school year in which the 520 |
|---|
| 774 | 774 | | students are reported. 521 |
|---|
| 775 | 775 | | (8) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OBLIGATIONS. — 522 |
|---|
| 776 | 776 | | (a) The department shall: 523 |
|---|
| 777 | 777 | | 1. Publish and update, as necessary, information on the 524 |
|---|
| 778 | 778 | | department website about the Family Empowerment Scholarship 525 |
|---|
| 786 | 786 | | Page 22 of 114 |
|---|
| 787 | 787 | | 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 |
|---|
| 788 | 788 | | |
|---|
| 789 | 789 | | |
|---|
| 790 | 790 | | |
|---|
| 791 | 791 | | Program, including, but not limited to, student eligibility 526 |
|---|
| 792 | 792 | | criteria, parental responsibilities, and relevant data. 527 |
|---|
| 793 | 793 | | 2. Report, as part of the determination of full -time 528 |
|---|
| 794 | 794 | | equivalent membership pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(a), all students 529 |
|---|
| 795 | 795 | | who are receiving a scholarship under the program and are funded 530 |
|---|
| 796 | 796 | | through the Florida Education Finance Program, and cross-check 531 |
|---|
| 797 | 797 | | the list of participating schol arship students with the public 532 |
|---|
| 798 | 798 | | school enrollment lists to avoid duplication. 533 |
|---|
| 799 | 799 | | 3. Maintain and annually publish a list of nationally 534 |
|---|
| 800 | 800 | | norm-referenced tests identified for purposes of satisfying the 535 |
|---|
| 801 | 801 | | testing requirement in subparagraph (9)(c)1. The tests mus t meet 536 |
|---|
| 802 | 802 | | industry standards of quality in accordance with state board 537 |
|---|
| 803 | 803 | | rule. 538 |
|---|
| 804 | 804 | | 4. Notify eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 539 |
|---|
| 805 | 805 | | organizations of the deadlines for submitting the verified list 540 |
|---|
| 806 | 806 | | of students determined to be eligible for a scholarship. An 541 |
|---|
| 807 | 807 | | eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization may not 542 |
|---|
| 808 | 808 | | submit a student for funding after February 1. 543 |
|---|
| 809 | 809 | | 5. Notify each school district of a parent's participation 544 |
|---|
| 810 | 810 | | in the scholarship program for purposes of paragraph (7)(f). 545 |
|---|
| 811 | 811 | | 5.6. Deny or terminate program p articipation upon a 546 |
|---|
| 812 | 812 | | parent's failure to comply with subsection (10). 547 |
|---|
| 813 | 813 | | 6.7. Notify the parent and the organization when a 548 |
|---|
| 814 | 814 | | scholarship account is closed and program funds revert to the 549 |
|---|
| 815 | 815 | | state. 550 |
|---|
| 823 | 823 | | Page 23 of 114 |
|---|
| 824 | 824 | | 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 |
|---|
| 825 | 825 | | |
|---|
| 826 | 826 | | |
|---|
| 827 | 827 | | |
|---|
| 828 | 828 | | 7.8. Notify an eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 551 |
|---|
| 829 | 829 | | organization of any of the organization's or other 552 |
|---|
| 830 | 830 | | organization's identified students who are receiving 553 |
|---|
| 831 | 831 | | scholarships under this chapter. 554 |
|---|
| 832 | 832 | | 8.9. Maintain on its website a list of approved providers 555 |
|---|
| 833 | 833 | | as required by s. 1002.66, eligible postsecondary educational 556 |
|---|
| 834 | 834 | | institutions, eligible private schools, and eligible 557 |
|---|
| 835 | 835 | | organizations and may identify or provide links to lists of 558 |
|---|
| 836 | 836 | | other approved providers. 559 |
|---|
| 837 | 837 | | 9.10. Require each organization to verify eligible 560 |
|---|
| 838 | 838 | | expenditures before the distribution of funds for any 561 |
|---|
| 839 | 839 | | expenditures made pursuant to subparagraphs (4)(b)1. and 2. 562 |
|---|
| 840 | 840 | | Review of expenditures made for services specified in 563 |
|---|
| 841 | 841 | | subparagraphs (4)(b)3. -15. may be completed after the purchase 564 |
|---|
| 842 | 842 | | is made. 565 |
|---|
| 843 | 843 | | 10.11. Investigate any written complaint of a violation of 566 |
|---|
| 844 | 844 | | this section by a parent, a student, a private school, a public 567 |
|---|
| 845 | 845 | | school, a school district, an organization, a provider, or 568 |
|---|
| 846 | 846 | | another appropriate party in accordance with the process 569 |
|---|
| 847 | 847 | | established under s. 1002.421. 570 |
|---|
| 848 | 848 | | 11.12. Require quarterly reports by an organization, which 571 |
|---|
| 849 | 849 | | must include, at a minimum, the number of students participating 572 |
|---|
| 850 | 850 | | in the program; the demographics of program participants; the 573 |
|---|
| 851 | 851 | | disability category of program participants; the matrix level of 574 |
|---|
| 852 | 852 | | services, if known; the program award amount per student; the 575 |
|---|
| 860 | 860 | | Page 24 of 114 |
|---|
| 861 | 861 | | 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 |
|---|
| 862 | 862 | | |
|---|
| 863 | 863 | | |
|---|
| 864 | 864 | | |
|---|
| 865 | 865 | | total expenditures for the purposes specified in paragraph 576 |
|---|
| 866 | 866 | | (4)(b); the types of providers of services to students; and any 577 |
|---|
| 867 | 867 | | other information deemed necessary by the department. 578 |
|---|
| 868 | 868 | | 12.13. Notify eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 579 |
|---|
| 869 | 869 | | organizations that scholarships may not be awarded in a school 580 |
|---|
| 870 | 870 | | district in which the award will exceed 99 percent of the school 581 |
|---|
| 871 | 871 | | district's share of state funding through the Florida Education 582 |
|---|
| 872 | 872 | | Finance Program as calculated by the department. 583 |
|---|
| 873 | 873 | | 13.14. Adjust payments to eligible nonprofit sch olarship-584 |
|---|
| 874 | 874 | | funding organizations and, when the Florida Education Finance 585 |
|---|
| 875 | 875 | | Program is recalculated, adjust the amount of state funds 586 |
|---|
| 876 | 876 | | allocated to school districts through the Florida Education 587 |
|---|
| 877 | 877 | | Finance Program based upon the results of the cross -check 588 |
|---|
| 878 | 878 | | completed pursuant to subparagraph 2. 589 |
|---|
| 879 | 879 | | (c) The department shall notify each school district of 590 |
|---|
| 880 | 880 | | the full-time equivalent student consensus estimate of students 591 |
|---|
| 881 | 881 | | participating in the program developed pursuant to s. 592 |
|---|
| 882 | 882 | | 216.136(4)(a). 593 |
|---|
| 883 | 883 | | (9) PRIVATE SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY AND OBLIGATIONS.—To be 594 |
|---|
| 884 | 884 | | eligible to participate in the Family Empowerment Scholarship 595 |
|---|
| 885 | 885 | | Program, a private school may be sectarian or nonsectarian and 596 |
|---|
| 886 | 886 | | must: 597 |
|---|
| 887 | 887 | | (d) For a student determined eligible pursuant to 598 |
|---|
| 888 | 888 | | paragraph (3)(b), discuss the school's academic progr ams and 599 |
|---|
| 889 | 889 | | policies, specialized services, code of conduct, and attendance 600 |
|---|
| 897 | 897 | | Page 25 of 114 |
|---|
| 898 | 898 | | 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 |
|---|
| 899 | 899 | | |
|---|
| 900 | 900 | | |
|---|
| 901 | 901 | | |
|---|
| 902 | 902 | | policies before enrollment with the parent to determine which 601 |
|---|
| 903 | 903 | | programs and services may meet the student's individual needs. 602 |
|---|
| 904 | 904 | | 603 |
|---|
| 905 | 905 | | If a private school fails to meet the requirements of this 604 |
|---|
| 906 | 906 | | subsection or s. 1002.421, the commissioner may determine that 605 |
|---|
| 907 | 907 | | the private school is ineligible to participate in the 606 |
|---|
| 908 | 908 | | scholarship program. 607 |
|---|
| 909 | 909 | | (10) PARENT AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PROGRAM 608 |
|---|
| 910 | 910 | | PARTICIPATION.— 609 |
|---|
| 911 | 911 | | (a) A parent who applies for program partic ipation under 610 |
|---|
| 912 | 912 | | paragraph (3)(a) whose student will be enrolled full time is 611 |
|---|
| 913 | 913 | | exercising his or her parental option to place his or her child 612 |
|---|
| 914 | 914 | | in a private school and must: 613 |
|---|
| 915 | 915 | | 1. Select the private school and apply for the admission 614 |
|---|
| 916 | 916 | | of his or her student. 615 |
|---|
| 917 | 917 | | 2. Request the scholarship by a date established by the 616 |
|---|
| 918 | 918 | | organization, in a manner that creates a written or electronic 617 |
|---|
| 919 | 919 | | record of the request and the date of receipt of the request. 618 |
|---|
| 920 | 920 | | 3. Inform the applicable school district when the parent 619 |
|---|
| 921 | 921 | | withdraws his or her student from a public school to attend an 620 |
|---|
| 922 | 922 | | eligible private school. 621 |
|---|
| 923 | 923 | | 4. Require his or her student participating in the program 622 |
|---|
| 924 | 924 | | to remain in attendance throughout the school year unless 623 |
|---|
| 925 | 925 | | excused by the school for illness or other good cause. 624 |
|---|
| 926 | 926 | | 5. Meet with the private school's principal or the 625 |
|---|
| 934 | 934 | | Page 26 of 114 |
|---|
| 935 | 935 | | 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 |
|---|
| 936 | 936 | | |
|---|
| 937 | 937 | | |
|---|
| 938 | 938 | | |
|---|
| 939 | 939 | | principal's designee to review the school's academic programs 626 |
|---|
| 940 | 940 | | and policies, specialized services customized educational 627 |
|---|
| 941 | 941 | | programs, code of student conduct, and attendance policies 628 |
|---|
| 942 | 942 | | before prior to enrollment. 629 |
|---|
| 943 | 943 | | 6. Require that the student participating in the 630 |
|---|
| 944 | 944 | | scholarship program takes the norm -referenced assessment offered 631 |
|---|
| 945 | 945 | | by the private school. The parent may also choose to have the 632 |
|---|
| 946 | 946 | | student participate in the statewide assessments pursuant to 633 |
|---|
| 947 | 947 | | paragraph (7)(d). If the p arent requests that the student 634 |
|---|
| 948 | 948 | | participating in the program take all statewide assessments 635 |
|---|
| 949 | 949 | | required pursuant to s. 1008.22, the parent is responsible for 636 |
|---|
| 950 | 950 | | transporting the student to the assessment site designated by 637 |
|---|
| 951 | 951 | | the school district. 638 |
|---|
| 952 | 952 | | 7. Approve each payment before the scholarship funds may 639 |
|---|
| 953 | 953 | | be deposited by funds transfer Restrictively endorse the 640 |
|---|
| 954 | 954 | | warrant, issued in the name of the parent pursuant to 641 |
|---|
| 955 | 955 | | subparagraph (12)(a)4. (12)(a)6., to the private school for 642 |
|---|
| 956 | 956 | | deposit into the private school's account. The parent may not 643 |
|---|
| 957 | 957 | | designate any entity or individual associated with the 644 |
|---|
| 958 | 958 | | participating private school as the parent's attorney in fact to 645 |
|---|
| 959 | 959 | | approve a funds transfer. A participant who fails to comply with 646 |
|---|
| 960 | 960 | | this paragraph forfeits the endorse a scholarship warrant. 647 |
|---|
| 961 | 961 | | 8. Agree to have the organization commit scholarship funds 648 |
|---|
| 962 | 962 | | on behalf of his or her student for tuition and fees for which 649 |
|---|
| 963 | 963 | | the parent is responsible for payment at the private school 650 |
|---|
| 971 | 971 | | Page 27 of 114 |
|---|
| 972 | 972 | | 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 |
|---|
| 973 | 973 | | |
|---|
| 974 | 974 | | |
|---|
| 975 | 975 | | |
|---|
| 976 | 976 | | before using empowerment account funds for additional authorized 651 |
|---|
| 977 | 977 | | uses under paragraph (4)(a). A parent is responsible for all 652 |
|---|
| 978 | 978 | | eligible expenses in excess of the amount of the scholarship. 653 |
|---|
| 979 | 979 | | (b) A parent who applies for program participation under 654 |
|---|
| 980 | 980 | | paragraph (3)(b) is exercising his or her parental option to 655 |
|---|
| 981 | 981 | | determine the appropriate placement or the services that best 656 |
|---|
| 982 | 982 | | meet the needs of his or her child and must: 657 |
|---|
| 983 | 983 | | 1. Apply to an eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 658 |
|---|
| 984 | 984 | | organization to participate in the program by a date set by the 659 |
|---|
| 985 | 985 | | organization. The request must be communica ted directly to the 660 |
|---|
| 986 | 986 | | organization in a manner that creates a written or electronic 661 |
|---|
| 987 | 987 | | record of the request and the date of receipt of the request. 662 |
|---|
| 988 | 988 | | 2. Sign an agreement with the organization and annually 663 |
|---|
| 989 | 989 | | submit a sworn compliance statement to the organizatio n to 664 |
|---|
| 990 | 990 | | satisfy or maintain program eligibility, including eligibility 665 |
|---|
| 991 | 991 | | to receive and spend program payments by: 666 |
|---|
| 992 | 992 | | a. Affirming that the student is enrolled in a program 667 |
|---|
| 993 | 993 | | that meets regular school attendance requirements as provided in 668 |
|---|
| 994 | 994 | | s. 1003.01(13)(b), (c), or (d). 669 |
|---|
| 995 | 995 | | b. Affirming that the program funds are used only for 670 |
|---|
| 996 | 996 | | authorized purposes serving the student's educational needs, as 671 |
|---|
| 997 | 997 | | described in paragraph (4)(b); that any prepaid college plan or 672 |
|---|
| 998 | 998 | | college savings plan funds contributed pursuant to subparagraph 673 |
|---|
| 999 | 999 | | (4)(b)6. will not be transferred to another beneficiary while 674 |
|---|
| 1000 | 1000 | | the plan contains funds contributed pursuant to this section; 675 |
|---|
| 1008 | 1008 | | Page 28 of 114 |
|---|
| 1009 | 1009 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1010 | 1010 | | |
|---|
| 1011 | 1011 | | |
|---|
| 1012 | 1012 | | |
|---|
| 1013 | 1013 | | and that they will not receive a payment, refund, or rebate of 676 |
|---|
| 1014 | 1014 | | any funds provided under this section. 677 |
|---|
| 1015 | 1015 | | c. Affirming that the parent is responsible for all 678 |
|---|
| 1016 | 1016 | | eligible expenses in excess of the amount of the scholarship and 679 |
|---|
| 1017 | 1017 | | for the education of his or her student by, as applicable: 680 |
|---|
| 1018 | 1018 | | (I) Requiring the student to take an assessment in 681 |
|---|
| 1019 | 1019 | | accordance with paragraph (9)(c); 682 |
|---|
| 1020 | 1020 | | (II) Providing an a nnual evaluation in accordance with s. 683 |
|---|
| 1021 | 1021 | | 1002.41(1)(f); or 684 |
|---|
| 1022 | 1022 | | (III) Requiring the child to take any preassessments and 685 |
|---|
| 1023 | 1023 | | postassessments selected by the provider if the child is 4 years 686 |
|---|
| 1024 | 1024 | | of age and is enrolled in a program provided by an eligible 687 |
|---|
| 1025 | 1025 | | Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program provider. A student 688 |
|---|
| 1026 | 1026 | | with disabilities for whom the physician or psychologist who 689 |
|---|
| 1027 | 1027 | | issued the diagnosis or the IEP team determines that a 690 |
|---|
| 1028 | 1028 | | preassessment and postassessment is not appropriate is exempt 691 |
|---|
| 1029 | 1029 | | from this requirement. A part icipating provider shall report a 692 |
|---|
| 1030 | 1030 | | student's scores to the parent. 693 |
|---|
| 1031 | 1031 | | d. Affirming that the student remains in good standing 694 |
|---|
| 1032 | 1032 | | with the provider or school if those options are selected by the 695 |
|---|
| 1033 | 1033 | | parent. 696 |
|---|
| 1034 | 1034 | | e. Enrolling his or her child in a program from a 697 |
|---|
| 1035 | 1035 | | Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program provider authorized 698 |
|---|
| 1036 | 1036 | | under s. 1002.55, a school readiness provider authorized under 699 |
|---|
| 1037 | 1037 | | s. 1002.88, or an eligible private school if either option is 700 |
|---|
| 1045 | 1045 | | Page 29 of 114 |
|---|
| 1046 | 1046 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1047 | 1047 | | |
|---|
| 1048 | 1048 | | |
|---|
| 1049 | 1049 | | |
|---|
| 1050 | 1050 | | selected by the parent. 701 |
|---|
| 1051 | 1051 | | f. Renewing participation in the program each yea r. A 702 |
|---|
| 1052 | 1052 | | student whose participation in the program is not renewed may 703 |
|---|
| 1053 | 1053 | | continue to spend scholarship funds that are in his or her 704 |
|---|
| 1054 | 1054 | | account from prior years unless the account must be closed 705 |
|---|
| 1055 | 1055 | | pursuant to subparagraph (5)(b)3. Notwithstanding any changes to 706 |
|---|
| 1056 | 1056 | | the student's IEP, a student who was previously eligible for 707 |
|---|
| 1057 | 1057 | | participation in the program shall remain eligible to apply for 708 |
|---|
| 1058 | 1058 | | renewal. However, for a high -risk child to continue to 709 |
|---|
| 1059 | 1059 | | participate in the program in the school year after he or she 710 |
|---|
| 1060 | 1060 | | reaches 6 years of a ge, the child's application for renewal of 711 |
|---|
| 1061 | 1061 | | program participation must contain documentation that the child 712 |
|---|
| 1062 | 1062 | | has a disability defined in paragraph (2)(e) paragraph (2)(d) 713 |
|---|
| 1063 | 1063 | | other than high-risk status. 714 |
|---|
| 1064 | 1064 | | g. Procuring the services necessary to educate the 715 |
|---|
| 1065 | 1065 | | student. If such services include enrollment in an eligible 716 |
|---|
| 1066 | 1066 | | private school, the parent must meet with the private school's 717 |
|---|
| 1067 | 1067 | | principal or the principal's designee to review the school's 718 |
|---|
| 1068 | 1068 | | academic programs and policies, specialized services, code of 719 |
|---|
| 1069 | 1069 | | student conduct, and attendance policies before his or her 720 |
|---|
| 1070 | 1070 | | student is enrolled If a parent does not procure the necessary 721 |
|---|
| 1071 | 1071 | | educational services for the student and the student's account 722 |
|---|
| 1072 | 1072 | | has been inactive for 2 consecutive fiscal years, the student is 723 |
|---|
| 1073 | 1073 | | ineligible for additi onal scholarship payments until the 724 |
|---|
| 1074 | 1074 | | scholarship-funding organization verifies that expenditures from 725 |
|---|
| 1082 | 1082 | | Page 30 of 114 |
|---|
| 1083 | 1083 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1084 | 1084 | | |
|---|
| 1085 | 1085 | | |
|---|
| 1086 | 1086 | | |
|---|
| 1087 | 1087 | | the account have occurred . When the student receives a 726 |
|---|
| 1088 | 1088 | | scholarship, the district school board is not obligated to 727 |
|---|
| 1089 | 1089 | | provide the student with a free appropria te public education. 728 |
|---|
| 1090 | 1090 | | For purposes of s. 1003.57 and the Individuals with Disabilities 729 |
|---|
| 1091 | 1091 | | in Education Act, a participating student has only those rights 730 |
|---|
| 1092 | 1092 | | that apply to all other unilaterally parentally placed students, 731 |
|---|
| 1093 | 1093 | | except that, when requested by the parent , school district 732 |
|---|
| 1094 | 1094 | | personnel must develop an IEP or matrix level of services. 733 |
|---|
| 1095 | 1095 | | (11) OBLIGATIONS OF ELIGIBLE SCHOLARSHIP -FUNDING 734 |
|---|
| 1096 | 1096 | | ORGANIZATIONS.— 735 |
|---|
| 1097 | 1097 | | (a) An eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization 736 |
|---|
| 1098 | 1098 | | awarding scholarships to eligible students pursuant to paragraph 737 |
|---|
| 1099 | 1099 | | (3)(a): 738 |
|---|
| 1100 | 1100 | | 1. Must receive applications, determine student 739 |
|---|
| 1101 | 1101 | | eligibility, notify parents in accordance with the requirements 740 |
|---|
| 1102 | 1102 | | of this section, and provide the department with information on 741 |
|---|
| 1103 | 1103 | | the student to enable the department to determine studen t 742 |
|---|
| 1104 | 1104 | | funding in accordance with paragraph (12)(a). 743 |
|---|
| 1105 | 1105 | | 2. Shall verify the household income level of students 744 |
|---|
| 1106 | 1106 | | pursuant to subparagraph (3)(a)1. and submit the verified list 745 |
|---|
| 1107 | 1107 | | of students and related documentation to the department when 746 |
|---|
| 1108 | 1108 | | necessary. 747 |
|---|
| 1109 | 1109 | | 3. Shall award scholarships in priority order pursuant to 748 |
|---|
| 1110 | 1110 | | paragraph (3)(a). 749 |
|---|
| 1111 | 1111 | | 4. Shall establish and maintain separate empowerment 750 |
|---|
| 1119 | 1119 | | Page 31 of 114 |
|---|
| 1120 | 1120 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1121 | 1121 | | |
|---|
| 1122 | 1122 | | |
|---|
| 1123 | 1123 | | |
|---|
| 1124 | 1124 | | accounts for each eligible student. For each account, the 751 |
|---|
| 1125 | 1125 | | organization must maintain a record of accrued interest that is 752 |
|---|
| 1126 | 1126 | | retained in the student's account and available only for 753 |
|---|
| 1127 | 1127 | | authorized program expenditures. 754 |
|---|
| 1128 | 1128 | | 5. May permit eligible students to use program funds for 755 |
|---|
| 1129 | 1129 | | the purposes specified in paragraph (4)(a) by paying for the 756 |
|---|
| 1130 | 1130 | | authorized use directly, then submitting a reimbursement reque st 757 |
|---|
| 1131 | 1131 | | to the eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization. 758 |
|---|
| 1132 | 1132 | | However, an eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization 759 |
|---|
| 1133 | 1133 | | may require the use of an online platform for direct purchases 760 |
|---|
| 1134 | 1134 | | of products so long as such use does not limit a parent's choice 761 |
|---|
| 1135 | 1135 | | of curriculum or academic programs. If a parent purchases a 762 |
|---|
| 1136 | 1136 | | product identical to one offered by an organization's online 763 |
|---|
| 1137 | 1137 | | platform for a lower price, the organization shall reimburse the 764 |
|---|
| 1138 | 1138 | | parent the cost of the product. 765 |
|---|
| 1139 | 1139 | | 6. May, from eligible contributions received pursuant to 766 |
|---|
| 1140 | 1140 | | s. 1002.395(6)(l)1. s. 1002.395(6)(j)1., use an amount not to 767 |
|---|
| 1141 | 1141 | | exceed 2.5 percent of the total amount of all scholarships 768 |
|---|
| 1142 | 1142 | | funded under this section for administrative expenses associated 769 |
|---|
| 1143 | 1143 | | with performing functions under this section. An eligible 770 |
|---|
| 1144 | 1144 | | nonprofit scholarship -funding organization that has, for the 771 |
|---|
| 1145 | 1145 | | prior fiscal year, complied with the expenditure requirements of 772 |
|---|
| 1146 | 1146 | | s. 1002.395(6)(l)2., may use an amount not to exceed 3 percent. 773 |
|---|
| 1147 | 1147 | | Such administrative expense amount is considered within t he 3 774 |
|---|
| 1148 | 1148 | | percent limit on the total amount an organization may use to 775 |
|---|
| 1156 | 1156 | | Page 32 of 114 |
|---|
| 1157 | 1157 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1158 | 1158 | | |
|---|
| 1159 | 1159 | | |
|---|
| 1160 | 1160 | | |
|---|
| 1161 | 1161 | | administer scholarships under this chapter. 776 |
|---|
| 1162 | 1162 | | 7.5. Must, in a timely manner, submit any information 777 |
|---|
| 1163 | 1163 | | requested by the department relating to the scholarship under 778 |
|---|
| 1164 | 1164 | | this section. 779 |
|---|
| 1165 | 1165 | | 8.6. Must notify the department about any violation of 780 |
|---|
| 1166 | 1166 | | this section by a parent or a private school . 781 |
|---|
| 1167 | 1167 | | 9. Must document each student's eligibility for a fiscal 782 |
|---|
| 1168 | 1168 | | year before granting a scholarship for that fiscal year. A 783 |
|---|
| 1169 | 1169 | | student is ineligible for a scholarship if the st udent's account 784 |
|---|
| 1170 | 1170 | | has been inactive for 2 consecutive fiscal years. 785 |
|---|
| 1171 | 1171 | | 10. Must notify each parent that participation in the 786 |
|---|
| 1172 | 1172 | | scholarship program does not guarantee enrollment. 787 |
|---|
| 1173 | 1173 | | 11. Shall commit scholarship funds on behalf of the 788 |
|---|
| 1174 | 1174 | | student for tuition and fees for which the parent is responsible 789 |
|---|
| 1175 | 1175 | | for payment at the private school before using empowerment 790 |
|---|
| 1176 | 1176 | | account funds for additional authorized uses under paragraph (4) 791 |
|---|
| 1177 | 1177 | | (a). 792 |
|---|
| 1178 | 1178 | | (12) SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING AND PAYMENT. — 793 |
|---|
| 1179 | 1179 | | (a)1. Scholarships for students determined eligi ble 794 |
|---|
| 1180 | 1180 | | pursuant to paragraph (3)(a) may be funded once all scholarships 795 |
|---|
| 1181 | 1181 | | have been funded in accordance with s. 1002.395(6)(l)2. are 796 |
|---|
| 1182 | 1182 | | established for up to 18,000 students annually beginning in the 797 |
|---|
| 1183 | 1183 | | 2019-2020 school year. Beginning in the 2020 -2021 school year, 798 |
|---|
| 1184 | 1184 | | the maximum number of students participating in the scholarship 799 |
|---|
| 1185 | 1185 | | program under this section shall annually increase by 1.0 800 |
|---|
| 1193 | 1193 | | Page 33 of 114 |
|---|
| 1194 | 1194 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1195 | 1195 | | |
|---|
| 1196 | 1196 | | |
|---|
| 1197 | 1197 | | |
|---|
| 1198 | 1198 | | percent of the state's total full -time equivalent student 801 |
|---|
| 1199 | 1199 | | membership. An eligible student who meets any of the following 802 |
|---|
| 1200 | 1200 | | requirements shall be excluded from the maximum number of 803 |
|---|
| 1201 | 1201 | | students if the student: 804 |
|---|
| 1202 | 1202 | | a. Is a dependent child of a law enforcement officer or a 805 |
|---|
| 1203 | 1203 | | member of the United States Armed Forces, a foster child, or an 806 |
|---|
| 1204 | 1204 | | adopted child; or 807 |
|---|
| 1205 | 1205 | | b. Is determined eligible pursuant to subparagraph 808 |
|---|
| 1206 | 1206 | | (3)(a)1. or subparagraph (3)(a)2. and either spent the prior 809 |
|---|
| 1207 | 1207 | | school year in attendance at a Florida public school ; or, 810 |
|---|
| 1208 | 1208 | | beginning in the 2022 -2023 school year, is eligible to enroll in 811 |
|---|
| 1209 | 1209 | | kindergarten. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term " prior 812 |
|---|
| 1210 | 1210 | | school year in attendance" means that the student was enrolled 813 |
|---|
| 1211 | 1211 | | and reported by a school district for funding during either the 814 |
|---|
| 1212 | 1212 | | preceding October or February full -time equivalent student 815 |
|---|
| 1213 | 1213 | | membership surveys in kindergarten through grade 12, which 816 |
|---|
| 1214 | 1214 | | includes time spent in a Department of Juvenile Justice 817 |
|---|
| 1215 | 1215 | | commitment program if funded under the Florida Education Finance 818 |
|---|
| 1216 | 1216 | | Program. 819 |
|---|
| 1217 | 1217 | | 2. The scholarship amount provided to a student for any 820 |
|---|
| 1218 | 1218 | | single school year shall be for tuition and fees for an eligible 821 |
|---|
| 1219 | 1219 | | private school, not to exceed annual limits, which shall be 822 |
|---|
| 1220 | 1220 | | determined in accordance with this subparagraph. The calculated 823 |
|---|
| 1221 | 1221 | | scholarship amount for a participating student determined 824 |
|---|
| 1222 | 1222 | | eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(a) shall be based upon the 825 |
|---|
| 1230 | 1230 | | Page 34 of 114 |
|---|
| 1231 | 1231 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1232 | 1232 | | |
|---|
| 1233 | 1233 | | |
|---|
| 1234 | 1234 | | |
|---|
| 1235 | 1235 | | grade level and scho ol district in which the student was 826 |
|---|
| 1236 | 1236 | | assigned as 100 percent of the funds per unweighted full -time 827 |
|---|
| 1237 | 1237 | | equivalent in the Florida Education Finance Program for a 828 |
|---|
| 1238 | 1238 | | student in the basic program established pursuant to s. 829 |
|---|
| 1239 | 1239 | | 1011.62(1)(c)1., plus a per -full-time equivalent share of funds 830 |
|---|
| 1240 | 1240 | | for all categorical programs, except for the exceptional student 831 |
|---|
| 1241 | 1241 | | education guaranteed allocation established pursuant to s. 832 |
|---|
| 1242 | 1242 | | 1011.62(1)(e). 833 |
|---|
| 1243 | 1243 | | 3. The amount of the scholarship shall be the calculated 834 |
|---|
| 1244 | 1244 | | amount or the amount of the private s chool's tuition and fees, 835 |
|---|
| 1245 | 1245 | | whichever is less. The amount of any assessment fee required by 836 |
|---|
| 1246 | 1246 | | the participating private school and any costs to provide a 837 |
|---|
| 1247 | 1247 | | digital device, including Internet access, if necessary, to the 838 |
|---|
| 1248 | 1248 | | student may be paid from the total amount of the scholarship. 839 |
|---|
| 1249 | 1249 | | 2.4. A scholarship of $750 or an amount equal to the 840 |
|---|
| 1250 | 1250 | | school district expenditure per student riding a school bus, as 841 |
|---|
| 1251 | 1251 | | determined by the department, whichever is greater, may be 842 |
|---|
| 1252 | 1252 | | awarded to an eligible a student who is determined eligible 843 |
|---|
| 1253 | 1253 | | pursuant to subparagraph (3)(a)1. or subparagraph (3)(a)2. and 844 |
|---|
| 1254 | 1254 | | enrolled in a Florida public school that is different from the 845 |
|---|
| 1255 | 1255 | | school to which the student was assigned or in a lab school as 846 |
|---|
| 1256 | 1256 | | defined in s. 1002.32 if the school district does not provide 847 |
|---|
| 1257 | 1257 | | the student with transportation to the school. 848 |
|---|
| 1258 | 1258 | | 3.5. The organization must provide the department with the 849 |
|---|
| 1259 | 1259 | | documentation necessary to verify the student's participation. 850 |
|---|
| 1267 | 1267 | | Page 35 of 114 |
|---|
| 1268 | 1268 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1269 | 1269 | | |
|---|
| 1270 | 1270 | | |
|---|
| 1271 | 1271 | | |
|---|
| 1272 | 1272 | | Upon receiving the documentation, the department shall transfer, 851 |
|---|
| 1273 | 1273 | | beginning August 1, from state funds only, the amount calculated 852 |
|---|
| 1274 | 1274 | | pursuant to subparagraph 2. to the organization for quarterly 853 |
|---|
| 1275 | 1275 | | disbursement to parents of participating students each school 854 |
|---|
| 1276 | 1276 | | year in which the scholarship is in force. For a student exiting 855 |
|---|
| 1277 | 1277 | | a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program who chooses 856 |
|---|
| 1278 | 1278 | | to participate in the scholarship program, the amount of the 857 |
|---|
| 1279 | 1279 | | Family Empowerment Scholarship calculated pursuant to 858 |
|---|
| 1280 | 1280 | | subparagraph 2. must be transferred from the school district in 859 |
|---|
| 1281 | 1281 | | which the student last attended a publ ic school before 860 |
|---|
| 1282 | 1282 | | commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice. When a student 861 |
|---|
| 1283 | 1283 | | enters the scholarship program, the organization must receive 862 |
|---|
| 1284 | 1284 | | all documentation required for the student's participation, 863 |
|---|
| 1285 | 1285 | | including the private school's and the student's fee schedules, 864 |
|---|
| 1286 | 1286 | | at least 30 days before the first quarterly scholarship payment 865 |
|---|
| 1287 | 1287 | | is made for the student. 866 |
|---|
| 1288 | 1288 | | 4.6. The initial payment shall be made after the 867 |
|---|
| 1289 | 1289 | | organization's verification of admission acceptance, and 868 |
|---|
| 1290 | 1290 | | subsequent payments shall be made upon verifica tion of continued 869 |
|---|
| 1291 | 1291 | | enrollment and attendance at the private school. Payment must be 870 |
|---|
| 1292 | 1292 | | by individual warrant made payable to the student's parent or by 871 |
|---|
| 1293 | 1293 | | funds transfer or any other means of payment that the department 872 |
|---|
| 1294 | 1294 | | deems to be commercially viable or cost -effective. If the 873 |
|---|
| 1295 | 1295 | | payment is made by warrant, the warrant must be delivered by the 874 |
|---|
| 1296 | 1296 | | organization to the private school of the parent's choice, and 875 |
|---|
| 1304 | 1304 | | Page 36 of 114 |
|---|
| 1305 | 1305 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1306 | 1306 | | |
|---|
| 1307 | 1307 | | |
|---|
| 1308 | 1308 | | |
|---|
| 1309 | 1309 | | the parent shall restrictively endorse the warrant to the 876 |
|---|
| 1310 | 1310 | | private school. An organization shall ensure that the p arent to 877 |
|---|
| 1311 | 1311 | | whom the warrant is made has restrictively endorsed the warrant 878 |
|---|
| 1312 | 1312 | | to the private school for deposit into the account of the 879 |
|---|
| 1313 | 1313 | | private school or that the parent has approved a funds transfer 880 |
|---|
| 1314 | 1314 | | before any scholarship funds are deposited. 881 |
|---|
| 1315 | 1315 | | 5. An organization may not transfer any funds to an 882 |
|---|
| 1316 | 1316 | | account of a student determined eligible pursuant to paragraph 883 |
|---|
| 1317 | 1317 | | (3)(a) which has a balance in excess of $24,000. 884 |
|---|
| 1318 | 1318 | | (b)1. Scholarships for students determined eligible 885 |
|---|
| 1319 | 1319 | | pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) are established for up t o 26,500 886 |
|---|
| 1320 | 1320 | | students annually beginning in the 2022 -2023 school year. 887 |
|---|
| 1321 | 1321 | | Beginning in the 2023 -2024 school year, the maximum number of 888 |
|---|
| 1322 | 1322 | | students participating in the scholarship program under this 889 |
|---|
| 1323 | 1323 | | section shall annually increase by 3.0 1.0 percent of the 890 |
|---|
| 1324 | 1324 | | state's total exceptional student education full -time equivalent 891 |
|---|
| 1325 | 1325 | | student membership, not including gifted students. An eligible 892 |
|---|
| 1326 | 1326 | | student who meets any of the following requirements shall be 893 |
|---|
| 1327 | 1327 | | excluded from the maximum number of students if the student: 894 |
|---|
| 1328 | 1328 | | a. Received specialized instructional services under the 895 |
|---|
| 1329 | 1329 | | Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program pursuant to s. 896 |
|---|
| 1330 | 1330 | | 1002.66 during the previous school year and the student has a 897 |
|---|
| 1331 | 1331 | | current IEP developed by the district school board in accordance 898 |
|---|
| 1332 | 1332 | | with rules of the State B oard of Education; 899 |
|---|
| 1333 | 1333 | | b. Is a dependent child of a law enforcement officer or a 900 |
|---|
| 1341 | 1341 | | Page 37 of 114 |
|---|
| 1342 | 1342 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1343 | 1343 | | |
|---|
| 1344 | 1344 | | |
|---|
| 1345 | 1345 | | |
|---|
| 1346 | 1346 | | member of the United States Armed Forces, a foster child, or an 901 |
|---|
| 1347 | 1347 | | adopted child; or 902 |
|---|
| 1348 | 1348 | | c. Spent the prior school year in attendance at a Florida 903 |
|---|
| 1349 | 1349 | | public school or the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. 904 |
|---|
| 1350 | 1350 | | For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "prior school year 905 |
|---|
| 1351 | 1351 | | in attendance" means that the student was enrolled and reported 906 |
|---|
| 1352 | 1352 | | by: 907 |
|---|
| 1353 | 1353 | | (I) A school district for funding during either the 908 |
|---|
| 1354 | 1354 | | preceding October or February full -time equivalent student 909 |
|---|
| 1355 | 1355 | | membership surveys in kindergarten through grade 12, which 910 |
|---|
| 1356 | 1356 | | includes time spent in a Department of Juvenile Justice 911 |
|---|
| 1357 | 1357 | | commitment program if funded under the Florida Education Finance 912 |
|---|
| 1358 | 1358 | | Program; 913 |
|---|
| 1359 | 1359 | | (II) The Florida School for the Deaf and the Bli nd during 914 |
|---|
| 1360 | 1360 | | the preceding October or February full -time equivalent student 915 |
|---|
| 1361 | 1361 | | membership surveys in kindergarten through grade 12; 916 |
|---|
| 1362 | 1362 | | (III) A school district for funding during the preceding 917 |
|---|
| 1363 | 1363 | | October or February full -time equivalent student membership 918 |
|---|
| 1364 | 1364 | | surveys, was at least 4 years of age when enrolled and reported, 919 |
|---|
| 1365 | 1365 | | and was eligible for services under s. 1003.21(1)(e); or 920 |
|---|
| 1366 | 1366 | | (IV) Received a John M. McKay Scholarship for Students 921 |
|---|
| 1367 | 1367 | | with Disabilities in the 2021 -2022 school year. 922 |
|---|
| 1368 | 1368 | | 2. For a student who has a Level I to Level III matrix of 923 |
|---|
| 1369 | 1369 | | services or a diagnosis by a physician or psychologist, the 924 |
|---|
| 1370 | 1370 | | calculated scholarship amount for a student participating in the 925 |
|---|
| 1378 | 1378 | | Page 38 of 114 |
|---|
| 1379 | 1379 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1380 | 1380 | | |
|---|
| 1381 | 1381 | | |
|---|
| 1382 | 1382 | | |
|---|
| 1383 | 1383 | | program must be based upon the grade level and school district 926 |
|---|
| 1384 | 1384 | | in which the student would have been enrolled as the total funds 927 |
|---|
| 1385 | 1385 | | per unweighted full-time equivalent in the Florida Education 928 |
|---|
| 1386 | 1386 | | Finance Program for a student in the basic exceptional student 929 |
|---|
| 1387 | 1387 | | education program pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(c)1. and (e)1.c., 930 |
|---|
| 1388 | 1388 | | plus a per full-time equivalent share of funds for al l 931 |
|---|
| 1389 | 1389 | | categorical programs, as funded in the General Appropriations 932 |
|---|
| 1390 | 1390 | | Act, except that for the exceptional student education 933 |
|---|
| 1391 | 1391 | | guaranteed allocation, as provided in s. 1011.62(1)(e)1.c. and 934 |
|---|
| 1392 | 1392 | | 2., the funds must be allocated based on the school district's 935 |
|---|
| 1393 | 1393 | | average exceptional student education guaranteed allocation 936 |
|---|
| 1394 | 1394 | | funds per exceptional student education full -time equivalent 937 |
|---|
| 1395 | 1395 | | student. 938 |
|---|
| 1396 | 1396 | | 3. For a student with a Level IV or Level V matrix of 939 |
|---|
| 1397 | 1397 | | services, the calculated scholarship amount must be based upon 940 |
|---|
| 1398 | 1398 | | the school district to which the student would have been 941 |
|---|
| 1399 | 1399 | | assigned as the total funds per full -time equivalent for the 942 |
|---|
| 1400 | 1400 | | Level IV or Level V exceptional student education program 943 |
|---|
| 1401 | 1401 | | pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(c)2.a. or b., plus a per -full time 944 |
|---|
| 1402 | 1402 | | equivalent share of funds for all cat egorical programs, as 945 |
|---|
| 1403 | 1403 | | funded in the General Appropriations Act. 946 |
|---|
| 1404 | 1404 | | 4. For a student who received a Gardiner Scholarship 947 |
|---|
| 1405 | 1405 | | pursuant to s. 1002.385 in the 2020 -2021 school year, the amount 948 |
|---|
| 1406 | 1406 | | shall be the greater of the amount calculated pursuant to 949 |
|---|
| 1407 | 1407 | | subparagraph 2. or the amount the student received for the 2020 -950 |
|---|
| 1415 | 1415 | | Page 39 of 114 |
|---|
| 1416 | 1416 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1417 | 1417 | | |
|---|
| 1418 | 1418 | | |
|---|
| 1419 | 1419 | | |
|---|
| 1420 | 1420 | | 2021 school year. 951 |
|---|
| 1421 | 1421 | | 5. For a student who received a John M. McKay Scholarship 952 |
|---|
| 1422 | 1422 | | pursuant to s. 1002.39 in the 2020 -2021 school year, the amount 953 |
|---|
| 1423 | 1423 | | shall be the greater of the amount calculated pursuant to 954 |
|---|
| 1424 | 1424 | | subparagraph 2. or the amount the student received for the 2020 -955 |
|---|
| 1425 | 1425 | | 2021 school year. 956 |
|---|
| 1426 | 1426 | | 6. The organization must provide the department with the 957 |
|---|
| 1427 | 1427 | | documentation necessary to verify the student's participation. 958 |
|---|
| 1428 | 1428 | | 7. Upon receiving the documentation, the department shal l 959 |
|---|
| 1429 | 1429 | | release, from state funds only, the student's scholarship funds 960 |
|---|
| 1430 | 1430 | | to the organization, to be deposited into the student's account 961 |
|---|
| 1431 | 1431 | | in four equal amounts no later than September 1, November 1, 962 |
|---|
| 1432 | 1432 | | February 1, and April 1 of each school year in which the 963 |
|---|
| 1433 | 1433 | | scholarship is in force. 964 |
|---|
| 1434 | 1434 | | 8. Accrued interest in the student's account is in 965 |
|---|
| 1435 | 1435 | | addition to, and not part of, the awarded funds. Program funds 966 |
|---|
| 1436 | 1436 | | include both the awarded funds and accrued interest. 967 |
|---|
| 1437 | 1437 | | 9. The organization may develop a system for payment of 968 |
|---|
| 1438 | 1438 | | benefits by funds transfer, including, but not limited to, debit 969 |
|---|
| 1439 | 1439 | | cards, electronic payment cards, or any other means of payment 970 |
|---|
| 1440 | 1440 | | which the department deems to be commercially viable or cost -971 |
|---|
| 1441 | 1441 | | effective. A student's scholarship award may not be reduced for 972 |
|---|
| 1442 | 1442 | | debit card or electronic payment fees. Commodities or services 973 |
|---|
| 1443 | 1443 | | related to the development of such a system must be procured by 974 |
|---|
| 1444 | 1444 | | competitive solicitation unless they are purchased from a state 975 |
|---|
| 1452 | 1452 | | Page 40 of 114 |
|---|
| 1453 | 1453 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1454 | 1454 | | |
|---|
| 1455 | 1455 | | |
|---|
| 1456 | 1456 | | |
|---|
| 1457 | 1457 | | term contract pursuant to s. 287.056. 976 |
|---|
| 1458 | 1458 | | 10. An organization may not transfer any funds to an 977 |
|---|
| 1459 | 1459 | | account of a student determined to be eligible pursuant to 978 |
|---|
| 1460 | 1460 | | paragraph (3)(b) which has a balance in excess of $50,000. 979 |
|---|
| 1461 | 1461 | | 11.10. Moneys received pursuant to this section do not 980 |
|---|
| 1462 | 1462 | | constitute taxable income to the qualified student or the parent 981 |
|---|
| 1463 | 1463 | | of the qualified student. 982 |
|---|
| 1464 | 1464 | | Section 6. Paragraphs (b) through (f), (g) through (i), 983 |
|---|
| 1465 | 1465 | | and (j) and (k) of subsection (2) of section 1002.395, Florida 984 |
|---|
| 1466 | 1466 | | Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs (c) through (g), (i) 985 |
|---|
| 1467 | 1467 | | through (k), and (o) and (p), respectively, para graphs (e) 986 |
|---|
| 1468 | 1468 | | through (f) and (g) through (q) of subsection (6) are 987 |
|---|
| 1469 | 1469 | | redesignated as paragraphs (f) through (g) and (i) through (s), 988 |
|---|
| 1470 | 1470 | | respectively, present paragraphs (e) and (g) of subsection (2), 989 |
|---|
| 1471 | 1471 | | paragraph (b) of subsection (3), subsection (4), present 990 |
|---|
| 1472 | 1472 | | paragraphs (b), (d), (f), (j), and (o) of subsection (6), 991 |
|---|
| 1473 | 1473 | | subsection (7), paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (e), (f), and (j) of 992 |
|---|
| 1474 | 1474 | | subsection (9), paragraph (b) of subsection (11), and subsection 993 |
|---|
| 1475 | 1475 | | (15) are amended, and new paragraphs (b), (h), (l), (m), and (n) 994 |
|---|
| 1476 | 1476 | | are added to subsection (2), paragraphs (e), (h), (t), (u), (v), 995 |
|---|
| 1477 | 1477 | | (w), and (x) are added to subsection (6), paragraph (k) is added 996 |
|---|
| 1478 | 1478 | | to subsection (9), and paragraphs (e) through (h) are added to 997 |
|---|
| 1479 | 1479 | | subsection (11) of that section, to read: 998 |
|---|
| 1480 | 1480 | | 1002.395 Florida Tax Credit Sc holarship Program.— 999 |
|---|
| 1481 | 1481 | | (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 1000 |
|---|
| 1489 | 1489 | | Page 41 of 114 |
|---|
| 1490 | 1490 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1491 | 1491 | | |
|---|
| 1492 | 1492 | | |
|---|
| 1493 | 1493 | | |
|---|
| 1494 | 1494 | | (b) "Choice navigator" means an individual who meets the 1001 |
|---|
| 1495 | 1495 | | requirements of sub-subparagraph (6)(d)2.h. and who provides 1002 |
|---|
| 1496 | 1496 | | consultations, at a mutually agreed upon location, on the 1003 |
|---|
| 1497 | 1497 | | selection of, application for, and enrollment in educational 1004 |
|---|
| 1498 | 1498 | | options addressing the academic needs of a student; curriculum 1005 |
|---|
| 1499 | 1499 | | selection; and advice on career and postsecondary education 1006 |
|---|
| 1500 | 1500 | | opportunities. However, nothing in this section authorizes a 1007 |
|---|
| 1501 | 1501 | | choice navigator to oversee or exercise control over the 1008 |
|---|
| 1502 | 1502 | | curricula or academic programs of a personalized education 1009 |
|---|
| 1503 | 1503 | | program. 1010 |
|---|
| 1504 | 1504 | | (f)(e) "Eligible contribution" means a monetary 1011 |
|---|
| 1505 | 1505 | | contribution from a taxpayer, subject to the restrictions 1012 |
|---|
| 1506 | 1506 | | provided in this section, to an eligible nonprofit scholarship -1013 |
|---|
| 1507 | 1507 | | funding organization pursuant to ss. 212.099, 212.1832, 1014 |
|---|
| 1508 | 1508 | | 1002.395, and 1002.40 . The taxpayer making the contribution may 1015 |
|---|
| 1509 | 1509 | | not designate a specific child as the beneficiary of the 1016 |
|---|
| 1510 | 1510 | | contribution. 1017 |
|---|
| 1511 | 1511 | | (h) "Eligible postsecondary educational institution" means 1018 |
|---|
| 1512 | 1512 | | a Florida College System institution; a state university; a 1019 |
|---|
| 1513 | 1513 | | school district technical center; a school district adult 1020 |
|---|
| 1514 | 1514 | | general education center; an independent college or university 1021 |
|---|
| 1515 | 1515 | | eligible to participate in the William L. Boyd, IV, Effective 1022 |
|---|
| 1516 | 1516 | | Access to Student Education Grant Program under s. 1009.89; or 1023 |
|---|
| 1517 | 1517 | | an accredited independent postsecondary educat ional institution, 1024 |
|---|
| 1518 | 1518 | | as defined in s. 1005.02, which is licensed to operate in this 1025 |
|---|
| 1526 | 1526 | | Page 42 of 114 |
|---|
| 1527 | 1527 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1528 | 1528 | | |
|---|
| 1529 | 1529 | | |
|---|
| 1530 | 1530 | | |
|---|
| 1531 | 1531 | | state under part III of chapter 1005 or is approved to 1026 |
|---|
| 1532 | 1532 | | participate in a reciprocity agreement as defined in s. 1027 |
|---|
| 1533 | 1533 | | 1000.35(2). 1028 |
|---|
| 1534 | 1534 | | (i)(g) "Eligible private school" means a private school, 1029 |
|---|
| 1535 | 1535 | | as defined in s. 1002.01 s. 1002.01(2), located in Florida which 1030 |
|---|
| 1536 | 1536 | | offers an education to students in any grades K -12 and that 1031 |
|---|
| 1537 | 1537 | | meets the requirements in subsection (8). 1032 |
|---|
| 1538 | 1538 | | (l) "Personalized education program" has the same meaning 1033 |
|---|
| 1539 | 1539 | | as in s. 1002.01. 1034 |
|---|
| 1540 | 1540 | | (m) "Personalized education student" means a student whose 1035 |
|---|
| 1541 | 1541 | | parent applies to an eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 1036 |
|---|
| 1542 | 1542 | | organization for participation in a personalized education 1037 |
|---|
| 1543 | 1543 | | program. 1038 |
|---|
| 1544 | 1544 | | (n) "Student learning plan" means a customized learning 1039 |
|---|
| 1545 | 1545 | | plan developed by a parent, at least annually, to guide 1040 |
|---|
| 1546 | 1546 | | instruction for his or her student and to identify the goods and 1041 |
|---|
| 1547 | 1547 | | services needed to address the academic needs of his or her 1042 |
|---|
| 1548 | 1548 | | student. 1043 |
|---|
| 1549 | 1549 | | (3) PROGRAM; INITIAL SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY. — 1044 |
|---|
| 1550 | 1550 | | (b)1. A student is eligible for a Florida tax credit 1045 |
|---|
| 1551 | 1551 | | scholarship under this section if the student is a resident of 1046 |
|---|
| 1552 | 1552 | | this state and is eligible to enroll in kindergarten through 1047 |
|---|
| 1553 | 1553 | | grade 12 in a public school in this state meets one or more of 1048 |
|---|
| 1554 | 1554 | | the following criteria: 1049 |
|---|
| 1555 | 1555 | | 1. The student is on the direct certification list or the 1050 |
|---|
| 1563 | 1563 | | Page 43 of 114 |
|---|
| 1564 | 1564 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1565 | 1565 | | |
|---|
| 1566 | 1566 | | |
|---|
| 1567 | 1567 | | |
|---|
| 1568 | 1568 | | student's household income level does not exceed 375 percent of 1051 |
|---|
| 1569 | 1569 | | the federal poverty level or an adjusted maximum percent of the 1052 |
|---|
| 1570 | 1570 | | federal poverty level authorized under s. 1002.394(3)(a)3.; or 1053 |
|---|
| 1571 | 1571 | | 2. The student is curr ently placed, or during the previous 1054 |
|---|
| 1572 | 1572 | | state fiscal year was placed, in foster care or in out -of-home 1055 |
|---|
| 1573 | 1573 | | care as defined in s. 39.01 . 1056 |
|---|
| 1574 | 1574 | | 2. Priority must be given in the following order: to 1057 |
|---|
| 1575 | 1575 | | a. A student whose household income level does not exceed 1058 |
|---|
| 1576 | 1576 | | 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who is in foster 1059 |
|---|
| 1577 | 1577 | | care or out-of-home care. 1060 |
|---|
| 1578 | 1578 | | b. A student whose household income level exceeds 185 1061 |
|---|
| 1579 | 1579 | | percent of the federal poverty level, but does not exceed 400 1062 |
|---|
| 1580 | 1580 | | percent of the federal poverty level. who initially receives a 1063 |
|---|
| 1581 | 1581 | | scholarship based on eligibility under this paragraph remains 1064 |
|---|
| 1582 | 1582 | | eligible to participate until he or she graduates from high 1065 |
|---|
| 1583 | 1583 | | school or attains the age of 21 years, whichever occurs first, 1066 |
|---|
| 1584 | 1584 | | regardless of the student's household income level. A sibling of 1067 |
|---|
| 1585 | 1585 | | a student who is participating in the scholarship program under 1068 |
|---|
| 1586 | 1586 | | this subsection is eligible for a scholarship if the student 1069 |
|---|
| 1587 | 1587 | | resides in the same household as the sibling. 1070 |
|---|
| 1588 | 1588 | | (4) SCHOLARSHIP PROHIBITIONS. —A student is not eligible 1071 |
|---|
| 1589 | 1589 | | for a scholarship while he or s he is: 1072 |
|---|
| 1590 | 1590 | | (a) Enrolled in a public school, including, but not 1073 |
|---|
| 1591 | 1591 | | limited to, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, the 1074 |
|---|
| 1592 | 1592 | | College-Preparatory Boarding Academy, a developmental research 1075 |
|---|
| 1600 | 1600 | | Page 44 of 114 |
|---|
| 1601 | 1601 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1602 | 1602 | | |
|---|
| 1603 | 1603 | | |
|---|
| 1604 | 1604 | | |
|---|
| 1605 | 1605 | | school authorized under s. 1002.32, or a charter school 1076 |
|---|
| 1606 | 1606 | | authorized under this chapter. For purposes of this paragraph, a 1077 |
|---|
| 1607 | 1607 | | 3- or 4-year-old child who receives services funded through the 1078 |
|---|
| 1608 | 1608 | | Florida Education Finance Program is considered a student 1079 |
|---|
| 1609 | 1609 | | enrolled in a public school; 1080 |
|---|
| 1610 | 1610 | | (b)(a) Enrolled in a school operating for the purpo se of 1081 |
|---|
| 1611 | 1611 | | providing educational services to youth in a Department of 1082 |
|---|
| 1612 | 1612 | | Juvenile Justice commitment program programs; 1083 |
|---|
| 1613 | 1613 | | (b) Receiving a scholarship from another eligible 1084 |
|---|
| 1614 | 1614 | | nonprofit scholarship -funding organization under this section; 1085 |
|---|
| 1615 | 1615 | | (c) Receiving any other an educational scholarship 1086 |
|---|
| 1616 | 1616 | | pursuant to this chapter; 1087 |
|---|
| 1617 | 1617 | | (d) Not having regular and direct contact with his or her 1088 |
|---|
| 1618 | 1618 | | private school teachers pursuant to s. 1002.421(1)(i) unless he 1089 |
|---|
| 1619 | 1619 | | or she is enrolled in a personalized education program; 1090 |
|---|
| 1620 | 1620 | | (e)(d) Participating in a home education program as 1091 |
|---|
| 1621 | 1621 | | defined in s. 1002.01(1); 1092 |
|---|
| 1622 | 1622 | | (f)(e) Participating in a private tutoring program 1093 |
|---|
| 1623 | 1623 | | pursuant to s. 1002.43 unless he or she is enrolled in a 1094 |
|---|
| 1624 | 1624 | | personalized education program ; or 1095 |
|---|
| 1625 | 1625 | | (g)(f) Participating in a virtual instruction pursuant t o 1096 |
|---|
| 1626 | 1626 | | s. 1002.455 school, correspondence school, or distance learning 1097 |
|---|
| 1627 | 1627 | | program that receives state funding pursuant to the student's 1098 |
|---|
| 1628 | 1628 | | participation unless the participation is limited to no more 1099 |
|---|
| 1629 | 1629 | | than two courses per school year; or 1100 |
|---|
| 1637 | 1637 | | Page 45 of 114 |
|---|
| 1638 | 1638 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1639 | 1639 | | |
|---|
| 1640 | 1640 | | |
|---|
| 1641 | 1641 | | |
|---|
| 1642 | 1642 | | (g) Enrolled in the Florida School for the Deaf and the 1101 |
|---|
| 1643 | 1643 | | Blind. 1102 |
|---|
| 1644 | 1644 | | (6) OBLIGATIONS OF ELIGIBLE NONPROFIT SCHOLARSHIP -FUNDING 1103 |
|---|
| 1645 | 1645 | | ORGANIZATIONS.—An eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 1104 |
|---|
| 1646 | 1646 | | organization: 1105 |
|---|
| 1647 | 1647 | | (b) Must comply with the following background check 1106 |
|---|
| 1648 | 1648 | | requirements: 1107 |
|---|
| 1649 | 1649 | | 1. All owners and op erators as defined in subparagraph 1108 |
|---|
| 1650 | 1650 | | (2)(k)1. (2)(i)1. are, before employment or engagement to 1109 |
|---|
| 1651 | 1651 | | provide services, subject to level 2 background screening as 1110 |
|---|
| 1652 | 1652 | | provided under chapter 435. The fingerprints for the background 1111 |
|---|
| 1653 | 1653 | | screening must be electronically submi tted to the Department of 1112 |
|---|
| 1654 | 1654 | | Law Enforcement and can be taken by an authorized law 1113 |
|---|
| 1655 | 1655 | | enforcement agency or by an employee of the eligible nonprofit 1114 |
|---|
| 1656 | 1656 | | scholarship-funding organization or a private company who is 1115 |
|---|
| 1657 | 1657 | | trained to take fingerprints. However, the complete set of 1116 |
|---|
| 1658 | 1658 | | fingerprints of an owner or operator may not be taken by the 1117 |
|---|
| 1659 | 1659 | | owner or operator. The results of the state and national 1118 |
|---|
| 1660 | 1660 | | criminal history check shall be provided to the Department of 1119 |
|---|
| 1661 | 1661 | | Education for screening under chapter 435. The cost of the 1120 |
|---|
| 1662 | 1662 | | background screening may be borne by the eligible nonprofit 1121 |
|---|
| 1663 | 1663 | | scholarship-funding organization or the owner or operator. 1122 |
|---|
| 1664 | 1664 | | 2. Every 5 years following employment or engagement to 1123 |
|---|
| 1665 | 1665 | | provide services or association with an eligible nonprofit 1124 |
|---|
| 1666 | 1666 | | scholarship-funding organization, each owner or operator must 1125 |
|---|
| 1674 | 1674 | | Page 46 of 114 |
|---|
| 1675 | 1675 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1676 | 1676 | | |
|---|
| 1677 | 1677 | | |
|---|
| 1678 | 1678 | | |
|---|
| 1679 | 1679 | | meet level 2 screening standards as described in s. 435.04, at 1126 |
|---|
| 1680 | 1680 | | which time the nonprofit scholarship -funding organization shall 1127 |
|---|
| 1681 | 1681 | | request the Department of Law Enforcement to forward the 1128 |
|---|
| 1682 | 1682 | | fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Inv estigation for level 2 1129 |
|---|
| 1683 | 1683 | | screening. If the fingerprints of an owner or operator are not 1130 |
|---|
| 1684 | 1684 | | retained by the Department of Law Enforcement under subparagraph 1131 |
|---|
| 1685 | 1685 | | 3., the owner or operator must electronically file a complete 1132 |
|---|
| 1686 | 1686 | | set of fingerprints with the Department of Law Enforcement. Upon 1133 |
|---|
| 1687 | 1687 | | submission of fingerprints for this purpose, the eligible 1134 |
|---|
| 1688 | 1688 | | nonprofit scholarship -funding organization shall request that 1135 |
|---|
| 1689 | 1689 | | the Department of Law Enforcement forward the fingerprints to 1136 |
|---|
| 1690 | 1690 | | the Federal Bureau of Investigation for level 2 scre ening, and 1137 |
|---|
| 1691 | 1691 | | the fingerprints shall be retained by the Department of Law 1138 |
|---|
| 1692 | 1692 | | Enforcement under subparagraph 3. 1139 |
|---|
| 1693 | 1693 | | 3. Fingerprints submitted to the Department of Law 1140 |
|---|
| 1694 | 1694 | | Enforcement as required by this paragraph must be retained by 1141 |
|---|
| 1695 | 1695 | | the Department of Law Enforcement in a manner approved by rule 1142 |
|---|
| 1696 | 1696 | | and entered in the statewide automated biometric identification 1143 |
|---|
| 1697 | 1697 | | system authorized by s. 943.05(2)(b). The fingerprints must 1144 |
|---|
| 1698 | 1698 | | thereafter be available for all purposes and uses authorized for 1145 |
|---|
| 1699 | 1699 | | arrest fingerprints entered in the state wide automated biometric 1146 |
|---|
| 1700 | 1700 | | identification system pursuant to s. 943.051. 1147 |
|---|
| 1701 | 1701 | | 4. The Department of Law Enforcement shall search all 1148 |
|---|
| 1702 | 1702 | | arrest fingerprints received under s. 943.051 against the 1149 |
|---|
| 1703 | 1703 | | fingerprints retained in the statewide automated biometric 1150 |
|---|
| 1711 | 1711 | | Page 47 of 114 |
|---|
| 1712 | 1712 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1713 | 1713 | | |
|---|
| 1714 | 1714 | | |
|---|
| 1715 | 1715 | | |
|---|
| 1716 | 1716 | | identification system under subparagraph 3. Any arrest record 1151 |
|---|
| 1717 | 1717 | | that is identified with an owner's or operator's fingerprints 1152 |
|---|
| 1718 | 1718 | | must be reported to the Department of Education. The Department 1153 |
|---|
| 1719 | 1719 | | of Education shall participate in this search process by paying 1154 |
|---|
| 1720 | 1720 | | an annual fee to the Department of Law Enforcement and by 1155 |
|---|
| 1721 | 1721 | | informing the Department of Law Enforcement of any change in the 1156 |
|---|
| 1722 | 1722 | | employment, engagement, or association status of the owners or 1157 |
|---|
| 1723 | 1723 | | operators whose fingerprints are retained under subparagraph 3. 1158 |
|---|
| 1724 | 1724 | | The Department of Law Enforcement shall adopt a rule setting the 1159 |
|---|
| 1725 | 1725 | | amount of the annual fee to be imposed upon the Department of 1160 |
|---|
| 1726 | 1726 | | Education for performing these services and establishing the 1161 |
|---|
| 1727 | 1727 | | procedures for the retention of owner and operator fingerprints 1162 |
|---|
| 1728 | 1728 | | and the dissemination of search results. The fee may be borne by 1163 |
|---|
| 1729 | 1729 | | the owner or operator of the nonprofit scholarship -funding 1164 |
|---|
| 1730 | 1730 | | organization. 1165 |
|---|
| 1731 | 1731 | | 5. A nonprofit scholarship -funding organization whose 1166 |
|---|
| 1732 | 1732 | | owner or operator fails the level 2 background screening is not 1167 |
|---|
| 1733 | 1733 | | eligible to provide scholarships under this section. 1168 |
|---|
| 1734 | 1734 | | 6. A nonprofit scholarship -funding organization whose 1169 |
|---|
| 1735 | 1735 | | owner or operator in the last 7 years has filed for personal 1170 |
|---|
| 1736 | 1736 | | bankruptcy or corporate bankruptcy in a corporation of which he 1171 |
|---|
| 1737 | 1737 | | or she owned more than 20 percent shall not be eligible to 1172 |
|---|
| 1738 | 1738 | | provide scholarships under this section. 1173 |
|---|
| 1739 | 1739 | | 7. In addition to the offenses listed in s. 435.04, a 1174 |
|---|
| 1740 | 1740 | | person required to undergo background screening pursuant to this 1175 |
|---|
| 1748 | 1748 | | Page 48 of 114 |
|---|
| 1749 | 1749 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1750 | 1750 | | |
|---|
| 1751 | 1751 | | |
|---|
| 1752 | 1752 | | |
|---|
| 1753 | 1753 | | part or authorizing statutes must not have an arrest awaiting 1176 |
|---|
| 1754 | 1754 | | final disposition for, must not have been found guilty of, or 1177 |
|---|
| 1755 | 1755 | | entered a plea of nolo contendere to, regardless of 1178 |
|---|
| 1756 | 1756 | | adjudication, and must not have been adjudicated delinquent, and 1179 |
|---|
| 1757 | 1757 | | the record must not have been sealed or expunged for, any of the 1180 |
|---|
| 1758 | 1758 | | following offenses or any similar offense of another 1181 |
|---|
| 1759 | 1759 | | jurisdiction: 1182 |
|---|
| 1760 | 1760 | | a. Any authorizing statutes, if the offense was a felony. 1183 |
|---|
| 1761 | 1761 | | b. This chapter, if the offense was a felony. 1184 |
|---|
| 1762 | 1762 | | c. Section 409.920, relating to Medicaid provider fraud. 1185 |
|---|
| 1763 | 1763 | | d. Section 409.9201, relating to Medica id fraud. 1186 |
|---|
| 1764 | 1764 | | e. Section 741.28, relating to domestic violence. 1187 |
|---|
| 1765 | 1765 | | f. Section 817.034, relating to fraudulent acts through 1188 |
|---|
| 1766 | 1766 | | mail, wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic, or 1189 |
|---|
| 1767 | 1767 | | photooptical systems. 1190 |
|---|
| 1768 | 1768 | | g. Section 817.234, relating to false and fraudulent 1191 |
|---|
| 1769 | 1769 | | insurance claims. 1192 |
|---|
| 1770 | 1770 | | h. Section 817.505, relating to patient brokering. 1193 |
|---|
| 1771 | 1771 | | i. Section 817.568, relating to criminal use of personal 1194 |
|---|
| 1772 | 1772 | | identification information. 1195 |
|---|
| 1773 | 1773 | | j. Section 817.60, relating to obtaining a credit card 1196 |
|---|
| 1774 | 1774 | | through fraudulent means. 1197 |
|---|
| 1775 | 1775 | | k. Section 817.61, relating to fraudulent use of credit 1198 |
|---|
| 1776 | 1776 | | cards, if the offense was a felony. 1199 |
|---|
| 1777 | 1777 | | l. Section 831.01, relating to forgery. 1200 |
|---|
| 1785 | 1785 | | Page 49 of 114 |
|---|
| 1786 | 1786 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1787 | 1787 | | |
|---|
| 1788 | 1788 | | |
|---|
| 1789 | 1789 | | |
|---|
| 1790 | 1790 | | m. Section 831.02, relating to uttering forged 1201 |
|---|
| 1791 | 1791 | | instruments. 1202 |
|---|
| 1792 | 1792 | | n. Section 831.07, relating to forging bank bills, checks, 1203 |
|---|
| 1793 | 1793 | | drafts, or promissory notes. 1204 |
|---|
| 1794 | 1794 | | o. Section 831.09, relating to uttering forged bank bills, 1205 |
|---|
| 1795 | 1795 | | checks, drafts, or promissory notes. 1206 |
|---|
| 1796 | 1796 | | p. Section 831.30, relating to fraud in obtaining 1207 |
|---|
| 1797 | 1797 | | medicinal drugs. 1208 |
|---|
| 1798 | 1798 | | q. Section 831.31, relating to the sale, manufacture, 1209 |
|---|
| 1799 | 1799 | | delivery, or possession with the intent to sell, manufacture, or 1210 |
|---|
| 1800 | 1800 | | deliver any counterfeit controlled substance, if the offense was 1211 |
|---|
| 1801 | 1801 | | a felony. 1212 |
|---|
| 1802 | 1802 | | (d)1. For the 2023-2024 school year, may fund no more than 1213 |
|---|
| 1803 | 1803 | | 20,000 scholarships for students who are enrolled pursuant to 1214 |
|---|
| 1804 | 1804 | | paragraph (7)(b). The number of scholarships funded for such 1215 |
|---|
| 1805 | 1805 | | students may increase by 40,000 in each subsequent school year. 1216 |
|---|
| 1806 | 1806 | | This subparagraph is repealed July 1, 2027. 1217 |
|---|
| 1807 | 1807 | | 2. Must establish and maintain separate empowerment 1218 |
|---|
| 1808 | 1808 | | accounts from eligible contributions for each eligible student. 1219 |
|---|
| 1809 | 1809 | | For each account, the organization must maintain a record of 1220 |
|---|
| 1810 | 1810 | | accrued interest retained in the student's account. The 1221 |
|---|
| 1811 | 1811 | | organization must verify that scholarship funds are used for 1222 |
|---|
| 1812 | 1812 | | provide scholarships, from eligible contributions, to eligi ble 1223 |
|---|
| 1813 | 1813 | | students for the cost of : 1224 |
|---|
| 1814 | 1814 | | a.1. Tuition and fees for full-time or part-time 1225 |
|---|
| 1822 | 1822 | | Page 50 of 114 |
|---|
| 1823 | 1823 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1824 | 1824 | | |
|---|
| 1825 | 1825 | | |
|---|
| 1826 | 1826 | | |
|---|
| 1827 | 1827 | | enrollment in an eligible private school .; or 1226 |
|---|
| 1828 | 1828 | | b.2. Transportation to a Florida public school in which a 1227 |
|---|
| 1829 | 1829 | | student is enrolled and that is different from the school to 1228 |
|---|
| 1830 | 1830 | | which the student was assigned or to a lab school as defined in 1229 |
|---|
| 1831 | 1831 | | s. 1002.32. 1230 |
|---|
| 1832 | 1832 | | c. Instructional materials, including digital materials 1231 |
|---|
| 1833 | 1833 | | and Internet resources. 1232 |
|---|
| 1834 | 1834 | | d. Curriculum as defined in s. 1002.394(2). 1233 |
|---|
| 1835 | 1835 | | e. Tuition and fees associated with full -time or part-time 1234 |
|---|
| 1836 | 1836 | | enrollment in a home education instructional program; an 1235 |
|---|
| 1837 | 1837 | | eligible postsecondary educational institution or a program 1236 |
|---|
| 1838 | 1838 | | offered by the postsecondary educational institution, unless the 1237 |
|---|
| 1839 | 1839 | | program is subject to s. 1009.25 or reimbursed pursuant to s. 1238 |
|---|
| 1840 | 1840 | | 1009.30; an approved preapprenticeship program as defined in s. 1239 |
|---|
| 1841 | 1841 | | 446.021(5) which is not subject to s. 1009.25 and complies with 1240 |
|---|
| 1842 | 1842 | | all applicable requirements of the Department of Education 1241 |
|---|
| 1843 | 1843 | | pursuant to chapter 1005; a private tutoring program authorized 1242 |
|---|
| 1844 | 1844 | | under s. 1002.43; a virtual program offered by a department -1243 |
|---|
| 1845 | 1845 | | approved private online provider that meets the provider 1244 |
|---|
| 1846 | 1846 | | qualifications specified in s. 1002.45(2)(a); the Florida 1245 |
|---|
| 1847 | 1847 | | Virtual School as a private paying student; or an approved 1246 |
|---|
| 1848 | 1848 | | online course offered pursuant to s. 1 003.499 or s. 1004.0961. 1247 |
|---|
| 1849 | 1849 | | f. Fees for nationally standardized, norm -referenced 1248 |
|---|
| 1850 | 1850 | | achievement tests, Advanced Placement Examinations, industry 1249 |
|---|
| 1851 | 1851 | | certification examinations, assessments related to postsecondary 1250 |
|---|
| 1859 | 1859 | | Page 51 of 114 |
|---|
| 1860 | 1860 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1861 | 1861 | | |
|---|
| 1862 | 1862 | | |
|---|
| 1863 | 1863 | | |
|---|
| 1864 | 1864 | | education, or other assessments. 1251 |
|---|
| 1865 | 1865 | | g. Contracted services provided by a public school or 1252 |
|---|
| 1866 | 1866 | | school district, including classes. A student who receives 1253 |
|---|
| 1867 | 1867 | | contracted services under this sub -subparagraph is not 1254 |
|---|
| 1868 | 1868 | | considered enrolled in a public school for eligibility purposes 1255 |
|---|
| 1869 | 1869 | | as specified in subsection (11) but ra ther attending a public 1256 |
|---|
| 1870 | 1870 | | school on a part-time basis as authorized under s. 1002.44. 1257 |
|---|
| 1871 | 1871 | | h. Tuition and fees for part -time tutoring services or 1258 |
|---|
| 1872 | 1872 | | fees for services provided by a choice navigator. Such services 1259 |
|---|
| 1873 | 1873 | | must be provided by a person who holds a valid Flor ida 1260 |
|---|
| 1874 | 1874 | | educator's certificate pursuant to s. 1012.56, a person who 1261 |
|---|
| 1875 | 1875 | | holds an adjunct teaching certificate pursuant to s. 1012.57, a 1262 |
|---|
| 1876 | 1876 | | person who has a bachelor's degree or a graduate degree in the 1263 |
|---|
| 1877 | 1877 | | subject area in which instruction is given, a person who has 1264 |
|---|
| 1878 | 1878 | | demonstrated a mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to s. 1265 |
|---|
| 1879 | 1879 | | 1012.56(5), or a person certified by a nationally or 1266 |
|---|
| 1880 | 1880 | | internationally recognized research -based training program as 1267 |
|---|
| 1881 | 1881 | | approved by the Department of Education. As used in this 1268 |
|---|
| 1882 | 1882 | | paragraph, the term "par t-time tutoring services" does not 1269 |
|---|
| 1883 | 1883 | | qualify as regular school attendance as defined in s. 1270 |
|---|
| 1884 | 1884 | | 1003.01(13)(e). 1271 |
|---|
| 1885 | 1885 | | (e) For students determined eligible pursuant to paragraph 1272 |
|---|
| 1886 | 1886 | | (7)(b), must: 1273 |
|---|
| 1887 | 1887 | | 1. Maintain a signed agreement from the parent which 1274 |
|---|
| 1888 | 1888 | | constitutes complianc e with the attendance requirements under 1275 |
|---|
| 1896 | 1896 | | Page 52 of 114 |
|---|
| 1897 | 1897 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1898 | 1898 | | |
|---|
| 1899 | 1899 | | |
|---|
| 1900 | 1900 | | |
|---|
| 1901 | 1901 | | ss. 1003.01(13) and 1003.21(1). 1276 |
|---|
| 1902 | 1902 | | 2. Receive eligible student test scores and, beginning 1277 |
|---|
| 1903 | 1903 | | with the 2027-2028 school year, by August 15, annually report 1278 |
|---|
| 1904 | 1904 | | test scores for students pursuant to paragraph (7)(b) to a state 1279 |
|---|
| 1905 | 1905 | | university pursuant to paragraph (9)(f). 1280 |
|---|
| 1906 | 1906 | | 3. Provide parents with information, guidance, and support 1281 |
|---|
| 1907 | 1907 | | to create and annually update a student learning plan for their 1282 |
|---|
| 1908 | 1908 | | student. The organization must maintain the plan and allow 1283 |
|---|
| 1909 | 1909 | | parents to electronically subm it, access, and revise the plan 1284 |
|---|
| 1910 | 1910 | | continuously. 1285 |
|---|
| 1911 | 1911 | | 4. Upon submission by the parent of an annual student 1286 |
|---|
| 1912 | 1912 | | learning plan, fund a scholarship for a student determined 1287 |
|---|
| 1913 | 1913 | | eligible. 1288 |
|---|
| 1914 | 1914 | | (g)(f) Must provide a renewal or initial scholarship to an 1289 |
|---|
| 1915 | 1915 | | eligible student on a fi rst-come, first-served basis unless the 1290 |
|---|
| 1916 | 1916 | | student qualifies for priority pursuant to paragraph (f) (e). 1291 |
|---|
| 1917 | 1917 | | (h) Each eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 1292 |
|---|
| 1918 | 1918 | | organization must refer any student eligible for a scholarship 1293 |
|---|
| 1919 | 1919 | | pursuant to this section who did not rece ive a renewal or 1294 |
|---|
| 1920 | 1920 | | initial scholarship based solely on the lack of available funds 1295 |
|---|
| 1921 | 1921 | | under this section and s. 1002.40(11)(i) to another eligible 1296 |
|---|
| 1922 | 1922 | | nonprofit scholarship -funding organization that may have funds 1297 |
|---|
| 1923 | 1923 | | available. 1298 |
|---|
| 1924 | 1924 | | (l)(j)1. May use eligible contribution s received pursuant 1299 |
|---|
| 1925 | 1925 | | to this section and ss. 212.099, 212.1832, and 1002.40 during 1300 |
|---|
| 1933 | 1933 | | Page 53 of 114 |
|---|
| 1934 | 1934 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1935 | 1935 | | |
|---|
| 1936 | 1936 | | |
|---|
| 1937 | 1937 | | |
|---|
| 1938 | 1938 | | the state fiscal year in which such contributions are collected 1301 |
|---|
| 1939 | 1939 | | for administrative expenses if the organization has operated as 1302 |
|---|
| 1940 | 1940 | | an eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization for at 1303 |
|---|
| 1941 | 1941 | | least the preceding 3 fiscal years and did not have any findings 1304 |
|---|
| 1942 | 1942 | | of material weakness or material noncompliance in its most 1305 |
|---|
| 1943 | 1943 | | recent audit under paragraph (o) or is in good standing in each 1306 |
|---|
| 1944 | 1944 | | state in which it administers a scholarship program and the 1307 |
|---|
| 1945 | 1945 | | audited financial statements for the preceding 3 fiscal years 1308 |
|---|
| 1946 | 1946 | | are free of material misstatements and going concern issues (m). 1309 |
|---|
| 1947 | 1947 | | Administrative expenses from eligible contributions may not 1310 |
|---|
| 1948 | 1948 | | exceed 3 percent of the total amount of all scholarships fund ed 1311 |
|---|
| 1949 | 1949 | | by an eligible scholarship -funding organization under this 1312 |
|---|
| 1950 | 1950 | | chapter. Such administrative expenses must be reasonable and 1313 |
|---|
| 1951 | 1951 | | necessary for the organization's management and distribution of 1314 |
|---|
| 1952 | 1952 | | scholarships funded under this chapter. Administrative expenses 1315 |
|---|
| 1953 | 1953 | | may include developing or contracting with rideshare programs or 1316 |
|---|
| 1954 | 1954 | | facilitating carpool strategies for recipients of a 1317 |
|---|
| 1955 | 1955 | | transportation scholarship. No funds authorized under this 1318 |
|---|
| 1956 | 1956 | | subparagraph shall be used for lobbying or political activity or 1319 |
|---|
| 1957 | 1957 | | expenses related to lobbying or political activity. Up to one -1320 |
|---|
| 1958 | 1958 | | third of the funds authorized for administrative expenses under 1321 |
|---|
| 1959 | 1959 | | this subparagraph may be used for expenses related to the 1322 |
|---|
| 1960 | 1960 | | recruitment of contributions from taxpayers. An eligible 1323 |
|---|
| 1961 | 1961 | | nonprofit scholarship -funding organization may not charge an 1324 |
|---|
| 1962 | 1962 | | application fee. 1325 |
|---|
| 1970 | 1970 | | Page 54 of 114 |
|---|
| 1971 | 1971 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1972 | 1972 | | |
|---|
| 1973 | 1973 | | |
|---|
| 1974 | 1974 | | |
|---|
| 1975 | 1975 | | 2. Must award expend for annual or partial -year 1326 |
|---|
| 1976 | 1976 | | scholarships an amount equal to or greater than 75 percent of 1327 |
|---|
| 1977 | 1977 | | all estimated the net eligible contributions , as defined in 1328 |
|---|
| 1978 | 1978 | | subsection (2), and all funds carried for ward from the prior 1329 |
|---|
| 1979 | 1979 | | state fiscal year remaining after administrative expenses before 1330 |
|---|
| 1980 | 1980 | | funding any scholarships to students determined eligible 1331 |
|---|
| 1981 | 1981 | | pursuant to s. 1002.394(3)(a) during the state fiscal year in 1332 |
|---|
| 1982 | 1982 | | which such contributions are collected . No more than 25 percent 1333 |
|---|
| 1983 | 1983 | | of such net eligible contributions may be carried forward to the 1334 |
|---|
| 1984 | 1984 | | following state fiscal year. All amounts carried forward, for 1335 |
|---|
| 1985 | 1985 | | audit purposes, must be specifically identified for particular 1336 |
|---|
| 1986 | 1986 | | students, by student name and the name of the school t o which 1337 |
|---|
| 1987 | 1987 | | the student is admitted, subject to the requirements of ss. 1338 |
|---|
| 1988 | 1988 | | 1002.22 and 1002.221 and 20 U.S.C. s. 1232g, and the applicable 1339 |
|---|
| 1989 | 1989 | | rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto. Any amounts 1340 |
|---|
| 1990 | 1990 | | carried forward shall be expended for annual or partial -year 1341 |
|---|
| 1991 | 1991 | | scholarships in the following state fiscal year. No later than 1342 |
|---|
| 1992 | 1992 | | September 30 of each year, net eligible contributions remaining 1343 |
|---|
| 1993 | 1993 | | on June 30 of each year that are in excess of the 25 percent 1344 |
|---|
| 1994 | 1994 | | that may be carried forward shall be used to provide 1345 |
|---|
| 1995 | 1995 | | scholarships to eligible students or transferred to other 1346 |
|---|
| 1996 | 1996 | | eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organizations to provide 1347 |
|---|
| 1997 | 1997 | | scholarships for eligible students. All transferred funds must 1348 |
|---|
| 1998 | 1998 | | be deposited by each eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 1349 |
|---|
| 1999 | 1999 | | organization receiving such fu nds into its scholarship account. 1350 |
|---|
| 2007 | 2007 | | Page 55 of 114 |
|---|
| 2008 | 2008 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2009 | 2009 | | |
|---|
| 2010 | 2010 | | |
|---|
| 2011 | 2011 | | |
|---|
| 2012 | 2012 | | All transferred amounts received by any eligible nonprofit 1351 |
|---|
| 2013 | 2013 | | scholarship-funding organization must be separately disclosed in 1352 |
|---|
| 2014 | 2014 | | the annual financial audit required under paragraph (o) (m). 1353 |
|---|
| 2015 | 2015 | | 3. Must, before granting a scholars hip for an academic 1354 |
|---|
| 2016 | 2016 | | year, document each scholarship student's eligibility for that 1355 |
|---|
| 2017 | 2017 | | academic year. A scholarship -funding organization may not grant 1356 |
|---|
| 2018 | 2018 | | multiyear scholarships in one approval process. 1357 |
|---|
| 2019 | 2019 | | (q)(o)1.a. Must participate in the joint development of 1358 |
|---|
| 2020 | 2020 | | agreed-upon procedures during the 2009 -2010 state fiscal year. 1359 |
|---|
| 2021 | 2021 | | The agreed-upon procedures must uniformly apply to all private 1360 |
|---|
| 2022 | 2022 | | schools and must determine, at a minimum, whether the private 1361 |
|---|
| 2023 | 2023 | | school has been verified as eligible by the Department of 1362 |
|---|
| 2024 | 2024 | | Education under s. 1002.421; has an adequate accounting system, 1363 |
|---|
| 2025 | 2025 | | system of financial controls, and process for deposit and 1364 |
|---|
| 2026 | 2026 | | classification of scholarship funds; and has properly expended 1365 |
|---|
| 2027 | 2027 | | scholarship funds for education -related expenses. During the 1366 |
|---|
| 2028 | 2028 | | development of the proc edures, the participating scholarship -1367 |
|---|
| 2029 | 2029 | | funding organizations shall specify guidelines governing the 1368 |
|---|
| 2030 | 2030 | | materiality of exceptions that may be found during the 1369 |
|---|
| 2031 | 2031 | | accountant's performance of the procedures. The procedures and 1370 |
|---|
| 2032 | 2032 | | guidelines shall be provided to private schools and the 1371 |
|---|
| 2033 | 2033 | | Commissioner of Education by March 15, 2011. 1372 |
|---|
| 2034 | 2034 | | b. Must participate in a joint review of the agreed -upon 1373 |
|---|
| 2035 | 2035 | | procedures and guidelines developed under sub -subparagraph a., 1374 |
|---|
| 2036 | 2036 | | by February of each biennium, if the scholarship -funding 1375 |
|---|
| 2044 | 2044 | | Page 56 of 114 |
|---|
| 2045 | 2045 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2046 | 2046 | | |
|---|
| 2047 | 2047 | | |
|---|
| 2048 | 2048 | | |
|---|
| 2049 | 2049 | | organization provided more than $250,000 in scholarship funds to 1376 |
|---|
| 2050 | 2050 | | an eligible private school under this chapter during the state 1377 |
|---|
| 2051 | 2051 | | fiscal year preceding the biennial review. If the procedures and 1378 |
|---|
| 2052 | 2052 | | guidelines are revised, the revisions must be provided to 1379 |
|---|
| 2053 | 2053 | | private schools and the Commissioner of Education by March 15 of 1380 |
|---|
| 2054 | 2054 | | the year in which the revisions were completed. The revised 1381 |
|---|
| 2055 | 2055 | | agreed-upon procedures and guidelines shall take effect the 1382 |
|---|
| 2056 | 2056 | | subsequent school year. For the 2018-2019 school year only, the 1383 |
|---|
| 2057 | 2057 | | joint review of the agreed -upon procedures must be completed and 1384 |
|---|
| 2058 | 2058 | | the revisions submitted to the commissioner no later than 1385 |
|---|
| 2059 | 2059 | | September 15, 2018. The revised procedures are applicable to the 1386 |
|---|
| 2060 | 2060 | | 2018-2019 school year. 1387 |
|---|
| 2061 | 2061 | | c. Must monitor the compliance of a private school with s. 1388 |
|---|
| 2062 | 2062 | | 1002.421(1)(q) if the scholarship -funding organization provided 1389 |
|---|
| 2063 | 2063 | | the majority of the scholarship funding to the school. For each 1390 |
|---|
| 2064 | 2064 | | private school subject to s. 1002.421(1)(q), the appropriate 1391 |
|---|
| 2065 | 2065 | | scholarship-funding organization shall annually notify the 1392 |
|---|
| 2066 | 2066 | | Commissioner of Education by October 30 of: 1393 |
|---|
| 2067 | 2067 | | (I) A private school's failure to submit a report required 1394 |
|---|
| 2068 | 2068 | | under s. 1002.421(1)(q); or 1395 |
|---|
| 2069 | 2069 | | (II) Any material exceptions set forth in the report 1396 |
|---|
| 2070 | 2070 | | required under s. 1002.421(1)(q). 1397 |
|---|
| 2071 | 2071 | | 2. Must seek input from the accrediting association s that 1398 |
|---|
| 2072 | 2072 | | are members of the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic 1399 |
|---|
| 2073 | 2073 | | Schools and the Department of Education when jointly developing 1400 |
|---|
| 2081 | 2081 | | Page 57 of 114 |
|---|
| 2082 | 2082 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2083 | 2083 | | |
|---|
| 2084 | 2084 | | |
|---|
| 2085 | 2085 | | |
|---|
| 2086 | 2086 | | the agreed-upon procedures and guidelines under sub -subparagraph 1401 |
|---|
| 2087 | 2087 | | 1.a. and conducting a review of those procedures and guidel ines 1402 |
|---|
| 2088 | 2088 | | under sub-subparagraph 1.b. 1403 |
|---|
| 2089 | 2089 | | (t) Must participate in the joint development of agreed -1404 |
|---|
| 2090 | 2090 | | upon purchasing guidelines for authorized uses of scholarship 1405 |
|---|
| 2091 | 2091 | | funds under this chapter. By December 31, 2023, and by each 1406 |
|---|
| 2092 | 2092 | | December 31 thereafter, the purchasing guid elines must be 1407 |
|---|
| 2093 | 2093 | | provided to the Commissioner of Education and published on the 1408 |
|---|
| 2094 | 2094 | | eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization's website. 1409 |
|---|
| 2095 | 2095 | | Published purchasing guidelines shall remain in effect until 1410 |
|---|
| 2096 | 2096 | | there is unanimous agreement to revise the guidelines and the 1411 |
|---|
| 2097 | 2097 | | revisions must be provided to the commissioner and published on 1412 |
|---|
| 2098 | 2098 | | the organization's website within 30 days after such revisions. 1413 |
|---|
| 2099 | 2099 | | (u) May permit eligible students to use program funds for 1414 |
|---|
| 2100 | 2100 | | the purposes specified in paragraph (d) by paying for the 1415 |
|---|
| 2101 | 2101 | | authorized use directly, then submitting a reimbursement request 1416 |
|---|
| 2102 | 2102 | | to the eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization. 1417 |
|---|
| 2103 | 2103 | | However, an eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization 1418 |
|---|
| 2104 | 2104 | | may require the use of an online platform for direct purchases 1419 |
|---|
| 2105 | 2105 | | of products so long as such use does not limit a parent's choice 1420 |
|---|
| 2106 | 2106 | | of curriculum or academic programs. If a parent purchases a 1421 |
|---|
| 2107 | 2107 | | product identical to one offered by an organization's online 1422 |
|---|
| 2108 | 2108 | | platform for a lower price, the organization shall reimburse the 1423 |
|---|
| 2109 | 2109 | | parent the cost of the product. 1424 |
|---|
| 2110 | 2110 | | (v) Must notify each parent that participation in the 1425 |
|---|
| 2118 | 2118 | | Page 58 of 114 |
|---|
| 2119 | 2119 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2120 | 2120 | | |
|---|
| 2121 | 2121 | | |
|---|
| 2122 | 2122 | | |
|---|
| 2123 | 2123 | | scholarship program does not guarantee enrollment. 1426 |
|---|
| 2124 | 2124 | | (w) Shall commit scholarship funds on behalf of the 1427 |
|---|
| 2125 | 2125 | | student for tuition and fees for which the parent is responsible 1428 |
|---|
| 2126 | 2126 | | for payment at the private school before using empowerment 1429 |
|---|
| 2127 | 2127 | | account funds for additional authorized uses under paragraph 1430 |
|---|
| 2128 | 2128 | | (d). 1431 |
|---|
| 2129 | 2129 | | (x) Beginning September 30, 2023, must submit to the 1432 |
|---|
| 2130 | 2130 | | department quarterly reports that provide the estimated and 1433 |
|---|
| 2131 | 2131 | | actual amounts of the n et eligible contributions, as defined in 1434 |
|---|
| 2132 | 2132 | | subsection (2), and all funds carried forward from the prior 1435 |
|---|
| 2133 | 2133 | | state fiscal year. 1436 |
|---|
| 2134 | 2134 | | 1437 |
|---|
| 2135 | 2135 | | Information and documentation provided to the Department of 1438 |
|---|
| 2136 | 2136 | | Education and the Auditor General relating to the identity of a 1439 |
|---|
| 2137 | 2137 | | taxpayer that provides an eligible contribution under this 1440 |
|---|
| 2138 | 2138 | | section shall remain confidential at all times in accordance 1441 |
|---|
| 2139 | 2139 | | with s. 213.053. 1442 |
|---|
| 2140 | 2140 | | (7) PARENT AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PROGRAM 1443 |
|---|
| 2141 | 2141 | | PARTICIPATION.— 1444 |
|---|
| 2142 | 2142 | | (a) A parent whose student will be enrolled full time in a 1445 |
|---|
| 2143 | 2143 | | private school must: 1446 |
|---|
| 2144 | 2144 | | 1. The parent must Select an eligible private school and 1447 |
|---|
| 2145 | 2145 | | apply for the admission of his or her child. 1448 |
|---|
| 2146 | 2146 | | 2.(b) The parent must Inform the child's school district 1449 |
|---|
| 2147 | 2147 | | when the parent withdraws his or her child to attend an eligible 1450 |
|---|
| 2155 | 2155 | | Page 59 of 114 |
|---|
| 2156 | 2156 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2157 | 2157 | | |
|---|
| 2158 | 2158 | | |
|---|
| 2159 | 2159 | | |
|---|
| 2160 | 2160 | | private school. 1451 |
|---|
| 2161 | 2161 | | 3.(c) Require his or her any student participating in the 1452 |
|---|
| 2162 | 2162 | | scholarship program to must remain in attendance throughout the 1453 |
|---|
| 2163 | 2163 | | school year unless excused by the school for illness or other 1454 |
|---|
| 2164 | 2164 | | good cause and. 1455 |
|---|
| 2165 | 2165 | | (d) Each parent and each student has an obligation to the 1456 |
|---|
| 2166 | 2166 | | private school to comply with the private school's published 1457 |
|---|
| 2167 | 2167 | | policies. 1458 |
|---|
| 2168 | 2168 | | 4. Meet with the private school's principal or the 1459 |
|---|
| 2169 | 2169 | | principal's designee to review the school's academic programs 1460 |
|---|
| 2170 | 2170 | | and policies, specialized services, code of stud ent conduct, and 1461 |
|---|
| 2171 | 2171 | | attendance policies before enrollment in the private school. 1462 |
|---|
| 2172 | 2172 | | 5.(e) Require his or her The parent shall ensure that the 1463 |
|---|
| 2173 | 2173 | | student participating in the scholarship program to take takes 1464 |
|---|
| 2174 | 2174 | | the norm-referenced assessment offered by the private s chool. 1465 |
|---|
| 2175 | 2175 | | The parent may also choose to have the student participate in 1466 |
|---|
| 2176 | 2176 | | the statewide assessments pursuant to s. 1008.22. If the parent 1467 |
|---|
| 2177 | 2177 | | requests that the student participating in the scholarship 1468 |
|---|
| 2178 | 2178 | | program take statewide assessments pursuant to s. 1008.22 and 1469 |
|---|
| 2179 | 2179 | | the private school has not chosen to offer and administer the 1470 |
|---|
| 2180 | 2180 | | statewide assessments, the parent is responsible for 1471 |
|---|
| 2181 | 2181 | | transporting the student to the assessment site designated by 1472 |
|---|
| 2182 | 2182 | | the school district. 1473 |
|---|
| 2183 | 2183 | | 6.(f) Upon receipt of a scholarship warrant from the 1474 |
|---|
| 2184 | 2184 | | eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization, the parent 1475 |
|---|
| 2192 | 2192 | | Page 60 of 114 |
|---|
| 2193 | 2193 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2194 | 2194 | | |
|---|
| 2195 | 2195 | | |
|---|
| 2196 | 2196 | | |
|---|
| 2197 | 2197 | | to whom the warrant is made must restrictively endorse the 1476 |
|---|
| 2198 | 2198 | | warrant to the private school for deposit into the account of 1477 |
|---|
| 2199 | 2199 | | the private school. If payments are made by funds transfer, the 1478 |
|---|
| 2200 | 2200 | | parent must Approve each payment before the scholarship funds 1479 |
|---|
| 2201 | 2201 | | may be deposited by funds transfer. The parent may not designate 1480 |
|---|
| 2202 | 2202 | | any entity or individual associated with the participating 1481 |
|---|
| 2203 | 2203 | | private school as the parent's attorney in fact to endorse a 1482 |
|---|
| 2204 | 2204 | | scholarship warrant o r approve a funds transfer. A participant 1483 |
|---|
| 2205 | 2205 | | who fails to comply with this paragraph forfeits the 1484 |
|---|
| 2206 | 2206 | | scholarship. 1485 |
|---|
| 2207 | 2207 | | 7.(g) The parent shall Authorize the nonprofit 1486 |
|---|
| 2208 | 2208 | | scholarship-funding organization to access information needed 1487 |
|---|
| 2209 | 2209 | | for income eligibility determination and verification held by 1488 |
|---|
| 2210 | 2210 | | other state or federal agencies, including the Department of 1489 |
|---|
| 2211 | 2211 | | Revenue, the Department of Children and Families, the Department 1490 |
|---|
| 2212 | 2212 | | of Education, the Department of Economic Opportunity, and the 1491 |
|---|
| 2213 | 2213 | | Agency for Health Care Administration. 1492 |
|---|
| 2214 | 2214 | | 8. Agree to have the organization commit scholarship funds 1493 |
|---|
| 2215 | 2215 | | on behalf of his or her student for tuition and fees for which 1494 |
|---|
| 2216 | 2216 | | the parent is responsible for payment at the private school 1495 |
|---|
| 2217 | 2217 | | before using empowerment account funds for additional authorized 1496 |
|---|
| 2218 | 2218 | | uses under paragraph (6)(d). A parent is responsible for all 1497 |
|---|
| 2219 | 2219 | | eligible expenses in excess of the amount of the scholarship. 1498 |
|---|
| 2220 | 2220 | | (b) A parent whose student will not be enrolled full time 1499 |
|---|
| 2221 | 2221 | | in a public or private school must: 1500 |
|---|
| 2229 | 2229 | | Page 61 of 114 |
|---|
| 2230 | 2230 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2231 | 2231 | | |
|---|
| 2232 | 2232 | | |
|---|
| 2233 | 2233 | | |
|---|
| 2234 | 2234 | | 1. Apply to an eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 1501 |
|---|
| 2235 | 2235 | | organization to participate in the program as a personalized 1502 |
|---|
| 2236 | 2236 | | education student by a date set by the organization. The request 1503 |
|---|
| 2237 | 2237 | | must be communicated directly to the organization in a manner 1504 |
|---|
| 2238 | 2238 | | that creates a written or electronic record of the request a nd 1505 |
|---|
| 2239 | 2239 | | the date of receipt of the request. 1506 |
|---|
| 2240 | 2240 | | 2. Sign an agreement with the organization and annually 1507 |
|---|
| 2241 | 2241 | | submit a sworn compliance statement to the organization to 1508 |
|---|
| 2242 | 2242 | | satisfy or maintain program eligibility, including eligibility 1509 |
|---|
| 2243 | 2243 | | to receive and spend program payments , by: 1510 |
|---|
| 2244 | 2244 | | a. Affirming that the program funds are used only for 1511 |
|---|
| 2245 | 2245 | | authorized purposes serving the student's educational needs, as 1512 |
|---|
| 2246 | 2246 | | described in paragraph (6)(d), and that they will not receive a 1513 |
|---|
| 2247 | 2247 | | payment, refund, or rebate of any funds provided under this 1514 |
|---|
| 2248 | 2248 | | section. 1515 |
|---|
| 2249 | 2249 | | b. Affirming that the parent is responsible for all 1516 |
|---|
| 2250 | 2250 | | eligible expenses in excess of the amount of the scholarship and 1517 |
|---|
| 2251 | 2251 | | for the education of his or her student. 1518 |
|---|
| 2252 | 2252 | | c. Submitting a student learning plan to the organization 1519 |
|---|
| 2253 | 2253 | | and revising the plan at least an nually before program renewal. 1520 |
|---|
| 2254 | 2254 | | d. Requiring his or her student to take a nationally norm -1521 |
|---|
| 2255 | 2255 | | referenced test identified by the Department of Education, or a 1522 |
|---|
| 2256 | 2256 | | statewide assessment under s. 1008.22, and provide assessment 1523 |
|---|
| 2257 | 2257 | | results to the organization before the student's program 1524 |
|---|
| 2258 | 2258 | | renewal. 1525 |
|---|
| 2266 | 2266 | | Page 62 of 114 |
|---|
| 2267 | 2267 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2268 | 2268 | | |
|---|
| 2269 | 2269 | | |
|---|
| 2270 | 2270 | | |
|---|
| 2271 | 2271 | | e. Renewing participation in the program each year. A 1526 |
|---|
| 2272 | 2272 | | student whose participation in the program is not renewed may 1527 |
|---|
| 2273 | 2273 | | continue to spend scholarship funds that are in his or her 1528 |
|---|
| 2274 | 2274 | | account from prior years unless the account must be closed 1529 |
|---|
| 2275 | 2275 | | pursuant to s. 1002.394(5)(a)2. 1530 |
|---|
| 2276 | 2276 | | f. Procuring the services necessary to educate the 1531 |
|---|
| 2277 | 2277 | | student. When the student receives a scholarship, the district 1532 |
|---|
| 2278 | 2278 | | school board is not obligated to provide the student with a free 1533 |
|---|
| 2279 | 2279 | | appropriate public education. 1534 |
|---|
| 2280 | 2280 | | 1535 |
|---|
| 2281 | 2281 | | An eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization may not 1536 |
|---|
| 2282 | 2282 | | further regulate, exercise control over, or require 1537 |
|---|
| 2283 | 2283 | | documentation beyond the requirements of this subsection unless 1538 |
|---|
| 2284 | 2284 | | the regulation, control, or documentation is necessary for 1539 |
|---|
| 2285 | 2285 | | participation in the pr ogram. 1540 |
|---|
| 2286 | 2286 | | (9) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OBLIGATIONS. —The Department of 1541 |
|---|
| 2287 | 2287 | | Education shall: 1542 |
|---|
| 2288 | 2288 | | (a) Annually submit to the department and division, by 1543 |
|---|
| 2289 | 2289 | | March 15, a list of eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 1544 |
|---|
| 2290 | 2290 | | organizations that meet the requirements of paragraph (2)(g) 1545 |
|---|
| 2291 | 2291 | | (2)(f). 1546 |
|---|
| 2292 | 2292 | | (b) Annually verify the eligibility of nonprofit 1547 |
|---|
| 2293 | 2293 | | scholarship-funding organizations that meet the requirements of 1548 |
|---|
| 2294 | 2294 | | paragraph (2)(g) (2)(f). 1549 |
|---|
| 2295 | 2295 | | (c) Annually verify the eligibility of expenditures as 1550 |
|---|
| 2303 | 2303 | | Page 63 of 114 |
|---|
| 2304 | 2304 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2305 | 2305 | | |
|---|
| 2306 | 2306 | | |
|---|
| 2307 | 2307 | | |
|---|
| 2308 | 2308 | | provided in paragraph (6)(d) using the audit required by 1551 |
|---|
| 2309 | 2309 | | paragraph (6)(o) (6)(m). 1552 |
|---|
| 2310 | 2310 | | (e) Maintain and annually publish a list of nationally 1553 |
|---|
| 2311 | 2311 | | norm-referenced tests identified for purposes of satisfying the 1554 |
|---|
| 2312 | 2312 | | testing requirement in subparagraph (8)(b)1. The tests must meet 1555 |
|---|
| 2313 | 2313 | | industry standards of quality in accordance with State Board of 1556 |
|---|
| 2314 | 2314 | | Education rule. 1557 |
|---|
| 2315 | 2315 | | (f) Issue a project gra nt award to a state university, to 1558 |
|---|
| 2316 | 2316 | | which participating private schools and eligible nonprofit 1559 |
|---|
| 2317 | 2317 | | scholarship-funding organizations must report the scores of 1560 |
|---|
| 2318 | 2318 | | participating students on the nationally norm -referenced tests 1561 |
|---|
| 2319 | 2319 | | or the statewide assessments administer ed by the private school 1562 |
|---|
| 2320 | 2320 | | in grades 3 through 10. The project term is 2 years, and the 1563 |
|---|
| 2321 | 2321 | | amount of the project is up to $250,000 per year. The project 1564 |
|---|
| 2322 | 2322 | | grant award must be reissued in 2 -year intervals in accordance 1565 |
|---|
| 2323 | 2323 | | with this paragraph. 1566 |
|---|
| 2324 | 2324 | | 1. The state universit y must annually report to the 1567 |
|---|
| 2325 | 2325 | | Department of Education on the student performance of 1568 |
|---|
| 2326 | 2326 | | participating students and, beginning with the 2027 -2028 school 1569 |
|---|
| 2327 | 2327 | | year, on the performance of personalized education students : 1570 |
|---|
| 2328 | 2328 | | a. On a statewide basis. The report shall als o include, to 1571 |
|---|
| 2329 | 2329 | | the extent possible, a comparison of scholarship students' 1572 |
|---|
| 2330 | 2330 | | performance to the statewide student performance of public 1573 |
|---|
| 2331 | 2331 | | school students with socioeconomic backgrounds similar to those 1574 |
|---|
| 2332 | 2332 | | of students participating in the scholarship program. To 1575 |
|---|
| 2340 | 2340 | | Page 64 of 114 |
|---|
| 2341 | 2341 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2342 | 2342 | | |
|---|
| 2343 | 2343 | | |
|---|
| 2344 | 2344 | | |
|---|
| 2345 | 2345 | | minimize costs and reduce time required for the state 1576 |
|---|
| 2346 | 2346 | | university's analysis and evaluation, the Department of 1577 |
|---|
| 2347 | 2347 | | Education shall coordinate with the state university to provide 1578 |
|---|
| 2348 | 2348 | | data to the state university in order to conduct analyses of 1579 |
|---|
| 2349 | 2349 | | matched students from pu blic school assessment data and 1580 |
|---|
| 2350 | 2350 | | calculate control group student performance using an agreed -upon 1581 |
|---|
| 2351 | 2351 | | methodology with the state university; and 1582 |
|---|
| 2352 | 2352 | | b. On an individual school basis for students enrolled 1583 |
|---|
| 2353 | 2353 | | full time in a private school . The annual report must inclu de 1584 |
|---|
| 2354 | 2354 | | student performance for each participating private school in 1585 |
|---|
| 2355 | 2355 | | which at least 51 percent of the total enrolled students in the 1586 |
|---|
| 2356 | 2356 | | private school participated in a scholarship program under this 1587 |
|---|
| 2357 | 2357 | | section, s. 1002.394(12)(a), or s. 1002.40 the Florida Tax 1588 |
|---|
| 2358 | 2358 | | Credit Scholarship Program in the prior school year. The report 1589 |
|---|
| 2359 | 2359 | | shall be according to each participating private school, and for 1590 |
|---|
| 2360 | 2360 | | participating students, in which there are at least 30 1591 |
|---|
| 2361 | 2361 | | participating students who have scores for tests administered. 1592 |
|---|
| 2362 | 2362 | | If the state university determines that the 30 -participating-1593 |
|---|
| 2363 | 2363 | | student cell size may be reduced without disclosing personally 1594 |
|---|
| 2364 | 2364 | | identifiable information, as described in 34 C.F.R. s. 99.12, of 1595 |
|---|
| 2365 | 2365 | | a participating student, the state university may reduce the 1596 |
|---|
| 2366 | 2366 | | participating-student cell size, but the cell size must not be 1597 |
|---|
| 2367 | 2367 | | reduced to less than 10 participating students. The department 1598 |
|---|
| 2368 | 2368 | | shall provide each private school's prior school year's student 1599 |
|---|
| 2369 | 2369 | | enrollment information to the state university no later than 1600 |
|---|
| 2377 | 2377 | | Page 65 of 114 |
|---|
| 2378 | 2378 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2379 | 2379 | | |
|---|
| 2380 | 2380 | | |
|---|
| 2381 | 2381 | | |
|---|
| 2382 | 2382 | | June 15 of each year, or as requested by the state university. 1601 |
|---|
| 2383 | 2383 | | 2. The sharing and reporting of student performance data 1602 |
|---|
| 2384 | 2384 | | under this paragraph must be in accordance with requirements of 1603 |
|---|
| 2385 | 2385 | | ss. 1002.22 and 1002.221 and 20 U.S.C. s. 1232g, the Family 1604 |
|---|
| 2386 | 2386 | | Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and the applicable rules and 1605 |
|---|
| 2387 | 2387 | | regulations issued pursuant thereto, and shall be for the sole 1606 |
|---|
| 2388 | 2388 | | purpose of creating the annual report required by subparagraph 1607 |
|---|
| 2389 | 2389 | | 1. All parties must preserve the confidentiality of such 1608 |
|---|
| 2390 | 2390 | | information as required by law. The annual report must not 1609 |
|---|
| 2391 | 2391 | | disaggregate data to a level that will identify individual 1610 |
|---|
| 2392 | 2392 | | participating schools, except as required under sub -subparagraph 1611 |
|---|
| 2393 | 2393 | | 1.b., or disclose the academic level of individual students. 1612 |
|---|
| 2394 | 2394 | | 3. The annual report required by subparagraph 1. shal l be 1613 |
|---|
| 2395 | 2395 | | published by the Department of Education on its website. 1614 |
|---|
| 2396 | 2396 | | (j) Provide a process to match the direct certification 1615 |
|---|
| 2397 | 2397 | | list with the scholarship application data submitted by any 1616 |
|---|
| 2398 | 2398 | | nonprofit scholarship -funding organization eligible to receive 1617 |
|---|
| 2399 | 2399 | | the 3-percent administrative allowance under paragraph (6)(l) 1618 |
|---|
| 2400 | 2400 | | (6)(j). 1619 |
|---|
| 2401 | 2401 | | (k) Notify each school district of the full -time 1620 |
|---|
| 2402 | 2402 | | equivalent student consensus estimate of scholarship students 1621 |
|---|
| 2403 | 2403 | | developed pursuant to s. 216.136(4)(a). 1622 |
|---|
| 2404 | 2404 | | (11) SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT AND PAYMENT. — 1623 |
|---|
| 2405 | 2405 | | (b) Payment of the scholarship by the eligible nonprofit 1624 |
|---|
| 2406 | 2406 | | scholarship-funding organization shall be by individual warrant 1625 |
|---|
| 2414 | 2414 | | Page 66 of 114 |
|---|
| 2415 | 2415 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2416 | 2416 | | |
|---|
| 2417 | 2417 | | |
|---|
| 2418 | 2418 | | |
|---|
| 2419 | 2419 | | made payable to the student's parent or by funds transfer, 1626 |
|---|
| 2420 | 2420 | | including, but not limited to, debit cards, electronic payment 1627 |
|---|
| 2421 | 2421 | | cards, or any other means of payment that the department deems 1628 |
|---|
| 2422 | 2422 | | to be commercially viable or cost-effective. If the payment is 1629 |
|---|
| 2423 | 2423 | | made by warrant, the warrant must be delivered by the eligible 1630 |
|---|
| 2424 | 2424 | | nonprofit scholarship -funding organization to the private school 1631 |
|---|
| 2425 | 2425 | | of the parent's choice, and the parent shall restrictively 1632 |
|---|
| 2426 | 2426 | | endorse the warrant to the private school. An eligible nonprofit 1633 |
|---|
| 2427 | 2427 | | scholarship-funding organization shall ensure that the parent to 1634 |
|---|
| 2428 | 2428 | | whom the warrant is made restrictively endorsed the warrant to 1635 |
|---|
| 2429 | 2429 | | the private school for deposit into the account of the private 1636 |
|---|
| 2430 | 2430 | | school or that the parent has approved a funds transfer before 1637 |
|---|
| 2431 | 2431 | | any scholarship funds are deposited. 1638 |
|---|
| 2432 | 2432 | | (e) An eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization 1639 |
|---|
| 2433 | 2433 | | may not transfer any funds to an account of a student determined 1640 |
|---|
| 2434 | 2434 | | eligible under this section which has a balance in ex cess of 1641 |
|---|
| 2435 | 2435 | | $24,000. 1642 |
|---|
| 2436 | 2436 | | (f) A scholarship awarded to an eligible student shall 1643 |
|---|
| 2437 | 2437 | | remain in force until: 1644 |
|---|
| 2438 | 2438 | | 1. The organization determines that the student is not 1645 |
|---|
| 2439 | 2439 | | eligible for program renewal; 1646 |
|---|
| 2440 | 2440 | | 2. The Commissioner of Education suspends or revokes 1647 |
|---|
| 2441 | 2441 | | program participation or use of funds; 1648 |
|---|
| 2442 | 2442 | | 3. The student's parent has forfeited participation in the 1649 |
|---|
| 2443 | 2443 | | program for failure to comply with subsection (7); 1650 |
|---|
| 2451 | 2451 | | Page 67 of 114 |
|---|
| 2452 | 2452 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2453 | 2453 | | |
|---|
| 2454 | 2454 | | |
|---|
| 2455 | 2455 | | |
|---|
| 2456 | 2456 | | 4. The student enrolls in a public school. However, if a 1651 |
|---|
| 2457 | 2457 | | student enters a Department of Juvenile Justice detention cente r 1652 |
|---|
| 2458 | 2458 | | for a period of no more than 21 days, the student is not 1653 |
|---|
| 2459 | 2459 | | considered to have returned to a public school on a full -time 1654 |
|---|
| 2460 | 2460 | | basis for that purpose; or 1655 |
|---|
| 2461 | 2461 | | 5. The student graduates from high school or attains 21 1656 |
|---|
| 2462 | 2462 | | years of age, whichever occurs first. 1657 |
|---|
| 2463 | 2463 | | (g) Reimbursements for program expenditures may continue 1658 |
|---|
| 2464 | 2464 | | until the account balance is expended or remaining funds have 1659 |
|---|
| 2465 | 2465 | | reverted to the state. 1660 |
|---|
| 2466 | 2466 | | (h) A student's scholarship account must be closed and any 1661 |
|---|
| 2467 | 2467 | | remaining funds shall revert to the state after: 1662 |
|---|
| 2468 | 2468 | | 1. Denial or revocation of program eligibility by the 1663 |
|---|
| 2469 | 2469 | | commissioner for fraud or abuse, including, but not limited to, 1664 |
|---|
| 2470 | 2470 | | the student or student's parent accepting any payment, refund, 1665 |
|---|
| 2471 | 2471 | | or rebate, in any manner, from a provider of any services 1666 |
|---|
| 2472 | 2472 | | received pursuant to paragrap h (6)(d); or 1667 |
|---|
| 2473 | 2473 | | 2. Two consecutive fiscal years in which an account has 1668 |
|---|
| 2474 | 2474 | | been inactive. 1669 |
|---|
| 2475 | 2475 | | (15) NONPROFIT SCHOLARSHIP -FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS; 1670 |
|---|
| 2476 | 2476 | | APPLICATION.—In order to participate in the scholarship program 1671 |
|---|
| 2477 | 2477 | | created under this section, a charitable organization that seeks 1672 |
|---|
| 2478 | 2478 | | to be a nonprofit scholarship -funding organization must submit 1673 |
|---|
| 2479 | 2479 | | an application for initial approval or renewal to the Office of 1674 |
|---|
| 2480 | 2480 | | Independent Education and Parental Choice . The office shall 1675 |
|---|
| 2488 | 2488 | | Page 68 of 114 |
|---|
| 2489 | 2489 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2490 | 2490 | | |
|---|
| 2491 | 2491 | | |
|---|
| 2492 | 2492 | | |
|---|
| 2493 | 2493 | | provide at least two application periods in which charitab le 1676 |
|---|
| 2494 | 2494 | | organizations may apply to participate in the program no later 1677 |
|---|
| 2495 | 2495 | | than September 1 of each year before the school year for which 1678 |
|---|
| 2496 | 2496 | | the organization intends to offer scholarships . 1679 |
|---|
| 2497 | 2497 | | (a) An application for initial approval must include: 1680 |
|---|
| 2498 | 2498 | | 1. A copy of the orga nization's incorporation documents 1681 |
|---|
| 2499 | 2499 | | and registration with the Division of Corporations of the 1682 |
|---|
| 2500 | 2500 | | Department of State. 1683 |
|---|
| 2501 | 2501 | | 2. A copy of the organization's Internal Revenue Service 1684 |
|---|
| 2502 | 2502 | | determination letter as a s. 501(c)(3) not -for-profit 1685 |
|---|
| 2503 | 2503 | | organization. 1686 |
|---|
| 2504 | 2504 | | 3. A description of the organization's financial plan that 1687 |
|---|
| 2505 | 2505 | | demonstrates sufficient funds to operate throughout the school 1688 |
|---|
| 2506 | 2506 | | year. 1689 |
|---|
| 2507 | 2507 | | 4. A description of the geographic region that the 1690 |
|---|
| 2508 | 2508 | | organization intends to serve and an analysis of the demand and 1691 |
|---|
| 2509 | 2509 | | unmet need for eligible students in that area. 1692 |
|---|
| 2510 | 2510 | | 5. The organization's organizational chart. 1693 |
|---|
| 2511 | 2511 | | 6. A description of the criteria and methodology that the 1694 |
|---|
| 2512 | 2512 | | organization will use to evaluate scholarship eligibility. 1695 |
|---|
| 2513 | 2513 | | 7. A description of the application process, including 1696 |
|---|
| 2514 | 2514 | | deadlines and any associated fees. 1697 |
|---|
| 2515 | 2515 | | 8. A description of the deadlines for attendance 1698 |
|---|
| 2516 | 2516 | | verification and scholarship payments. 1699 |
|---|
| 2517 | 2517 | | 9. A copy of the organization's policies on conflict of 1700 |
|---|
| 2525 | 2525 | | Page 69 of 114 |
|---|
| 2526 | 2526 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2527 | 2527 | | |
|---|
| 2528 | 2528 | | |
|---|
| 2529 | 2529 | | |
|---|
| 2530 | 2530 | | interest and whistleblowers. 1701 |
|---|
| 2531 | 2531 | | 10. A copy of a surety bond or letter of credit to se cure 1702 |
|---|
| 2532 | 2532 | | the faithful performance of the obligations of the eligible 1703 |
|---|
| 2533 | 2533 | | nonprofit scholarship -funding organization in accordance with 1704 |
|---|
| 2534 | 2534 | | this section in an amount equal to 25 percent of the scholarship 1705 |
|---|
| 2535 | 2535 | | funds anticipated for each school year or $100,000, whichever is 1706 |
|---|
| 2536 | 2536 | | greater. The surety bond or letter of credit must specify that 1707 |
|---|
| 2537 | 2537 | | any claim against the bond or letter of credit may be made only 1708 |
|---|
| 2538 | 2538 | | by an eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization to 1709 |
|---|
| 2539 | 2539 | | provide scholarships to and on behalf of students who would have 1710 |
|---|
| 2540 | 2540 | | had scholarships funded if it were not for the diversion of 1711 |
|---|
| 2541 | 2541 | | funds giving rise to the claim against the bond or letter of 1712 |
|---|
| 2542 | 2542 | | credit. 1713 |
|---|
| 2543 | 2543 | | (b) In addition to the information required by 1714 |
|---|
| 2544 | 2544 | | subparagraphs (a)1.-9., an application for renewal must include: 1715 |
|---|
| 2545 | 2545 | | 1. A surety bond or letter of credit to secure the 1716 |
|---|
| 2546 | 2546 | | faithful performance of the obligations of the eligible 1717 |
|---|
| 2547 | 2547 | | nonprofit scholarship -funding organization in accordance with 1718 |
|---|
| 2548 | 2548 | | this section equal to the amount of undisbursed donations held 1719 |
|---|
| 2549 | 2549 | | by the organization based on the annu al report submitted 1720 |
|---|
| 2550 | 2550 | | pursuant to paragraph (6)(o) (6)(m). The amount of the surety 1721 |
|---|
| 2551 | 2551 | | bond or letter of credit must be at least $100,000, but not more 1722 |
|---|
| 2552 | 2552 | | than $25 million. The surety bond or letter of credit must 1723 |
|---|
| 2553 | 2553 | | specify that any claim against the bond or letter of credit may 1724 |
|---|
| 2554 | 2554 | | be made only by an eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 1725 |
|---|
| 2562 | 2562 | | Page 70 of 114 |
|---|
| 2563 | 2563 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2564 | 2564 | | |
|---|
| 2565 | 2565 | | |
|---|
| 2566 | 2566 | | |
|---|
| 2567 | 2567 | | organization to provide scholarships to and on behalf of 1726 |
|---|
| 2568 | 2568 | | students who would have had scholarships funded if it were not 1727 |
|---|
| 2569 | 2569 | | for the diversion of funds giving rise to the claim against the 1728 |
|---|
| 2570 | 2570 | | bond or letter of credit. 1729 |
|---|
| 2571 | 2571 | | 2. The organization's completed Internal Revenue Service 1730 |
|---|
| 2572 | 2572 | | Form 990 submitted no later than November 30 of the year before 1731 |
|---|
| 2573 | 2573 | | the school year that the organization intends to offer the 1732 |
|---|
| 2574 | 2574 | | scholarships, notwithstanding the department's September 1 1733 |
|---|
| 2575 | 2575 | | application deadline. 1734 |
|---|
| 2576 | 2576 | | 3. A copy of the statutorily required audit to the 1735 |
|---|
| 2577 | 2577 | | Department of Education and Auditor General. 1736 |
|---|
| 2578 | 2578 | | 4. An annual report that includes: 1737 |
|---|
| 2579 | 2579 | | a. The number of students who completed applications, by 1738 |
|---|
| 2580 | 2580 | | county and by grade. 1739 |
|---|
| 2581 | 2581 | | b. The number of students who were approved for 1740 |
|---|
| 2582 | 2582 | | scholarships, by county and by grade. 1741 |
|---|
| 2583 | 2583 | | c. The number of students who received funding for 1742 |
|---|
| 2584 | 2584 | | scholarships within each funding category, by county and by 1743 |
|---|
| 2585 | 2585 | | grade. 1744 |
|---|
| 2586 | 2586 | | d. The amount of funds received, the amount of funds 1745 |
|---|
| 2587 | 2587 | | distributed in scholarships, and an accounting of remaining 1746 |
|---|
| 2588 | 2588 | | funds and the obligation of those funds. 1747 |
|---|
| 2589 | 2589 | | e. A detailed accounting of how the organization spent the 1748 |
|---|
| 2590 | 2590 | | administrative funds allowable under paragraph (6)(l) (6)(j). 1749 |
|---|
| 2591 | 2591 | | (c) In consultation with the D epartment of Revenue and the 1750 |
|---|
| 2599 | 2599 | | Page 71 of 114 |
|---|
| 2600 | 2600 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2601 | 2601 | | |
|---|
| 2602 | 2602 | | |
|---|
| 2603 | 2603 | | |
|---|
| 2604 | 2604 | | Chief Financial Officer, the Office of Independent Education and 1751 |
|---|
| 2605 | 2605 | | Parental Choice shall review the application. The Department of 1752 |
|---|
| 2606 | 2606 | | Education shall notify the organization in writing of any 1753 |
|---|
| 2607 | 2607 | | deficiencies within 30 days after receip t of the application and 1754 |
|---|
| 2608 | 2608 | | allow the organization 30 days to correct any deficiencies. 1755 |
|---|
| 2609 | 2609 | | (d) Within 30 days after receipt of the finalized 1756 |
|---|
| 2610 | 2610 | | application by the Office of Independent Education and Parental 1757 |
|---|
| 2611 | 2611 | | Choice, the Commissioner of Education shall recommend a pproval 1758 |
|---|
| 2612 | 2612 | | or disapproval of the application to the State Board of 1759 |
|---|
| 2613 | 2613 | | Education. The State Board of Education shall consider the 1760 |
|---|
| 2614 | 2614 | | application and recommendation at the next scheduled meeting, 1761 |
|---|
| 2615 | 2615 | | adhering to appropriate meeting notice requirements. If the 1762 |
|---|
| 2616 | 2616 | | State Board of Education disapproves the organization's 1763 |
|---|
| 2617 | 2617 | | application, it shall provide the organization with a written 1764 |
|---|
| 2618 | 2618 | | explanation of that determination. The State Board of 1765 |
|---|
| 2619 | 2619 | | Education's action is not subject to chapter 120. 1766 |
|---|
| 2620 | 2620 | | (e) If the State Board of Education disappr oves the 1767 |
|---|
| 2621 | 2621 | | renewal of a nonprofit scholarship -funding organization, the 1768 |
|---|
| 2622 | 2622 | | organization must notify the affected eligible students and 1769 |
|---|
| 2623 | 2623 | | parents of the decision within 15 days after disapproval. An 1770 |
|---|
| 2624 | 2624 | | eligible student affected by the disapproval of an 1771 |
|---|
| 2625 | 2625 | | organization's participation remains eligible under this section 1772 |
|---|
| 2626 | 2626 | | until the end of the school year in which the organization was 1773 |
|---|
| 2627 | 2627 | | disapproved. The student must apply and be accepted by another 1774 |
|---|
| 2628 | 2628 | | eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization for the 1775 |
|---|
| 2636 | 2636 | | Page 72 of 114 |
|---|
| 2637 | 2637 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2638 | 2638 | | |
|---|
| 2639 | 2639 | | |
|---|
| 2640 | 2640 | | |
|---|
| 2641 | 2641 | | upcoming school year. The student shall be given priority in 1776 |
|---|
| 2642 | 2642 | | accordance with paragraph (6)(g) (6)(f). 1777 |
|---|
| 2643 | 2643 | | (f) All remaining funds held by a nonprofit scholarship -1778 |
|---|
| 2644 | 2644 | | funding organization that is disapproved for participation must 1779 |
|---|
| 2645 | 2645 | | be transferred to other eligible nonprofit scholars hip-funding 1780 |
|---|
| 2646 | 2646 | | organizations to provide scholarships for eligible students. All 1781 |
|---|
| 2647 | 2647 | | transferred funds must be deposited by each eligible nonprofit 1782 |
|---|
| 2648 | 2648 | | scholarship-funding organization receiving such funds into its 1783 |
|---|
| 2649 | 2649 | | scholarship account. All transferred amounts received by any 1784 |
|---|
| 2650 | 2650 | | eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization must be 1785 |
|---|
| 2651 | 2651 | | separately disclosed in the annual financial audit required 1786 |
|---|
| 2652 | 2652 | | under subsection (6). 1787 |
|---|
| 2653 | 2653 | | (g) A nonprofit scholarship -funding organization is a 1788 |
|---|
| 2654 | 2654 | | renewing organization if it maintains continuous a pproval and 1789 |
|---|
| 2655 | 2655 | | participation in the program. An organization that chooses not 1790 |
|---|
| 2656 | 2656 | | to participate for 1 year or more or is disapproved to 1791 |
|---|
| 2657 | 2657 | | participate for 1 year or more must submit an application for 1792 |
|---|
| 2658 | 2658 | | initial approval in order to participate in the program again. 1793 |
|---|
| 2659 | 2659 | | (h) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules 1794 |
|---|
| 2660 | 2660 | | providing guidelines for receiving, reviewing, and approving 1795 |
|---|
| 2661 | 2661 | | applications for new and renewing nonprofit scholarship -funding 1796 |
|---|
| 2662 | 2662 | | organizations. The rules must include a process for compiling 1797 |
|---|
| 2663 | 2663 | | input and recommendations from the Chief Financial Officer, the 1798 |
|---|
| 2664 | 2664 | | Department of Revenue, and the Department of Education. The 1799 |
|---|
| 2665 | 2665 | | rules must also require that the nonprofit scholarship -funding 1800 |
|---|
| 2673 | 2673 | | Page 73 of 114 |
|---|
| 2674 | 2674 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2675 | 2675 | | |
|---|
| 2676 | 2676 | | |
|---|
| 2677 | 2677 | | |
|---|
| 2678 | 2678 | | organization make a brief presentation to assist the State Board 1801 |
|---|
| 2679 | 2679 | | of Education in its d ecision. 1802 |
|---|
| 2680 | 2680 | | (i) A state university; or an independent college or 1803 |
|---|
| 2681 | 2681 | | university which is eligible to participate in the William L. 1804 |
|---|
| 2682 | 2682 | | Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program, 1805 |
|---|
| 2683 | 2683 | | located and chartered in this state, is not for profit, and is 1806 |
|---|
| 2684 | 2684 | | accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern 1807 |
|---|
| 2685 | 2685 | | Association of Colleges and Schools, is exempt from the initial 1808 |
|---|
| 2686 | 2686 | | or renewal application process, but must file a registration 1809 |
|---|
| 2687 | 2687 | | notice with the Department of Education to be an eligible 1810 |
|---|
| 2688 | 2688 | | nonprofit scholarshi p-funding organization. The State Board of 1811 |
|---|
| 2689 | 2689 | | Education shall adopt rules that identify the procedure for 1812 |
|---|
| 2690 | 2690 | | filing the registration notice with the department. The rules 1813 |
|---|
| 2691 | 2691 | | must identify appropriate reporting requirements for fiscal, 1814 |
|---|
| 2692 | 2692 | | programmatic, and performance accountability purposes consistent 1815 |
|---|
| 2693 | 2693 | | with this section, but shall not exceed the requirements for 1816 |
|---|
| 2694 | 2694 | | eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organizations for 1817 |
|---|
| 2695 | 2695 | | charitable organizations. 1818 |
|---|
| 2696 | 2696 | | Section 7. Paragraphs (e) and (f) of subsection (2) and 1819 |
|---|
| 2697 | 2697 | | paragraphs (g) and (i) of subsection (11) of section 1002.40, 1820 |
|---|
| 2698 | 2698 | | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1821 |
|---|
| 2699 | 2699 | | 1002.40 The Hope Scholarship Program. — 1822 |
|---|
| 2700 | 2700 | | (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 1823 |
|---|
| 2701 | 2701 | | (e) "Eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization" 1824 |
|---|
| 2702 | 2702 | | or "organization" has the same meaning as provided in s. 1825 |
|---|
| 2710 | 2710 | | Page 74 of 114 |
|---|
| 2711 | 2711 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2712 | 2712 | | |
|---|
| 2713 | 2713 | | |
|---|
| 2714 | 2714 | | |
|---|
| 2715 | 2715 | | 1002.395(2) s. 1002.395(2)(f). 1826 |
|---|
| 2716 | 2716 | | (f) "Eligible private school" has the same meaning as 1827 |
|---|
| 2717 | 2717 | | provided in s. 1002.395(2) s. 1002.395(2)(g). 1828 |
|---|
| 2718 | 2718 | | (11) FUNDING AND PAYMENT. — 1829 |
|---|
| 2719 | 2719 | | (g) An eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 1830 |
|---|
| 2720 | 2720 | | organization, subject to the limitations of s. 1002.395(6)(l)1. 1831 |
|---|
| 2721 | 2721 | | s. 1002.395(6)(j)1., may use eligible contributions received 1832 |
|---|
| 2722 | 2722 | | during the state fiscal year in which such contributions are 1833 |
|---|
| 2723 | 2723 | | collected for administrative expenses. 1834 |
|---|
| 2724 | 2724 | | (i) Notwithstanding s. 1002.395(6)(l)2. s. 1002.395(6) 1835 |
|---|
| 2725 | 2725 | | (j)2., no more than 5 percent of net eligible contributions may 1836 |
|---|
| 2726 | 2726 | | be carried forward to the following state fiscal year by an 1837 |
|---|
| 2727 | 2727 | | eligible scholarship -funding organization. For audit purposes, 1838 |
|---|
| 2728 | 2728 | | all amounts carried forward must be specifically identified for 1839 |
|---|
| 2729 | 2729 | | individual students by student name and by the name of the 1840 |
|---|
| 2730 | 2730 | | school to which the student is admitted, subject to the 1841 |
|---|
| 2731 | 2731 | | requirements of ss. 1002.21 and 1002.22 and 20 U.S.C. s. 1232g, 1842 |
|---|
| 2732 | 2732 | | and the applicable rules and regulations issued pursuant to su ch 1843 |
|---|
| 2733 | 2733 | | requirements. Any amounts carried forward shall be expended for 1844 |
|---|
| 2734 | 2734 | | annual scholarships or partial -year scholarships in the 1845 |
|---|
| 2735 | 2735 | | following state fiscal year. Net eligible contributions 1846 |
|---|
| 2736 | 2736 | | remaining on June 30 of each year which are in excess of the 5 1847 |
|---|
| 2737 | 2737 | | percent that may be carried forward shall be transferred to 1848 |
|---|
| 2738 | 2738 | | other eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organizations 1849 |
|---|
| 2739 | 2739 | | participating in the Hope Scholarship Program to provide 1850 |
|---|
| 2747 | 2747 | | Page 75 of 114 |
|---|
| 2748 | 2748 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2749 | 2749 | | |
|---|
| 2750 | 2750 | | |
|---|
| 2751 | 2751 | | |
|---|
| 2752 | 2752 | | scholarships for eligible students. All transferred funds must 1851 |
|---|
| 2753 | 2753 | | be deposited by each eligible n onprofit scholarship -funding 1852 |
|---|
| 2754 | 2754 | | organization receiving such funds into the scholarship account 1853 |
|---|
| 2755 | 2755 | | of eligible students. All transferred amounts received by an 1854 |
|---|
| 2756 | 2756 | | eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding organization must be 1855 |
|---|
| 2757 | 2757 | | separately disclosed in the annual financia l audit requirement 1856 |
|---|
| 2758 | 2758 | | under s. 1002.395(6)(o) s. 1002.395(6)(m). If no other eligible 1857 |
|---|
| 2759 | 2759 | | nonprofit scholarship -funding organization participates in the 1858 |
|---|
| 2760 | 2760 | | Hope Scholarship Program, net eligible contributions in excess 1859 |
|---|
| 2761 | 2761 | | of the 5 percent may be used to fund scholarships for students 1860 |
|---|
| 2762 | 2762 | | eligible under s. 1002.395 only after fully exhausting all 1861 |
|---|
| 2763 | 2763 | | contributions made in support of scholarships under that section 1862 |
|---|
| 2764 | 2764 | | in accordance with the priority established in s. 1002.395(6)(f) 1863 |
|---|
| 2765 | 2765 | | before s. 1002.395(6)(e) prior to awarding any initial 1864 |
|---|
| 2766 | 2766 | | scholarships. 1865 |
|---|
| 2767 | 2767 | | Section 8. Subsection (1) and paragrap h (c) of subsection 1866 |
|---|
| 2768 | 2768 | | (3) of section 1002.421, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1867 |
|---|
| 2769 | 2769 | | 1002.421 State school choice scholarship program 1868 |
|---|
| 2770 | 2770 | | accountability and oversight. — 1869 |
|---|
| 2771 | 2771 | | (1) PRIVATE SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY AND OBLIGATIONS. —A private 1870 |
|---|
| 2772 | 2772 | | school participating in an edu cational scholarship program 1871 |
|---|
| 2773 | 2773 | | established pursuant to this chapter must be a private school as 1872 |
|---|
| 2774 | 2774 | | defined in s. 1002.01 s. 1002.01(2) in this state, be 1873 |
|---|
| 2775 | 2775 | | registered, and be in compliance with all requirements of this 1874 |
|---|
| 2776 | 2776 | | section in addition to private school require ments outlined in 1875 |
|---|
| 2784 | 2784 | | Page 76 of 114 |
|---|
| 2785 | 2785 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2786 | 2786 | | |
|---|
| 2787 | 2787 | | |
|---|
| 2788 | 2788 | | |
|---|
| 2789 | 2789 | | s. 1002.42, specific requirements identified within respective 1876 |
|---|
| 2790 | 2790 | | scholarship program laws, and other provisions of Florida law 1877 |
|---|
| 2791 | 2791 | | that apply to private schools, and must: 1878 |
|---|
| 2792 | 2792 | | (a) Comply with the antidiscrimination provisions of 42 1879 |
|---|
| 2793 | 2793 | | U.S.C. s. 2000d. 1880 |
|---|
| 2794 | 2794 | | (b) Notify the department of its intent to participate in 1881 |
|---|
| 2795 | 2795 | | a scholarship program. 1882 |
|---|
| 2796 | 2796 | | (c) Notify the department of any change in the school's 1883 |
|---|
| 2797 | 2797 | | name, school director, mailing address, or physical location 1884 |
|---|
| 2798 | 2798 | | within 15 days after the change. 1885 |
|---|
| 2799 | 2799 | | (d) Provide to the department or scholarship -funding 1886 |
|---|
| 2800 | 2800 | | organization all documentation required for a student's 1887 |
|---|
| 2801 | 2801 | | participation, including the private school's and student's 1888 |
|---|
| 2802 | 2802 | | individual fee schedule, and attendance verification as required 1889 |
|---|
| 2803 | 2803 | | by the department or scholarship -funding organization, prior to 1890 |
|---|
| 2804 | 2804 | | scholarship payment. 1891 |
|---|
| 2805 | 2805 | | (e) Annually complete and submit to the department a 1892 |
|---|
| 2806 | 2806 | | notarized scholarship compliance statement certifying that all 1893 |
|---|
| 2807 | 2807 | | school employees and contracted personnel with direct student 1894 |
|---|
| 2808 | 2808 | | contact have undergone backg round screening pursuant to s. 1895 |
|---|
| 2809 | 2809 | | 435.12 and have met the screening standards as provided in s. 1896 |
|---|
| 2810 | 2810 | | 435.04. 1897 |
|---|
| 2811 | 2811 | | (f) Demonstrate fiscal soundness and accountability by: 1898 |
|---|
| 2812 | 2812 | | 1. Being in operation for at least 3 school years or 1899 |
|---|
| 2813 | 2813 | | obtaining a surety bond or letter of credi t for the amount equal 1900 |
|---|
| 2821 | 2821 | | Page 77 of 114 |
|---|
| 2822 | 2822 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2823 | 2823 | | |
|---|
| 2824 | 2824 | | |
|---|
| 2825 | 2825 | | |
|---|
| 2826 | 2826 | | to the scholarship funds for any quarter and filing the surety 1901 |
|---|
| 2827 | 2827 | | bond or letter of credit with the department. 1902 |
|---|
| 2828 | 2828 | | 2. Requiring the parent of each scholarship student to 1903 |
|---|
| 2829 | 2829 | | personally restrictively endorse the scholarship warrant to the 1904 |
|---|
| 2830 | 2830 | | school or to approve a funds transfer before any funds are 1905 |
|---|
| 2831 | 2831 | | deposited for a student. The school may not act as attorney in 1906 |
|---|
| 2832 | 2832 | | fact for the parent of a scholarship student under the authority 1907 |
|---|
| 2833 | 2833 | | of a power of attorney executed by such parent, or under any 1908 |
|---|
| 2834 | 2834 | | other authority, to endorse a scholarship warrant or approve a 1909 |
|---|
| 2835 | 2835 | | funds transfer on behalf of such parent. 1910 |
|---|
| 2836 | 2836 | | (g) Meet applicable state and local health, safety, and 1911 |
|---|
| 2837 | 2837 | | welfare laws, codes, and rules, including: 1912 |
|---|
| 2838 | 2838 | | 1. Firesafety. 1913 |
|---|
| 2839 | 2839 | | 2. Building safety. 1914 |
|---|
| 2840 | 2840 | | (h) Employ or contrac t with teachers who hold 1915 |
|---|
| 2841 | 2841 | | baccalaureate or higher degrees, have at least 3 years of 1916 |
|---|
| 2842 | 2842 | | teaching experience in public or private schools, or have 1917 |
|---|
| 2843 | 2843 | | special skills, knowledge, or expertise that qualifies them to 1918 |
|---|
| 2844 | 2844 | | provide instruction in subjects taught. 1919 |
|---|
| 2845 | 2845 | | (i) Maintain a physical location in the state at which 1920 |
|---|
| 2846 | 2846 | | each student has regular and direct contact with teachers. 1921 |
|---|
| 2847 | 2847 | | (j) Publish on the school's website, or provide in a 1922 |
|---|
| 2848 | 2848 | | written format, information for parents regarding the school, 1923 |
|---|
| 2849 | 2849 | | including, but not limited to, pro grams, services, and the 1924 |
|---|
| 2850 | 2850 | | qualifications of classroom teachers , and a statement that a 1925 |
|---|
| 2858 | 2858 | | Page 78 of 114 |
|---|
| 2859 | 2859 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2860 | 2860 | | |
|---|
| 2861 | 2861 | | |
|---|
| 2862 | 2862 | | |
|---|
| 2863 | 2863 | | parentally placed private school student with a disability does 1926 |
|---|
| 2864 | 2864 | | not have an individual right to receive some or all of the 1927 |
|---|
| 2865 | 2865 | | special education and related services that the student would 1928 |
|---|
| 2866 | 2866 | | receive if enrolled in a public school under the Individuals 1929 |
|---|
| 2867 | 2867 | | with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as amended . 1930 |
|---|
| 2868 | 2868 | | (k) At a minimum, provide the parent of each scholarship 1931 |
|---|
| 2869 | 2869 | | student with a written explanation of the student's progress on 1932 |
|---|
| 2870 | 2870 | | a quarterly basis. 1933 |
|---|
| 2871 | 2871 | | (l) Cooperate with a student whose parent chooses to 1934 |
|---|
| 2872 | 2872 | | participate in the statewide assessments pursuant to s. 1008.22. 1935 |
|---|
| 2873 | 2873 | | (m) Require each employee and contracted personnel with 1936 |
|---|
| 2874 | 2874 | | direct student contact, upon employment or engagement to provid e 1937 |
|---|
| 2875 | 2875 | | services, to undergo a state and national background screening, 1938 |
|---|
| 2876 | 2876 | | pursuant to s. 943.0542, by electronically filing with the 1939 |
|---|
| 2877 | 2877 | | Department of Law Enforcement a complete set of fingerprints 1940 |
|---|
| 2878 | 2878 | | taken by an authorized law enforcement agency or an employee of 1941 |
|---|
| 2879 | 2879 | | the private school, a school district, or a private company who 1942 |
|---|
| 2880 | 2880 | | is trained to take fingerprints and deny employment to or 1943 |
|---|
| 2881 | 2881 | | terminate an employee if he or she fails to meet the screening 1944 |
|---|
| 2882 | 2882 | | standards under s. 435.04. Results of the screening shall be 1945 |
|---|
| 2883 | 2883 | | provided to the participating private school. For purposes of 1946 |
|---|
| 2884 | 2884 | | this paragraph: 1947 |
|---|
| 2885 | 2885 | | 1. An "employee or contracted personnel with direct 1948 |
|---|
| 2886 | 2886 | | student contact" means any employee or contracted personnel who 1949 |
|---|
| 2887 | 2887 | | has unsupervised access to a scholarship student for whom the 1950 |
|---|
| 2895 | 2895 | | Page 79 of 114 |
|---|
| 2896 | 2896 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2897 | 2897 | | |
|---|
| 2898 | 2898 | | |
|---|
| 2899 | 2899 | | |
|---|
| 2900 | 2900 | | private school is responsible. 1951 |
|---|
| 2901 | 2901 | | 2. The costs of fingerprinting and the background check 1952 |
|---|
| 2902 | 2902 | | shall not be borne by the state. 1953 |
|---|
| 2903 | 2903 | | 3. Continued employment of an employee or contracted 1954 |
|---|
| 2904 | 2904 | | personnel after notification that he or she has failed the 1955 |
|---|
| 2905 | 2905 | | background screening under this pa ragraph shall cause a private 1956 |
|---|
| 2906 | 2906 | | school to be ineligible for participation in a scholarship 1957 |
|---|
| 2907 | 2907 | | program. 1958 |
|---|
| 2908 | 2908 | | 4. An employee or contracted personnel holding a valid 1959 |
|---|
| 2909 | 2909 | | Florida teaching certificate who has been fingerprinted pursuant 1960 |
|---|
| 2910 | 2910 | | to s. 1012.32 is not required to com ply with the provisions of 1961 |
|---|
| 2911 | 2911 | | this paragraph. 1962 |
|---|
| 2912 | 2912 | | 5. All fingerprints submitted to the Department of Law 1963 |
|---|
| 2913 | 2913 | | Enforcement as required by this section shall be retained by the 1964 |
|---|
| 2914 | 2914 | | Department of Law Enforcement in a manner provided by rule and 1965 |
|---|
| 2915 | 2915 | | entered in the statewide aut omated biometric identification 1966 |
|---|
| 2916 | 2916 | | system authorized by s. 943.05(2)(b). Such fingerprints shall 1967 |
|---|
| 2917 | 2917 | | thereafter be available for all purposes and uses authorized for 1968 |
|---|
| 2918 | 2918 | | arrest fingerprints entered in the statewide automated biometric 1969 |
|---|
| 2919 | 2919 | | identification system pursuant t o s. 943.051. 1970 |
|---|
| 2920 | 2920 | | 6. The Department of Law Enforcement shall search all 1971 |
|---|
| 2921 | 2921 | | arrest fingerprints received under s. 943.051 against the 1972 |
|---|
| 2922 | 2922 | | fingerprints retained in the statewide automated biometric 1973 |
|---|
| 2923 | 2923 | | identification system under subparagraph 5. Any arrest record 1974 |
|---|
| 2924 | 2924 | | that is identified with the retained fingerprints of a person 1975 |
|---|
| 2932 | 2932 | | Page 80 of 114 |
|---|
| 2933 | 2933 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2934 | 2934 | | |
|---|
| 2935 | 2935 | | |
|---|
| 2936 | 2936 | | |
|---|
| 2937 | 2937 | | subject to the background screening under this section shall be 1976 |
|---|
| 2938 | 2938 | | reported to the employing school with which the person is 1977 |
|---|
| 2939 | 2939 | | affiliated. Each private school participating in a scholarship 1978 |
|---|
| 2940 | 2940 | | program is required to participate in this search process by 1979 |
|---|
| 2941 | 2941 | | informing the Department of Law Enforcement of any change in the 1980 |
|---|
| 2942 | 2942 | | employment or contractual status of its personnel whose 1981 |
|---|
| 2943 | 2943 | | fingerprints are retained under subparagraph 5. The Department 1982 |
|---|
| 2944 | 2944 | | of Law Enforcement shall ad opt a rule setting the amount of the 1983 |
|---|
| 2945 | 2945 | | annual fee to be imposed upon each private school for performing 1984 |
|---|
| 2946 | 2946 | | these searches and establishing the procedures for the retention 1985 |
|---|
| 2947 | 2947 | | of private school employee and contracted personnel fingerprints 1986 |
|---|
| 2948 | 2948 | | and the dissemination of search results. The fee may be borne by 1987 |
|---|
| 2949 | 2949 | | the private school or the person fingerprinted. 1988 |
|---|
| 2950 | 2950 | | 7. Employees and contracted personnel whose fingerprints 1989 |
|---|
| 2951 | 2951 | | are not retained by the Department of Law Enforcement under 1990 |
|---|
| 2952 | 2952 | | subparagraphs 5. and 6. are required to be refin gerprinted and 1991 |
|---|
| 2953 | 2953 | | must meet state and national background screening requirements 1992 |
|---|
| 2954 | 2954 | | upon reemployment or reengagement to provide services in order 1993 |
|---|
| 2955 | 2955 | | to comply with the requirements of this section. 1994 |
|---|
| 2956 | 2956 | | 8. Every 5 years following employment or engagement to 1995 |
|---|
| 2957 | 2957 | | provide services with a private school, employees or contracted 1996 |
|---|
| 2958 | 2958 | | personnel required to be screened under this section must meet 1997 |
|---|
| 2959 | 2959 | | screening standards under s. 435.04, at which time the private 1998 |
|---|
| 2960 | 2960 | | school shall request the Department of Law Enforcement to 1999 |
|---|
| 2961 | 2961 | | forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation 2000 |
|---|
| 2969 | 2969 | | Page 81 of 114 |
|---|
| 2970 | 2970 | | 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 |
|---|
| 2971 | 2971 | | |
|---|
| 2972 | 2972 | | |
|---|
| 2973 | 2973 | | |
|---|
| 2974 | 2974 | | for national processing. If the fingerprints of employees or 2001 |
|---|
| 2975 | 2975 | | contracted personnel are not retained by the Department of Law 2002 |
|---|
| 2976 | 2976 | | Enforcement under subparagraph 5., employees and contracted 2003 |
|---|
| 2977 | 2977 | | personnel must electronic ally file a complete set of 2004 |
|---|
| 2978 | 2978 | | fingerprints with the Department of Law Enforcement. Upon 2005 |
|---|
| 2979 | 2979 | | submission of fingerprints for this purpose, the private school 2006 |
|---|
| 2980 | 2980 | | shall request that the Department of Law Enforcement forward the 2007 |
|---|
| 2981 | 2981 | | fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Inv estigation for national 2008 |
|---|
| 2982 | 2982 | | processing, and the fingerprints shall be retained by the 2009 |
|---|
| 2983 | 2983 | | Department of Law Enforcement under subparagraph 5. 2010 |
|---|
| 2984 | 2984 | | (n) Adopt policies establishing standards of ethical 2011 |
|---|
| 2985 | 2985 | | conduct for educational support employees, instructional 2012 |
|---|
| 2986 | 2986 | | personnel, and school administrators. The policies must require 2013 |
|---|
| 2987 | 2987 | | all educational support employees, instructional personnel, and 2014 |
|---|
| 2988 | 2988 | | school administrators, as defined in s. 1012.01, to complete 2015 |
|---|
| 2989 | 2989 | | training on the standards; establish the duty of educational 2016 |
|---|
| 2990 | 2990 | | support employees, instructional personnel, and school 2017 |
|---|
| 2991 | 2991 | | administrators to report, and procedures for reporting, alleged 2018 |
|---|
| 2992 | 2992 | | misconduct by other educational support employees, instructional 2019 |
|---|
| 2993 | 2993 | | personnel, and school administrators which affects the health, 2020 |
|---|
| 2994 | 2994 | | safety, or welfare of a s tudent; and include an explanation of 2021 |
|---|
| 2995 | 2995 | | the liability protections provided under ss. 39.203 and 768.095. 2022 |
|---|
| 2996 | 2996 | | A private school, or any of its employees, may not enter into a 2023 |
|---|
| 2997 | 2997 | | confidentiality agreement regarding terminated or dismissed 2024 |
|---|
| 2998 | 2998 | | educational support employees , instructional personnel, or 2025 |
|---|
| 3006 | 3006 | | Page 82 of 114 |
|---|
| 3007 | 3007 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3008 | 3008 | | |
|---|
| 3009 | 3009 | | |
|---|
| 3010 | 3010 | | |
|---|
| 3011 | 3011 | | school administrators, or employees, personnel, or 2026 |
|---|
| 3012 | 3012 | | administrators who resign in lieu of termination, based in whole 2027 |
|---|
| 3013 | 3013 | | or in part on misconduct that affects the health, safety, or 2028 |
|---|
| 3014 | 3014 | | welfare of a student, and may not provide the emp loyees, 2029 |
|---|
| 3015 | 3015 | | personnel, or administrators with employment references or 2030 |
|---|
| 3016 | 3016 | | discuss the employees', personnel's, or administrators' 2031 |
|---|
| 3017 | 3017 | | performance with prospective employers in another educational 2032 |
|---|
| 3018 | 3018 | | setting, without disclosing the employees', personnel's, or 2033 |
|---|
| 3019 | 3019 | | administrators' misconduct. Any part of an agreement or contract 2034 |
|---|
| 3020 | 3020 | | that has the purpose or effect of concealing misconduct by 2035 |
|---|
| 3021 | 3021 | | educational support employees, instructional personnel, or 2036 |
|---|
| 3022 | 3022 | | school administrators which affects the health, safety, or 2037 |
|---|
| 3023 | 3023 | | welfare of a student is v oid, is contrary to public policy, and 2038 |
|---|
| 3024 | 3024 | | may not be enforced. 2039 |
|---|
| 3025 | 3025 | | (o) Before employing a person in any position that 2040 |
|---|
| 3026 | 3026 | | requires direct contact with students, conduct employment 2041 |
|---|
| 3027 | 3027 | | history checks of previous employers, screen the person through 2042 |
|---|
| 3028 | 3028 | | use of the screening tools described in s. 1001.10(5), and 2043 |
|---|
| 3029 | 3029 | | document the findings. If unable to contact a previous employer, 2044 |
|---|
| 3030 | 3030 | | the private school must document efforts to contact the 2045 |
|---|
| 3031 | 3031 | | employer. The private school may not employ a person whose 2046 |
|---|
| 3032 | 3032 | | educator certificate is revoked, who i s barred from reapplying 2047 |
|---|
| 3033 | 3033 | | for an educator certificate, or who is on the disqualification 2048 |
|---|
| 3034 | 3034 | | list maintained by the department pursuant to s. 1001.10(4)(b). 2049 |
|---|
| 3035 | 3035 | | (p) Require each owner or operator of the private school, 2050 |
|---|
| 3043 | 3043 | | Page 83 of 114 |
|---|
| 3044 | 3044 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3045 | 3045 | | |
|---|
| 3046 | 3046 | | |
|---|
| 3047 | 3047 | | |
|---|
| 3048 | 3048 | | prior to employment or engagement to provide services, to 2051 |
|---|
| 3049 | 3049 | | undergo level 2 background screening as provided under chapter 2052 |
|---|
| 3050 | 3050 | | 435. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "owner or 2053 |
|---|
| 3051 | 3051 | | operator" means an owner, operator, superintendent, or principal 2054 |
|---|
| 3052 | 3052 | | of, or a person with equivalent decisionmaking authority o ver, a 2055 |
|---|
| 3053 | 3053 | | private school participating in a scholarship program 2056 |
|---|
| 3054 | 3054 | | established pursuant to this chapter. The fingerprints for the 2057 |
|---|
| 3055 | 3055 | | background screening must be electronically submitted to the 2058 |
|---|
| 3056 | 3056 | | Department of Law Enforcement and may be taken by an authorized 2059 |
|---|
| 3057 | 3057 | | law enforcement agency or a private company who is trained to 2060 |
|---|
| 3058 | 3058 | | take fingerprints. However, the complete set of fingerprints of 2061 |
|---|
| 3059 | 3059 | | an owner or operator may not be taken by the owner or operator. 2062 |
|---|
| 3060 | 3060 | | The owner or operator shall provide a copy of the results of the 2063 |
|---|
| 3061 | 3061 | | state and national criminal history check to the Department of 2064 |
|---|
| 3062 | 3062 | | Education. The cost of the background screening may be borne by 2065 |
|---|
| 3063 | 3063 | | the owner or operator. 2066 |
|---|
| 3064 | 3064 | | 1. Every 5 years following employment or engagement to 2067 |
|---|
| 3065 | 3065 | | provide services, each owner or operator must meet level 2 2068 |
|---|
| 3066 | 3066 | | screening standards as described in s. 435.04, at which time the 2069 |
|---|
| 3067 | 3067 | | owner or operator shall request the Department of Law 2070 |
|---|
| 3068 | 3068 | | Enforcement to forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of 2071 |
|---|
| 3069 | 3069 | | Investigation for level 2 screening. If the fingerprints of an 2072 |
|---|
| 3070 | 3070 | | owner or operator are not retained by the Department of Law 2073 |
|---|
| 3071 | 3071 | | Enforcement under subparagraph 2., the owner or operator must 2074 |
|---|
| 3072 | 3072 | | electronically file a complete set of fingerprints with the 2075 |
|---|
| 3080 | 3080 | | Page 84 of 114 |
|---|
| 3081 | 3081 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3082 | 3082 | | |
|---|
| 3083 | 3083 | | |
|---|
| 3084 | 3084 | | |
|---|
| 3085 | 3085 | | Department of Law Enforcement. Upon submission of fingerprints 2076 |
|---|
| 3086 | 3086 | | for this purpose, the owner or operator shall request that the 2077 |
|---|
| 3087 | 3087 | | Department of Law Enforcement forward the fingerprints to the 2078 |
|---|
| 3088 | 3088 | | Federal Bureau of Investigation for level 2 screening, and the 2079 |
|---|
| 3089 | 3089 | | fingerprints shall be retained by the Department of Law 2080 |
|---|
| 3090 | 3090 | | Enforcement under subparagraph 2. 2081 |
|---|
| 3091 | 3091 | | 2. Fingerprints submitted to the Department of Law 2082 |
|---|
| 3092 | 3092 | | Enforcement as required by this paragraph must be retained by 2083 |
|---|
| 3093 | 3093 | | the Department of Law Enforcement in a manner approved by rule 2084 |
|---|
| 3094 | 3094 | | and entered in the statewide automated biometric identification 2085 |
|---|
| 3095 | 3095 | | system authorized by s. 943.05(2)(b). The fingerprints must 2086 |
|---|
| 3096 | 3096 | | thereafter be available for all purposes and uses authorized for 2087 |
|---|
| 3097 | 3097 | | arrest fingerprints entered in the statewide automated biometric 2088 |
|---|
| 3098 | 3098 | | identification system pursuant to s. 943.051. 2089 |
|---|
| 3099 | 3099 | | 3. The Department of Law Enf orcement shall search all 2090 |
|---|
| 3100 | 3100 | | arrest fingerprints received under s. 943.051 against the 2091 |
|---|
| 3101 | 3101 | | fingerprints retained in the statewide automated biometric 2092 |
|---|
| 3102 | 3102 | | identification system under subparagraph 2. Any arrest record 2093 |
|---|
| 3103 | 3103 | | that is identified with an owner's or operator's fi ngerprints 2094 |
|---|
| 3104 | 3104 | | must be reported to the owner or operator, who must report to 2095 |
|---|
| 3105 | 3105 | | the Department of Education. Any costs associated with the 2096 |
|---|
| 3106 | 3106 | | search shall be borne by the owner or operator. 2097 |
|---|
| 3107 | 3107 | | 4. An owner or operator who fails the level 2 background 2098 |
|---|
| 3108 | 3108 | | screening is not eligible to participate in a scholarship 2099 |
|---|
| 3109 | 3109 | | program under this chapter. 2100 |
|---|
| 3117 | 3117 | | Page 85 of 114 |
|---|
| 3118 | 3118 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3119 | 3119 | | |
|---|
| 3120 | 3120 | | |
|---|
| 3121 | 3121 | | |
|---|
| 3122 | 3122 | | 5. In addition to the offenses listed in s. 435.04, a 2101 |
|---|
| 3123 | 3123 | | person required to undergo background screening pursuant to this 2102 |
|---|
| 3124 | 3124 | | part or authorizing statutes may not have an arrest awaiting 2103 |
|---|
| 3125 | 3125 | | final disposition for, must not have been found guilty of, or 2104 |
|---|
| 3126 | 3126 | | entered a plea of nolo contendere to, regardless of 2105 |
|---|
| 3127 | 3127 | | adjudication, and must not have been adjudicated delinquent for, 2106 |
|---|
| 3128 | 3128 | | and the record must not have been sealed or expunged for, any of 2107 |
|---|
| 3129 | 3129 | | the following offenses or any similar offense of another 2108 |
|---|
| 3130 | 3130 | | jurisdiction: 2109 |
|---|
| 3131 | 3131 | | a. Any authorizing statutes, if the offense was a felony. 2110 |
|---|
| 3132 | 3132 | | b. This chapter, if the offense was a felony. 2111 |
|---|
| 3133 | 3133 | | c. Section 409.920, relating to Medicaid provider fraud. 2112 |
|---|
| 3134 | 3134 | | d. Section 409.9201, relating to Medicaid fraud. 2113 |
|---|
| 3135 | 3135 | | e. Section 741.28, relating to domestic violence. 2114 |
|---|
| 3136 | 3136 | | f. Section 817.034, relating to fraudulent acts through 2115 |
|---|
| 3137 | 3137 | | mail, wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic, or 2116 |
|---|
| 3138 | 3138 | | photooptical systems. 2117 |
|---|
| 3139 | 3139 | | g. Section 817.234, relating to false and fraudule nt 2118 |
|---|
| 3140 | 3140 | | insurance claims. 2119 |
|---|
| 3141 | 3141 | | h. Section 817.505, relating to patient brokering. 2120 |
|---|
| 3142 | 3142 | | i. Section 817.568, relating to criminal use of personal 2121 |
|---|
| 3143 | 3143 | | identification information. 2122 |
|---|
| 3144 | 3144 | | j. Section 817.60, relating to obtaining a credit card 2123 |
|---|
| 3145 | 3145 | | through fraudulent means. 2124 |
|---|
| 3146 | 3146 | | k. Section 817.61, relating to fraudulent use of credit 2125 |
|---|
| 3154 | 3154 | | Page 86 of 114 |
|---|
| 3155 | 3155 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3156 | 3156 | | |
|---|
| 3157 | 3157 | | |
|---|
| 3158 | 3158 | | |
|---|
| 3159 | 3159 | | cards, if the offense was a felony. 2126 |
|---|
| 3160 | 3160 | | l. Section 831.01, relating to forgery. 2127 |
|---|
| 3161 | 3161 | | m. Section 831.02, relating to uttering forged 2128 |
|---|
| 3162 | 3162 | | instruments. 2129 |
|---|
| 3163 | 3163 | | n. Section 831.07, relating to forging bank bills, checks, 2130 |
|---|
| 3164 | 3164 | | drafts, or promissory notes. 2131 |
|---|
| 3165 | 3165 | | o. Section 831.09, relating to uttering forged bank bills, 2132 |
|---|
| 3166 | 3166 | | checks, drafts, or promissory notes. 2133 |
|---|
| 3167 | 3167 | | p. Section 831.30, relating to fraud in obtaining 2134 |
|---|
| 3168 | 3168 | | medicinal drugs. 2135 |
|---|
| 3169 | 3169 | | q. Section 831.31, relating to the sale, manufacture, 2136 |
|---|
| 3170 | 3170 | | delivery, or possession with the intent to sell, manufacture, or 2137 |
|---|
| 3171 | 3171 | | deliver any counterfeit controlled substance, if the offense was 2138 |
|---|
| 3172 | 3172 | | a felony. 2139 |
|---|
| 3173 | 3173 | | 6. At least 30 calendar days before a transfer of 2140 |
|---|
| 3174 | 3174 | | ownership of a private school, the owner or operator shall 2141 |
|---|
| 3175 | 3175 | | notify the parent of each scholarship student. 2142 |
|---|
| 3176 | 3176 | | 7. The owner or operator of a private school that has been 2143 |
|---|
| 3177 | 3177 | | deemed ineligible to participate in a scholarship program 2144 |
|---|
| 3178 | 3178 | | pursuant to this chapter may not transfer ownership or 2145 |
|---|
| 3179 | 3179 | | management authority of the school to a relative in o rder to 2146 |
|---|
| 3180 | 3180 | | participate in a scholarship program as the same school or a new 2147 |
|---|
| 3181 | 3181 | | school. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "relative" 2148 |
|---|
| 3182 | 3182 | | means father, mother, son, daughter, grandfather, grandmother, 2149 |
|---|
| 3183 | 3183 | | brother, sister, uncle, aunt, cousin, nephew, niece, husb and, 2150 |
|---|
| 3191 | 3191 | | Page 87 of 114 |
|---|
| 3192 | 3192 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3193 | 3193 | | |
|---|
| 3194 | 3194 | | |
|---|
| 3195 | 3195 | | |
|---|
| 3196 | 3196 | | wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, 2151 |
|---|
| 3197 | 3197 | | brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, 2152 |
|---|
| 3198 | 3198 | | stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half -brother, or half-2153 |
|---|
| 3199 | 3199 | | sister. 2154 |
|---|
| 3200 | 3200 | | (q) Provide a report from an independent certified public 2155 |
|---|
| 3201 | 3201 | | accountant who performs the agreed -upon procedures developed 2156 |
|---|
| 3202 | 3202 | | pursuant to s. 1002.395(6)(q) s. 1002.395(6)(o) if the private 2157 |
|---|
| 3203 | 3203 | | school receives more than $250,000 in funds from scholarships 2158 |
|---|
| 3204 | 3204 | | awarded under this chapter in a state fiscal year. A private 2159 |
|---|
| 3205 | 3205 | | school subject to this subsection must annually submit the 2160 |
|---|
| 3206 | 3206 | | report by September 15 to the scholarship -funding organization 2161 |
|---|
| 3207 | 3207 | | that awarded the majority of the school's scholarship funds. 2162 |
|---|
| 3208 | 3208 | | However, a school that receives more than $250,000 in 2163 |
|---|
| 3209 | 3209 | | scholarship funds onl y through the John M. McKay Scholarship for 2164 |
|---|
| 3210 | 3210 | | Students with Disabilities Program pursuant to s. 1002.39 must 2165 |
|---|
| 3211 | 3211 | | submit the annual report by September 15 to the department. The 2166 |
|---|
| 3212 | 3212 | | agreed-upon procedures must be conducted in accordance with 2167 |
|---|
| 3213 | 3213 | | attestation standards est ablished by the American Institute of 2168 |
|---|
| 3214 | 3214 | | Certified Public Accountants. 2169 |
|---|
| 3215 | 3215 | | (r) Prohibit education support employees, instructional 2170 |
|---|
| 3216 | 3216 | | personnel, and school administrators from employment in any 2171 |
|---|
| 3217 | 3217 | | position that requires direct contact with students if the 2172 |
|---|
| 3218 | 3218 | | personnel or administrators are ineligible for such employment 2173 |
|---|
| 3219 | 3219 | | pursuant to this section or s. 1012.315, or have been terminated 2174 |
|---|
| 3220 | 3220 | | or have resigned in lieu of termination for sexual misconduct 2175 |
|---|
| 3228 | 3228 | | Page 88 of 114 |
|---|
| 3229 | 3229 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3230 | 3230 | | |
|---|
| 3231 | 3231 | | |
|---|
| 3232 | 3232 | | |
|---|
| 3233 | 3233 | | with a student. If the prohibited conduct occurs subsequent to 2176 |
|---|
| 3234 | 3234 | | employment, the private school must report the person and the 2177 |
|---|
| 3235 | 3235 | | disqualifying circumstances to the department for inclusion on 2178 |
|---|
| 3236 | 3236 | | the disqualification list maintained pursuant to s. 2179 |
|---|
| 3237 | 3237 | | 1001.10(4)(b). 2180 |
|---|
| 3238 | 3238 | | 2181 |
|---|
| 3239 | 3239 | | The department shall suspend the payment of funds to a private 2182 |
|---|
| 3240 | 3240 | | school that knowingly fails to comply with this subsection, and 2183 |
|---|
| 3241 | 3241 | | shall prohibit the school from enrolling new scholarship 2184 |
|---|
| 3242 | 3242 | | students, for 1 fiscal year and until the school complies. If a 2185 |
|---|
| 3243 | 3243 | | private school fails to meet the requirements of this subsection 2186 |
|---|
| 3244 | 3244 | | or has consecutive y ears of material exceptions listed in the 2187 |
|---|
| 3245 | 3245 | | report required under paragraph (q), the commissioner may 2188 |
|---|
| 3246 | 3246 | | determine that the private school is ineligible to participate 2189 |
|---|
| 3247 | 3247 | | in a scholarship program. 2190 |
|---|
| 3248 | 3248 | | (3) COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AUTHORITY AND OBLIGATIONS. —2191 |
|---|
| 3249 | 3249 | | The Commissioner of Education: 2192 |
|---|
| 3250 | 3250 | | (c) May permanently deny or revoke the authority of an 2193 |
|---|
| 3251 | 3251 | | owner, officer, or director or operator to establish or operate 2194 |
|---|
| 3252 | 3252 | | a private school in the state and include such individual on the 2195 |
|---|
| 3253 | 3253 | | disqualification list maintained by the departm ent pursuant to 2196 |
|---|
| 3254 | 3254 | | s. 1001.10(4)(b) if the commissioner decides that the owner , 2197 |
|---|
| 3255 | 3255 | | officer, or director: or operator 2198 |
|---|
| 3256 | 3256 | | 1. Is operating or has operated an educational institution 2199 |
|---|
| 3257 | 3257 | | in the state or another state or jurisdiction in a manner 2200 |
|---|
| 3265 | 3265 | | Page 89 of 114 |
|---|
| 3266 | 3266 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3267 | 3267 | | |
|---|
| 3268 | 3268 | | |
|---|
| 3269 | 3269 | | |
|---|
| 3270 | 3270 | | contrary to the health, s afety, or welfare of the public ; or 2201 |
|---|
| 3271 | 3271 | | 2. Has operated an educational institution that closed 2202 |
|---|
| 3272 | 3272 | | during the school year. An individual may be removed from the 2203 |
|---|
| 3273 | 3273 | | disqualification list if the individual reimburses the 2204 |
|---|
| 3274 | 3274 | | department or eligible nonprofit scholarship -funding 2205 |
|---|
| 3275 | 3275 | | organization the amount of scholarship funds received by the 2206 |
|---|
| 3276 | 3276 | | educational institution during the school year in which it 2207 |
|---|
| 3277 | 3277 | | closed, and shall include such individuals on the 2208 |
|---|
| 3278 | 3278 | | disqualification list maintained by the department pursuant to 2209 |
|---|
| 3279 | 3279 | | s. 1001.10(4)(b). 2210 |
|---|
| 3280 | 3280 | | Section 9. Section 1002.44, Florida Statutes, is created 2211 |
|---|
| 3281 | 3281 | | to read: 2212 |
|---|
| 3282 | 3282 | | 1002.44 Part-time public school enrollment. — 2213 |
|---|
| 3283 | 3283 | | (1) Any public school in this state, including a charter 2214 |
|---|
| 3284 | 3284 | | school, may enroll a student who meets the regular school 2215 |
|---|
| 3285 | 3285 | | attendance criteria in s. 1003.01(13)(b) -(f) on a part-time 2216 |
|---|
| 3286 | 3286 | | basis, subject to space and availability according to the 2217 |
|---|
| 3287 | 3287 | | school's capacity determined pursuant to s. 1002.31(2)(b). 2218 |
|---|
| 3288 | 3288 | | (2) A student attending a public school on a part -time 2219 |
|---|
| 3289 | 3289 | | basis pursuant to this section shall gener ate full-time 2220 |
|---|
| 3290 | 3290 | | equivalent student membership as described in s. 1011.61(1)(b). 2221 |
|---|
| 3291 | 3291 | | A student receiving a scholarship under this chapter who attends 2222 |
|---|
| 3292 | 3292 | | a public school on a part -time basis through contracted services 2223 |
|---|
| 3293 | 3293 | | provided by the public school or school district may not be 2224 |
|---|
| 3294 | 3294 | | reported for funding. 2225 |
|---|
| 3302 | 3302 | | Page 90 of 114 |
|---|
| 3303 | 3303 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3304 | 3304 | | |
|---|
| 3305 | 3305 | | |
|---|
| 3306 | 3306 | | |
|---|
| 3307 | 3307 | | (3) A student attending a public school on a part -time 2226 |
|---|
| 3308 | 3308 | | basis pursuant to this section is not considered to be in 2227 |
|---|
| 3309 | 3309 | | regular attendance at a public school as defined in s. 2228 |
|---|
| 3310 | 3310 | | 1003.01(13)(a). 2229 |
|---|
| 3311 | 3311 | | Section 10. Paragraphs (d) and ( e) of subsection (13) and 2230 |
|---|
| 3312 | 3312 | | subsection (14) of section 1003.01, Florida Statutes, are 2231 |
|---|
| 3313 | 3313 | | amended, and paragraph (f) is added to subsection (13) of that 2232 |
|---|
| 3314 | 3314 | | section, to read: 2233 |
|---|
| 3315 | 3315 | | 1003.01 Definitions. —As used in this chapter, the term: 2234 |
|---|
| 3316 | 3316 | | (13) "Regular school attendance " means the actual 2235 |
|---|
| 3317 | 3317 | | attendance of a student during the school day as defined by law 2236 |
|---|
| 3318 | 3318 | | and rules of the State Board of Education. Regular attendance 2237 |
|---|
| 3319 | 3319 | | within the intent of s. 1003.21 may be achieved by attendance 2238 |
|---|
| 3320 | 3320 | | in: 2239 |
|---|
| 3321 | 3321 | | (d) A home education program that meets the requirements 2240 |
|---|
| 3322 | 3322 | | of chapter 1002; or 2241 |
|---|
| 3323 | 3323 | | (e) A private tutoring program that meets the requirements 2242 |
|---|
| 3324 | 3324 | | of chapter 1002; or. 2243 |
|---|
| 3325 | 3325 | | (f) A personalized education program that meets the 2244 |
|---|
| 3326 | 3326 | | requirements of s. 1002.395. 2245 |
|---|
| 3327 | 3327 | | (14) "Core-curricula courses" means: 2246 |
|---|
| 3328 | 3328 | | (a) Courses in language arts/reading, mathematics, social 2247 |
|---|
| 3329 | 3329 | | studies, and science in prekindergarten through grade 3, 2248 |
|---|
| 3330 | 3330 | | excluding extracurricular courses pursuant to subsection (15); 2249 |
|---|
| 3331 | 3331 | | (b) Courses in grades 4 through 8 in subjects that are 2250 |
|---|
| 3339 | 3339 | | Page 91 of 114 |
|---|
| 3340 | 3340 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3341 | 3341 | | |
|---|
| 3342 | 3342 | | |
|---|
| 3343 | 3343 | | |
|---|
| 3344 | 3344 | | measured by state assessment at any g rade level and courses 2251 |
|---|
| 3345 | 3345 | | required for middle school promotion, excluding extracurricular 2252 |
|---|
| 3346 | 3346 | | courses pursuant to subsection (15); 2253 |
|---|
| 3347 | 3347 | | (c) Courses in grades 9 through 12 in subjects that are 2254 |
|---|
| 3348 | 3348 | | measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses that 2255 |
|---|
| 3349 | 3349 | | are specifically identified by name in statute as required for 2256 |
|---|
| 3350 | 3350 | | high school graduation and that are not measured by state 2257 |
|---|
| 3351 | 3351 | | assessment, excluding extracurricular courses pursuant to 2258 |
|---|
| 3352 | 3352 | | subsection (15); 2259 |
|---|
| 3353 | 3353 | | (d) Exceptional student education courses; and 2260 |
|---|
| 3354 | 3354 | | (e) English for Speakers of Other Languages courses. 2261 |
|---|
| 3355 | 3355 | | 2262 |
|---|
| 3356 | 3356 | | The term is limited in meaning and used for the sole purpose of 2263 |
|---|
| 3357 | 3357 | | designating classes that are subject to the maximum class size 2264 |
|---|
| 3358 | 3358 | | requirements established in s. 1, Art. IX of the State 2265 |
|---|
| 3359 | 3359 | | Constitution. This term does not inclu de courses offered under 2266 |
|---|
| 3360 | 3360 | | ss. 1002.321(3)(e), 1002.33(7)(a)2.b., 1002.37, 1002.45, and 2267 |
|---|
| 3361 | 3361 | | 1003.499 ss. 1002.321(4)(e), 1002.33(7)(a)2.b., 1002.37, 2268 |
|---|
| 3362 | 3362 | | 1002.45, and 1003.499 . 2269 |
|---|
| 3363 | 3363 | | Section 11. No later than November 1, 2023, the State 2270 |
|---|
| 3364 | 3364 | | Board of Education shall develop and recommend to the Governor 2271 |
|---|
| 3365 | 3365 | | and Legislature for adoption during the 2024 legislative session 2272 |
|---|
| 3366 | 3366 | | repeals and revisions to the Florida Early Learning -20 Education 2273 |
|---|
| 3367 | 3367 | | Code, chapters 1000-1013, Florida Statutes, to reduce regulation 2274 |
|---|
| 3368 | 3368 | | of public schools. The state b oard shall review the entirety of 2275 |
|---|
| 3376 | 3376 | | Page 92 of 114 |
|---|
| 3377 | 3377 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3378 | 3378 | | |
|---|
| 3379 | 3379 | | |
|---|
| 3380 | 3380 | | |
|---|
| 3381 | 3381 | | the Florida Early Learning -20 Education Code for potential 2276 |
|---|
| 3382 | 3382 | | repeals and revisions. The state board must make recommendations 2277 |
|---|
| 3383 | 3383 | | addressing repeals and revisions to the statutes governing the 2278 |
|---|
| 3384 | 3384 | | transportation of students. The sta te board shall consider input 2279 |
|---|
| 3385 | 3385 | | from teachers, superintendents, administrators, school boards, 2280 |
|---|
| 3386 | 3386 | | public and private postsecondary institutions, home educators, 2281 |
|---|
| 3387 | 3387 | | and other entities identified by the state board. 2282 |
|---|
| 3388 | 3388 | | Section 12. Subsection (10) is added to sectio n 1001.10, 2283 |
|---|
| 3389 | 3389 | | Florida Statutes, to read: 2284 |
|---|
| 3390 | 3390 | | 1001.10 Commissioner of Education; general powers and 2285 |
|---|
| 3391 | 3391 | | duties.— 2286 |
|---|
| 3392 | 3392 | | (10) Due to the range of school choice options and the 2287 |
|---|
| 3393 | 3393 | | variety of ways students learn, the commissioner shall develop 2288 |
|---|
| 3394 | 3394 | | an online portal that enables parents to choose the best 2289 |
|---|
| 3395 | 3395 | | educational options for their student. The portal, at a minimum, 2290 |
|---|
| 3396 | 3396 | | must: 2291 |
|---|
| 3397 | 3397 | | (a) Recommend educational options based on questions about 2292 |
|---|
| 3398 | 3398 | | the student, including the needs and interests of the student. 2293 |
|---|
| 3399 | 3399 | | (b) Advise parents on the recom mended educational options 2294 |
|---|
| 3400 | 3400 | | for their student. 2295 |
|---|
| 3401 | 3401 | | (c) Enable schools to develop a school profile and connect 2296 |
|---|
| 3402 | 3402 | | directly with families who express interest in the school. 2297 |
|---|
| 3403 | 3403 | | (d) Allow parents to complete the school enrollment 2298 |
|---|
| 3404 | 3404 | | process. 2299 |
|---|
| 3405 | 3405 | | Section 13. Paragraph (c) of subsection (22) of section 2300 |
|---|
| 3413 | 3413 | | Page 93 of 114 |
|---|
| 3414 | 3414 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3415 | 3415 | | |
|---|
| 3416 | 3416 | | |
|---|
| 3417 | 3417 | | |
|---|
| 3418 | 3418 | | 1002.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2301 |
|---|
| 3419 | 3419 | | 1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights. —Parents of public 2302 |
|---|
| 3420 | 3420 | | school students must receive accurate and timely information 2303 |
|---|
| 3421 | 3421 | | regarding their child's academic progress and must be informed 2304 |
|---|
| 3422 | 3422 | | of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K -12 2305 |
|---|
| 3423 | 3423 | | students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory 2306 |
|---|
| 3424 | 3424 | | rights including, but not limited to, the following: 2307 |
|---|
| 3425 | 3425 | | (22) TRANSPORTATION. — 2308 |
|---|
| 3426 | 3426 | | (c) Parental consent. —Each parent of a public school 2309 |
|---|
| 3427 | 3427 | | student must be notified in writing and give written consent 2310 |
|---|
| 3428 | 3428 | | before the student may be transported in a privately owned motor 2311 |
|---|
| 3429 | 3429 | | vehicle to a school function , in accordance with the provisions 2312 |
|---|
| 3430 | 3430 | | of s. 1006.22(2)(b). 2313 |
|---|
| 3431 | 3431 | | Section 14. Subsection (2) of sect ion 1003.25, Florida 2314 |
|---|
| 3432 | 3432 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 2315 |
|---|
| 3433 | 3433 | | 1003.25 Procedures for maintenance and transfer of student 2316 |
|---|
| 3434 | 3434 | | records.— 2317 |
|---|
| 3435 | 3435 | | (2) The procedure for transferring and maintaining records 2318 |
|---|
| 3436 | 3436 | | of students who transfer from school to school shall be 2319 |
|---|
| 3437 | 3437 | | prescribed by rules of the State Board of Education. The 2320 |
|---|
| 3438 | 3438 | | transfer of records shall occur within 5 3 school days. The 2321 |
|---|
| 3439 | 3439 | | records shall include: 2322 |
|---|
| 3440 | 3440 | | (a) Verified reports of serious or recurrent behavior 2323 |
|---|
| 3441 | 3441 | | patterns, including threat assessment evaluations and 2324 |
|---|
| 3442 | 3442 | | intervention services. 2325 |
|---|
| 3450 | 3450 | | Page 94 of 114 |
|---|
| 3451 | 3451 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3452 | 3452 | | |
|---|
| 3453 | 3453 | | |
|---|
| 3454 | 3454 | | |
|---|
| 3455 | 3455 | | (b) Psychological evaluations, including therapeutic 2326 |
|---|
| 3456 | 3456 | | treatment plans and therapy or progress notes created or 2327 |
|---|
| 3457 | 3457 | | maintained by school district or charter school staff, as 2328 |
|---|
| 3458 | 3458 | | appropriate. 2329 |
|---|
| 3459 | 3459 | | Section 15. Subsection (4) of section 1003.4282, Florida 2330 |
|---|
| 3460 | 3460 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 2331 |
|---|
| 3461 | 3461 | | 1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school 2332 |
|---|
| 3462 | 3462 | | diploma.— 2333 |
|---|
| 3463 | 3463 | | (4) ONLINE COURSE REQUIREMENT. —At least one course within 2334 |
|---|
| 3464 | 3464 | | the 24 credits required under this section must be completed 2335 |
|---|
| 3465 | 3465 | | through online learning. 2336 |
|---|
| 3466 | 3466 | | (a) An online course taken i n grade 6, grade 7, or grade 8 2337 |
|---|
| 3467 | 3467 | | fulfills the requirements of this subsection. The requirement is 2338 |
|---|
| 3468 | 3468 | | met through an online course offered by the Florida Virtual 2339 |
|---|
| 3469 | 3469 | | School, a virtual education provider approved by the State Board 2340 |
|---|
| 3470 | 3470 | | of Education, a high school, or an online dual enrollment 2341 |
|---|
| 3471 | 3471 | | course. A student who is enrolled in a full -time or part-time 2342 |
|---|
| 3472 | 3472 | | virtual instruction program under s. 1002.45 meets the 2343 |
|---|
| 3473 | 3473 | | requirement. 2344 |
|---|
| 3474 | 3474 | | (b) A district school board or a charter school governing 2345 |
|---|
| 3475 | 3475 | | board, as applicable, may allow a student t o satisfy the online 2346 |
|---|
| 3476 | 3476 | | course requirements of this subsection by completing a blended 2347 |
|---|
| 3477 | 3477 | | learning course or a course in which the student earns a 2348 |
|---|
| 3478 | 3478 | | nationally recognized industry certification in information 2349 |
|---|
| 3479 | 3479 | | technology that is identified on the CAPE Industry Cert ification 2350 |
|---|
| 3487 | 3487 | | Page 95 of 114 |
|---|
| 3488 | 3488 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3489 | 3489 | | |
|---|
| 3490 | 3490 | | |
|---|
| 3491 | 3491 | | |
|---|
| 3492 | 3492 | | Funding List pursuant to s. 1008.44 or passing the information 2351 |
|---|
| 3493 | 3493 | | technology certification examination without enrolling in or 2352 |
|---|
| 3494 | 3494 | | completing the corresponding course or courses, as applicable. 2353 |
|---|
| 3495 | 3495 | | 2354 |
|---|
| 3496 | 3496 | | For purposes of this subsection, a school district may not 2355 |
|---|
| 3497 | 3497 | | require a student to take the online or blended learning course 2356 |
|---|
| 3498 | 3498 | | outside the school day or in addition to a student's courses for 2357 |
|---|
| 3499 | 3499 | | a given semester. This subsection does not apply to a student 2358 |
|---|
| 3500 | 3500 | | who has an individual education plan under s. 1003.57 which 2359 |
|---|
| 3501 | 3501 | | indicates that an online or blended learning course would be 2360 |
|---|
| 3502 | 3502 | | inappropriate or to an out -of-state transfer student who is 2361 |
|---|
| 3503 | 3503 | | enrolled in a Florida high school and has 1 academic year or 2362 |
|---|
| 3504 | 3504 | | less remaining in high school. 2363 |
|---|
| 3505 | 3505 | | Section 16. Subsection (2) of section 1006. 21, Florida 2364 |
|---|
| 3506 | 3506 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 2365 |
|---|
| 3507 | 3507 | | 1006.21 Duties of district school superintendent and 2366 |
|---|
| 3508 | 3508 | | district school board regarding transportation. — 2367 |
|---|
| 3509 | 3509 | | (2) After considering recommendations of the district 2368 |
|---|
| 3510 | 3510 | | school superintendent, the district school board shall make 2369 |
|---|
| 3511 | 3511 | | provision for the transportation of students to the public 2370 |
|---|
| 3512 | 3512 | | schools or school activities they are required or expected to 2371 |
|---|
| 3513 | 3513 | | attend; authorize transportation routes arranged efficiently and 2372 |
|---|
| 3514 | 3514 | | economically; provide the necessary transportation facilities, 2373 |
|---|
| 3515 | 3515 | | and, when authorized under rules of the State Board of Education 2374 |
|---|
| 3516 | 3516 | | and if more economical to do so, provide limited subsistence in 2375 |
|---|
| 3524 | 3524 | | Page 96 of 114 |
|---|
| 3525 | 3525 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3526 | 3526 | | |
|---|
| 3527 | 3527 | | |
|---|
| 3528 | 3528 | | |
|---|
| 3529 | 3529 | | lieu thereof; and adopt the necessary rules to ensure safety, 2376 |
|---|
| 3530 | 3530 | | economy, and efficiency in the operation of all buses and other 2377 |
|---|
| 3531 | 3531 | | vehicles used to transport students , as prescribed in this 2378 |
|---|
| 3532 | 3532 | | chapter. 2379 |
|---|
| 3533 | 3533 | | Section 17. Subsections (2) through (13) of section 2380 |
|---|
| 3534 | 3534 | | 1006.22, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (1) 2381 |
|---|
| 3535 | 3535 | | through (12), respectively, and present subsections (1), (2), 2382 |
|---|
| 3536 | 3536 | | (11), and (13) of that section are amended to read: 2383 |
|---|
| 3537 | 3537 | | 1006.22 Safety and health of students being transported. —2384 |
|---|
| 3538 | 3538 | | Maximum regard for safety and adequate protection of health are 2385 |
|---|
| 3539 | 3539 | | primary requirements that must be observed by district school 2386 |
|---|
| 3540 | 3540 | | boards in routing buses, appoi nting drivers, and providing and 2387 |
|---|
| 3541 | 3541 | | operating equipment, in accordance with all requirements of law 2388 |
|---|
| 3542 | 3542 | | and rules of the State Board of Education in providing 2389 |
|---|
| 3543 | 3543 | | transportation pursuant to s. 1006.21: 2390 |
|---|
| 3544 | 3544 | | (1)(a) District school boards shall use school buses, as 2391 |
|---|
| 3545 | 3545 | | defined in s. 1006.25, for all regular transportation. Regular 2392 |
|---|
| 3546 | 3546 | | transportation or regular use means transportation of students 2393 |
|---|
| 3547 | 3547 | | to and from school or school -related activities that are part of 2394 |
|---|
| 3548 | 3548 | | a scheduled series or sequence of events to the same location. 2395 |
|---|
| 3549 | 3549 | | "Students" means, for the purposes of this section, students 2396 |
|---|
| 3550 | 3550 | | enrolled in the public schools in prekindergarten disability 2397 |
|---|
| 3551 | 3551 | | programs and in kindergarten through grade 12. District school 2398 |
|---|
| 3552 | 3552 | | boards may regularly use motor vehicles other than school buses 2399 |
|---|
| 3553 | 3553 | | only under the following conditions: 2400 |
|---|
| 3561 | 3561 | | Page 97 of 114 |
|---|
| 3562 | 3562 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3563 | 3563 | | |
|---|
| 3564 | 3564 | | |
|---|
| 3565 | 3565 | | |
|---|
| 3566 | 3566 | | 1. When the transportation is for physically handicapped 2401 |
|---|
| 3567 | 3567 | | or isolated students and the district school board has elected 2402 |
|---|
| 3568 | 3568 | | to provide for the transportation of the student through written 2403 |
|---|
| 3569 | 3569 | | or oral contracts or agreements. 2404 |
|---|
| 3570 | 3570 | | 2. When the transportation is a part of a comprehensive 2405 |
|---|
| 3571 | 3571 | | contract for a specialized educational program between a 2406 |
|---|
| 3572 | 3572 | | district school board and a service provider who provides 2407 |
|---|
| 3573 | 3573 | | instruction, transportation, and other services. 2408 |
|---|
| 3574 | 3574 | | 3. When the transportation is provided through a public 2409 |
|---|
| 3575 | 3575 | | transit system. 2410 |
|---|
| 3576 | 3576 | | 4. When the transportation is for trips to and from school 2411 |
|---|
| 3577 | 3577 | | sites or agricultural education sites or for trips to and from 2412 |
|---|
| 3578 | 3578 | | agricultural education -related events or competitions, but is 2413 |
|---|
| 3579 | 3579 | | not for customary transportation between a s tudent's residence 2414 |
|---|
| 3580 | 3580 | | and such sites. 2415 |
|---|
| 3581 | 3581 | | 5. When the transportation is for trips to and from school 2416 |
|---|
| 3582 | 3582 | | sites but is not for customary transportation between a 2417 |
|---|
| 3583 | 3583 | | student's residence and such sites. 2418 |
|---|
| 3584 | 3584 | | (b) When the transportation of students is provided, as 2419 |
|---|
| 3585 | 3585 | | authorized in this subsection, in a vehicle other than a school 2420 |
|---|
| 3586 | 3586 | | bus that is owned, operated, rented, contracted, or leased by a 2421 |
|---|
| 3587 | 3587 | | school district or charter school, the following provisions 2422 |
|---|
| 3588 | 3588 | | shall apply: 2423 |
|---|
| 3589 | 3589 | | 1. The vehicle must be designed to transport fewer than 10 2424 |
|---|
| 3590 | 3590 | | students or be a multifunction school activity bus, as defined 2425 |
|---|
| 3598 | 3598 | | Page 98 of 114 |
|---|
| 3599 | 3599 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3600 | 3600 | | |
|---|
| 3601 | 3601 | | |
|---|
| 3602 | 3602 | | |
|---|
| 3603 | 3603 | | in 49 C.F.R. s. 571.3, if it is designed to transport more than 2426 |
|---|
| 3604 | 3604 | | 10 persons. Students must be transported in designated seating 2427 |
|---|
| 3605 | 3605 | | positions and must use the occupant crash protection system 2428 |
|---|
| 3606 | 3606 | | provided by the manufacturer unless the student's physical 2429 |
|---|
| 3607 | 3607 | | condition prohibits such use. 2430 |
|---|
| 3608 | 3608 | | 2. An authorized vehicle may not be driven by a student on 2431 |
|---|
| 3609 | 3609 | | a public right-of-way. An authorized vehicle may be driven by a 2432 |
|---|
| 3610 | 3610 | | student on school or private property as part of the student's 2433 |
|---|
| 3611 | 3611 | | educational curriculum if no other student is in the vehicle. 2434 |
|---|
| 3612 | 3612 | | 3. The driver of an authorized vehicle transporting 2435 |
|---|
| 3613 | 3613 | | students must maintain a valid driver license and must comply 2436 |
|---|
| 3614 | 3614 | | with the requirements of the school district's locally adopted 2437 |
|---|
| 3615 | 3615 | | safe driver plan, which includes review of driving records for 2438 |
|---|
| 3616 | 3616 | | disqualifying violations. 2439 |
|---|
| 3617 | 3617 | | 4. The district school board or charter school must adopt 2440 |
|---|
| 3618 | 3618 | | a policy that addresses procedures and liability for trips under 2441 |
|---|
| 3619 | 3619 | | this paragraph, including a provision that school buses are to 2442 |
|---|
| 3620 | 3620 | | be used whenever practical and specifying consequences for 2443 |
|---|
| 3621 | 3621 | | violation of the policy. 2444 |
|---|
| 3622 | 3622 | | (1)(2) Except as provided in subsection (1), District 2445 |
|---|
| 3623 | 3623 | | school boards may authorize the transportation of students in 2446 |
|---|
| 3624 | 3624 | | privately owned motor vehicles on a case -by-case basis only in 2447 |
|---|
| 3625 | 3625 | | the following circumstances: 2448 |
|---|
| 3626 | 3626 | | (a) When a student is ill or injured and must be taken 2449 |
|---|
| 3627 | 3627 | | home or to a medical treatment faci lity under nonemergency 2450 |
|---|
| 3635 | 3635 | | Page 99 of 114 |
|---|
| 3636 | 3636 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3637 | 3637 | | |
|---|
| 3638 | 3638 | | |
|---|
| 3639 | 3639 | | |
|---|
| 3640 | 3640 | | circumstances; and 2451 |
|---|
| 3641 | 3641 | | 1. The school has been unable to contact the student's 2452 |
|---|
| 3642 | 3642 | | parent or the parent or responsible adult designated by the 2453 |
|---|
| 3643 | 3643 | | parent is not available to provide the transportation; 2454 |
|---|
| 3644 | 3644 | | 2. Proper adult supervision of the stud ent is available at 2455 |
|---|
| 3645 | 3645 | | the location to which the student is being transported; 2456 |
|---|
| 3646 | 3646 | | 3. The transportation is approved by the school principal, 2457 |
|---|
| 3647 | 3647 | | or a school administrator designated by the principal to grant 2458 |
|---|
| 3648 | 3648 | | or deny such approval, or in the absence of the principa l and 2459 |
|---|
| 3649 | 3649 | | designee, by the highest ranking school administrator or teacher 2460 |
|---|
| 3650 | 3650 | | available under the circumstances; and 2461 |
|---|
| 3651 | 3651 | | 4. If the school has been unable to contact the parent 2462 |
|---|
| 3652 | 3652 | | prior to the transportation, the school shall continue to seek 2463 |
|---|
| 3653 | 3653 | | to contact the parent unti l the school is able to notify the 2464 |
|---|
| 3654 | 3654 | | parent of the transportation and the pertinent circumstances. 2465 |
|---|
| 3655 | 3655 | | (b) When the transportation is in connection with a school 2466 |
|---|
| 3656 | 3656 | | function or event regarding which the district school board or 2467 |
|---|
| 3657 | 3657 | | school has undertaken to participat e or to sponsor or provide 2468 |
|---|
| 3658 | 3658 | | the participation of students; and 2469 |
|---|
| 3659 | 3659 | | 1. The function or event is a single event that is not 2470 |
|---|
| 3660 | 3660 | | part of a scheduled series or sequence of events to the same 2471 |
|---|
| 3661 | 3661 | | location, such as, but not limited to, a field trip, a 2472 |
|---|
| 3662 | 3662 | | recreational outing, an interscholastic competition or 2473 |
|---|
| 3663 | 3663 | | cooperative event, an event connected with an extracurricular 2474 |
|---|
| 3664 | 3664 | | activity offered by the school, or an event connected to an 2475 |
|---|
| 3672 | 3672 | | Page 100 of 114 |
|---|
| 3673 | 3673 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3674 | 3674 | | |
|---|
| 3675 | 3675 | | |
|---|
| 3676 | 3676 | | |
|---|
| 3677 | 3677 | | educational program, such as, but not limited to, a job 2476 |
|---|
| 3678 | 3678 | | interview as part of a cooperative education program; 2477 |
|---|
| 3679 | 3679 | | 2. Transportation is not available, as a practical matter, 2478 |
|---|
| 3680 | 3680 | | using a school bus or school district passenger car; and 2479 |
|---|
| 3681 | 3681 | | 3. Each student's parent is notified, in writing, 2480 |
|---|
| 3682 | 3682 | | regarding the transportation arrangement and gives written 2481 |
|---|
| 3683 | 3683 | | consent before a student is transported in a privately owned 2482 |
|---|
| 3684 | 3684 | | motor vehicle. 2483 |
|---|
| 3685 | 3685 | | (c) When a district school board requires employees such 2484 |
|---|
| 3686 | 3686 | | as school social workers and attendance officers to use their 2485 |
|---|
| 3687 | 3687 | | own motor vehicles to perform duties of employment, and such 2486 |
|---|
| 3688 | 3688 | | duties include the occasional transportation of students . 2487 |
|---|
| 3689 | 3689 | | (10)(11) The district school superintendent shall notify 2488 |
|---|
| 3690 | 3690 | | the district school board of any school bus or other vehicle 2489 |
|---|
| 3691 | 3691 | | used to transport students that does not meet all requirements 2490 |
|---|
| 3692 | 3692 | | of law and rules of the State Board of Education, and the 2491 |
|---|
| 3693 | 3693 | | district school board shall, if the school bus is in an unsafe 2492 |
|---|
| 3694 | 3694 | | condition, withdraw it from use as a school bus until the bus 2493 |
|---|
| 3695 | 3695 | | meets the requirements. The department may inspect or have 2494 |
|---|
| 3696 | 3696 | | inspected any school bus to determine whethe r the bus meets 2495 |
|---|
| 3697 | 3697 | | requirements of law and rules of the State Board of Education. 2496 |
|---|
| 3698 | 3698 | | The department may, after due notice to a district school board 2497 |
|---|
| 3699 | 3699 | | that any school bus does not meet certain requirements of law 2498 |
|---|
| 3700 | 3700 | | and rules of the State Board of Education, rule tha t the bus 2499 |
|---|
| 3701 | 3701 | | must be withdrawn from use as a school bus, this ruling to be 2500 |
|---|
| 3709 | 3709 | | Page 101 of 114 |
|---|
| 3710 | 3710 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3711 | 3711 | | |
|---|
| 3712 | 3712 | | |
|---|
| 3713 | 3713 | | |
|---|
| 3714 | 3714 | | effective immediately or upon a date specified in the ruling, 2501 |
|---|
| 3715 | 3715 | | whereupon the district school board shall withdraw the school 2502 |
|---|
| 3716 | 3716 | | bus from use as a school bus until it meets requirements of law 2503 |
|---|
| 3717 | 3717 | | and rules of the State Board of Education and until the 2504 |
|---|
| 3718 | 3718 | | department has officially revoked the pertinent ruling. 2505 |
|---|
| 3719 | 3719 | | Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, general 2506 |
|---|
| 3720 | 3720 | | purpose urban transit systems are declared qualified to 2507 |
|---|
| 3721 | 3721 | | transport students to and from school. 2508 |
|---|
| 3722 | 3722 | | (12)(13) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to 2509 |
|---|
| 3723 | 3723 | | implement this section as are necessary to protect or desirable 2510 |
|---|
| 3724 | 3724 | | in the interest of student health and safety. 2511 |
|---|
| 3725 | 3725 | | Section 18. Subsection (4) of section 1006.25, Florida 2512 |
|---|
| 3726 | 3726 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 2513 |
|---|
| 3727 | 3727 | | 1006.25 School buses. —School buses shall be defined and 2514 |
|---|
| 3728 | 3728 | | meet specifications as follows: 2515 |
|---|
| 3729 | 3729 | | (4) OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEMS. —Students may be 2516 |
|---|
| 3730 | 3730 | | transported only in designated seating positions, except as 2517 |
|---|
| 3731 | 3731 | | provided in s. 1006.22(11) s. 1006.22(12), and must use the 2518 |
|---|
| 3732 | 3732 | | occupant crash protection system provided by the manufacturer, 2519 |
|---|
| 3733 | 3733 | | which system must comply with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. part 2520 |
|---|
| 3734 | 3734 | | 571 or with specifications of the State Board of Education. 2521 |
|---|
| 3735 | 3735 | | Section 19. Subsection (1) of section 10 06.27, Florida 2522 |
|---|
| 3736 | 3736 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 2523 |
|---|
| 3737 | 3737 | | 1006.27 Pooling of school buses and other vehicles and 2524 |
|---|
| 3738 | 3738 | | related purchases by district school boards; transportation 2525 |
|---|
| 3746 | 3746 | | Page 102 of 114 |
|---|
| 3747 | 3747 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3748 | 3748 | | |
|---|
| 3749 | 3749 | | |
|---|
| 3750 | 3750 | | |
|---|
| 3751 | 3751 | | services contracts.— 2526 |
|---|
| 3752 | 3752 | | (1) The department shall assist district school boards in 2527 |
|---|
| 3753 | 3753 | | securing school buses and other vehicles for transporting 2528 |
|---|
| 3754 | 3754 | | students, contractual needs, equipment, and supplies at as 2529 |
|---|
| 3755 | 3755 | | reasonable prices as possible by providing a plan under which 2530 |
|---|
| 3756 | 3756 | | district school boards may voluntarily pool their bids for such 2531 |
|---|
| 3757 | 3757 | | purchases. The department shall prepare bid forms and 2532 |
|---|
| 3758 | 3758 | | specifications, obtain quotations of prices and make such 2533 |
|---|
| 3759 | 3759 | | information available to district school boards in order to 2534 |
|---|
| 3760 | 3760 | | facilitate this service. District school boards from time to 2535 |
|---|
| 3761 | 3761 | | time, as prescribed by State Board of Education r ule, shall 2536 |
|---|
| 3762 | 3762 | | furnish the department with information concerning the prices 2537 |
|---|
| 3763 | 3763 | | paid for such items and the department shall furnish to district 2538 |
|---|
| 3764 | 3764 | | school boards periodic information concerning the lowest prices 2539 |
|---|
| 3765 | 3765 | | at which school buses and other vehicles, equipment, and related 2540 |
|---|
| 3766 | 3766 | | supplies are available based upon comparable specifications. 2541 |
|---|
| 3767 | 3767 | | Section 20. Paragraph (k) is added to subsection (2) of 2542 |
|---|
| 3768 | 3768 | | section 1011.71, Florida Statutes, to read: 2543 |
|---|
| 3769 | 3769 | | 1011.71 District school tax. — 2544 |
|---|
| 3770 | 3770 | | (2) In addition to the maximum millage levy as provided in 2545 |
|---|
| 3771 | 3771 | | subsection (1), each school board may levy not more than 1.5 2546 |
|---|
| 3772 | 3772 | | mills against the taxable value for school purposes for charter 2547 |
|---|
| 3773 | 3773 | | schools pursuant to s. 1013.62(1) and (3) and for district 2548 |
|---|
| 3774 | 3774 | | schools to fund: 2549 |
|---|
| 3775 | 3775 | | (k) Payment of salaries and benefits for employees whose 2550 |
|---|
| 3783 | 3783 | | Page 103 of 114 |
|---|
| 3784 | 3784 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3785 | 3785 | | |
|---|
| 3786 | 3786 | | |
|---|
| 3787 | 3787 | | |
|---|
| 3788 | 3788 | | job duties support activities funded by this subsection. 2551 |
|---|
| 3789 | 3789 | | Section 21. Effective upon this act becoming a law, 2552 |
|---|
| 3790 | 3790 | | subsection (3), paragraphs (d), (g), and (h) of subsection (5), 2553 |
|---|
| 3791 | 3791 | | paragraph (f) of subsection (6), and paragraphs (d) and (e) of 2554 |
|---|
| 3792 | 3792 | | subsection (7) of section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are 2555 |
|---|
| 3793 | 3793 | | amended, and paragraph (i) is added to subsection (5) of that 2556 |
|---|
| 3794 | 3794 | | section, to read: 2557 |
|---|
| 3795 | 3795 | | 1012.56 Educator certification requirements. — 2558 |
|---|
| 3796 | 3796 | | (3) MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. —Acceptable means of 2559 |
|---|
| 3797 | 3797 | | demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are: 2560 |
|---|
| 3798 | 3798 | | (a) Achievement of passing scores on the general knowledge 2561 |
|---|
| 3799 | 3799 | | examination required by state board rule; 2562 |
|---|
| 3800 | 3800 | | (b) Documentation of a valid professional standard 2563 |
|---|
| 3801 | 3801 | | teaching certificate issued by another state; 2564 |
|---|
| 3802 | 3802 | | (c) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the 2565 |
|---|
| 3803 | 3803 | | National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national 2566 |
|---|
| 3804 | 3804 | | educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of 2567 |
|---|
| 3805 | 3805 | | Education; 2568 |
|---|
| 3806 | 3806 | | (d) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full -2569 |
|---|
| 3807 | 3807 | | time or part-time teaching in a Florida College System 2570 |
|---|
| 3808 | 3808 | | institution, state university, or private college or university 2571 |
|---|
| 3809 | 3809 | | that awards an associate or higher degree and is an accredited 2572 |
|---|
| 3810 | 3810 | | institution or an institution of higher education identified by 2573 |
|---|
| 3811 | 3811 | | the Department of Education as havin g a quality program; 2574 |
|---|
| 3812 | 3812 | | (e) Achievement of passing scores, identified in state 2575 |
|---|
| 3820 | 3820 | | Page 104 of 114 |
|---|
| 3821 | 3821 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3822 | 3822 | | |
|---|
| 3823 | 3823 | | |
|---|
| 3824 | 3824 | | |
|---|
| 3825 | 3825 | | board rule, on national or international examinations that test 2576 |
|---|
| 3826 | 3826 | | comparable content and relevant standards in verbal, analytical 2577 |
|---|
| 3827 | 3827 | | writing, and quantitative reasoning skills, includ ing, but not 2578 |
|---|
| 3828 | 3828 | | limited to, the verbal, analytical writing, and quantitative 2579 |
|---|
| 3829 | 3829 | | reasoning portions of the Graduate Record Examination. Passing 2580 |
|---|
| 3830 | 3830 | | scores identified in state board rule must be at approximately 2581 |
|---|
| 3831 | 3831 | | the same level of rigor as is required to pass the gener al 2582 |
|---|
| 3832 | 3832 | | knowledge examinations; or 2583 |
|---|
| 3833 | 3833 | | (f) Documentation of receipt of a master's or higher 2584 |
|---|
| 3834 | 3834 | | degree from an accredited postsecondary educational institution 2585 |
|---|
| 3835 | 3835 | | that the Department of Education has identified as having a 2586 |
|---|
| 3836 | 3836 | | quality program resulting in a baccalaureate de gree or higher. 2587 |
|---|
| 3837 | 3837 | | 2588 |
|---|
| 3838 | 3838 | | A school district that employs an individual who does not 2589 |
|---|
| 3839 | 3839 | | achieve passing scores on any subtest of the general knowledge 2590 |
|---|
| 3840 | 3840 | | examination must provide information regarding the availability 2591 |
|---|
| 3841 | 3841 | | of state-level and district-level supports and instruc tion to 2592 |
|---|
| 3842 | 3842 | | assist him or her in achieving a passing score. Such information 2593 |
|---|
| 3843 | 3843 | | must include, but need not be limited to, state -level test 2594 |
|---|
| 3844 | 3844 | | information guides, school district test preparation resources, 2595 |
|---|
| 3845 | 3845 | | and preparation courses offered by state universities and 2596 |
|---|
| 3846 | 3846 | | Florida College System institutions. The requirement of mastery 2597 |
|---|
| 3847 | 3847 | | of general knowledge shall be waived for an individual who has 2598 |
|---|
| 3848 | 3848 | | been provided 3 years of supports and instruction and who has 2599 |
|---|
| 3849 | 3849 | | been rated effective or highly effective under s. 1012.34 for 2600 |
|---|
| 3857 | 3857 | | Page 105 of 114 |
|---|
| 3858 | 3858 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3859 | 3859 | | |
|---|
| 3860 | 3860 | | |
|---|
| 3861 | 3861 | | |
|---|
| 3862 | 3862 | | each of the last 3 years. 2601 |
|---|
| 3863 | 3863 | | (5) MASTERY OF SUBJECT AREA KNOWLEDGE. —Acceptable means of 2602 |
|---|
| 3864 | 3864 | | demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge are: 2603 |
|---|
| 3865 | 3865 | | (d) For a subject requiring a master's or higher degree, 2604 |
|---|
| 3866 | 3866 | | completion of the subject area specialization requirements 2605 |
|---|
| 3867 | 3867 | | specified in state board rule and achievement of a passing score 2606 |
|---|
| 3868 | 3868 | | on the Florida-developed subject area examination or a 2607 |
|---|
| 3869 | 3869 | | standardized examination that is directly related to the subject 2608 |
|---|
| 3870 | 3870 | | specified in state board rule; 2609 |
|---|
| 3871 | 3871 | | (g) Documentation of successful completion of a United 2610 |
|---|
| 3872 | 3872 | | States Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center 2611 |
|---|
| 3873 | 3873 | | program; or 2612 |
|---|
| 3874 | 3874 | | (h) Documentation of a passing score on the Defense 2613 |
|---|
| 3875 | 3875 | | Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) ; or 2614 |
|---|
| 3876 | 3876 | | (i) For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree 2615 |
|---|
| 3877 | 3877 | | for which a Florida subje ct area examination has been developed, 2616 |
|---|
| 3878 | 3878 | | documentation of receipt of a master's or higher degree from an 2617 |
|---|
| 3879 | 3879 | | accredited postsecondary educational institution that the 2618 |
|---|
| 3880 | 3880 | | Department of Education has identified as having a quality 2619 |
|---|
| 3881 | 3881 | | program resulting in a baccalaureat e degree or higher in the 2620 |
|---|
| 3882 | 3882 | | certificate subject area as identified by state board rule . 2621 |
|---|
| 3883 | 3883 | | 2622 |
|---|
| 3884 | 3884 | | School districts are encouraged to provide mechanisms for middle 2623 |
|---|
| 3885 | 3885 | | grades teachers holding only a K -6 teaching certificate to 2624 |
|---|
| 3886 | 3886 | | obtain a subject area coverage for middle gra des through 2625 |
|---|
| 3894 | 3894 | | Page 106 of 114 |
|---|
| 3895 | 3895 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3896 | 3896 | | |
|---|
| 3897 | 3897 | | |
|---|
| 3898 | 3898 | | |
|---|
| 3899 | 3899 | | postsecondary coursework or district add -on certification. 2626 |
|---|
| 3900 | 3900 | | (6) MASTERY OF PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND EDUCATION 2627 |
|---|
| 3901 | 3901 | | COMPETENCE.—Acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of 2628 |
|---|
| 3902 | 3902 | | professional preparation and education competence are: 2629 |
|---|
| 3903 | 3903 | | (f) Successful completion of professional preparation 2630 |
|---|
| 3904 | 3904 | | courses as specified in state board rule, successful completion 2631 |
|---|
| 3905 | 3905 | | of a professional preparation and education competence program 2632 |
|---|
| 3906 | 3906 | | pursuant to paragraph (8)(b), and documentation of 3 years of 2633 |
|---|
| 3907 | 3907 | | being rated effective or highly effective under s. 1012.34 while 2634 |
|---|
| 3908 | 3908 | | holding a temporary certificate achievement of a passing score 2635 |
|---|
| 3909 | 3909 | | on the professional education competency examination required by 2636 |
|---|
| 3910 | 3910 | | state board rule; 2637 |
|---|
| 3911 | 3911 | | 2638 |
|---|
| 3912 | 3912 | | The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implem ent this 2639 |
|---|
| 3913 | 3913 | | subsection by December 31, 2014, including rules to approve 2640 |
|---|
| 3914 | 3914 | | specific teacher preparation programs that are not identified in 2641 |
|---|
| 3915 | 3915 | | this subsection which may be used to meet requirements for 2642 |
|---|
| 3916 | 3916 | | mastery of professional preparation and education competence. 2643 |
|---|
| 3917 | 3917 | | (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION. — 2644 |
|---|
| 3918 | 3918 | | (d) A person who is issued a temporary certificate under 2645 |
|---|
| 3919 | 3919 | | paragraph (b) subparagraph (b)2. must be assigned a teacher 2646 |
|---|
| 3920 | 3920 | | mentor for a minimum of 2 school years after commencing 2647 |
|---|
| 3921 | 3921 | | employment. Each teacher mentor selected by the school district, 2648 |
|---|
| 3922 | 3922 | | charter school, or charter management organization must: 2649 |
|---|
| 3923 | 3923 | | 1. Hold a valid professional certificate issued pursuant 2650 |
|---|
| 3931 | 3931 | | Page 107 of 114 |
|---|
| 3932 | 3932 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3933 | 3933 | | |
|---|
| 3934 | 3934 | | |
|---|
| 3935 | 3935 | | |
|---|
| 3936 | 3936 | | to this section; 2651 |
|---|
| 3937 | 3937 | | 2. Have earned at least 3 years of teaching experience in 2652 |
|---|
| 3938 | 3938 | | prekindergarten through grade 12; and 2653 |
|---|
| 3939 | 3939 | | 3. Have earned an effective or highly effective rating on 2654 |
|---|
| 3940 | 3940 | | the prior year's performance evaluation under s. 1012.34. 2655 |
|---|
| 3941 | 3941 | | (e)1. A temporary certificate issued under paragraph (b) 2656 |
|---|
| 3942 | 3942 | | subparagraph (b)1. is valid for 5 3 school fiscal years and is 2657 |
|---|
| 3943 | 3943 | | nonrenewable. 2658 |
|---|
| 3944 | 3944 | | 2. A temporary certificate issued under subparagraph (b)2. 2659 |
|---|
| 3945 | 3945 | | is valid for 5 school fiscal years, is limited to a one -time 2660 |
|---|
| 3946 | 3946 | | issuance, and is nonrenewable. 2661 |
|---|
| 3947 | 3947 | | 2662 |
|---|
| 3948 | 3948 | | At least 1 year before an individual's temporary certificate is 2663 |
|---|
| 3949 | 3949 | | set to expire, the department shall elect ronically notify the 2664 |
|---|
| 3950 | 3950 | | individual of the date on which his or her certificate will 2665 |
|---|
| 3951 | 3951 | | expire and provide a list of each method by which the 2666 |
|---|
| 3952 | 3952 | | qualifications for a professional certificate can be completed. 2667 |
|---|
| 3953 | 3953 | | The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to allow t he 2668 |
|---|
| 3954 | 3954 | | department to extend the validity period of a temporary 2669 |
|---|
| 3955 | 3955 | | certificate for 2 years when the requirements for the 2670 |
|---|
| 3956 | 3956 | | professional certificate were not completed due to the serious 2671 |
|---|
| 3957 | 3957 | | illness or injury of the applicant, the military service of an 2672 |
|---|
| 3958 | 3958 | | applicant's spouse, other extraordinary extenuating 2673 |
|---|
| 3959 | 3959 | | circumstances, or if the certificateholder is rated highly 2674 |
|---|
| 3960 | 3960 | | effective in the immediate prior year's performance evaluation 2675 |
|---|
| 3968 | 3968 | | Page 108 of 114 |
|---|
| 3969 | 3969 | | 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 |
|---|
| 3970 | 3970 | | |
|---|
| 3971 | 3971 | | |
|---|
| 3972 | 3972 | | |
|---|
| 3973 | 3973 | | pursuant to s. 1012.34 or has completed a 2 -year mentorship 2676 |
|---|
| 3974 | 3974 | | program pursuant to subsection (8). The department shall extend 2677 |
|---|
| 3975 | 3975 | | the temporary certificate upon approval by the Commissioner of 2678 |
|---|
| 3976 | 3976 | | Education. A written request for extension of the certificate 2679 |
|---|
| 3977 | 3977 | | shall be submitted by the district school superintendent, the 2680 |
|---|
| 3978 | 3978 | | governing authority of a university lab scho ol, the governing 2681 |
|---|
| 3979 | 3979 | | authority of a state -supported school, or the governing 2682 |
|---|
| 3980 | 3980 | | authority of a private school. 2683 |
|---|
| 3981 | 3981 | | Section 22. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (6) of 2684 |
|---|
| 3982 | 3982 | | section 1013.64, Florida Statutes, to read: 2685 |
|---|
| 3983 | 3983 | | 1013.64 Funds for comprehensive educational p lant needs; 2686 |
|---|
| 3984 | 3984 | | construction cost maximums for school district capital 2687 |
|---|
| 3985 | 3985 | | projects.—Allocations from the Public Education Capital Outlay 2688 |
|---|
| 3986 | 3986 | | and Debt Service Trust Fund to the various boards for capital 2689 |
|---|
| 3987 | 3987 | | outlay projects shall be determined as follows: 2690 |
|---|
| 3988 | 3988 | | (6) 2691 |
|---|
| 3989 | 3989 | | (e) Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection, 2692 |
|---|
| 3990 | 3990 | | an unfinished construction project for new construction of 2693 |
|---|
| 3991 | 3991 | | educational plant space that was started on or before July 1, 2694 |
|---|
| 3992 | 3992 | | 2026, is exempt from the total cost per student station 2695 |
|---|
| 3993 | 3993 | | requirements established i n paragraph (b). 2696 |
|---|
| 3994 | 3994 | | Section 23. Subsection (3) of section 1002.321, Florida 2697 |
|---|
| 3995 | 3995 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 2698 |
|---|
| 3996 | 3996 | | 1002.321 Digital learning. — 2699 |
|---|
| 3997 | 3997 | | (3) DIGITAL PREPARATION. —As required under s. 1003.4282, A 2700 |
|---|
| 4005 | 4005 | | Page 109 of 114 |
|---|
| 4006 | 4006 | | 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 |
|---|
| 4007 | 4007 | | |
|---|
| 4008 | 4008 | | |
|---|
| 4009 | 4009 | | |
|---|
| 4010 | 4010 | | student entering grade 9 in the 2011 -2012 school year and 2701 |
|---|
| 4011 | 4011 | | thereafter who seeks a high school diploma must take at least 2702 |
|---|
| 4012 | 4012 | | one online course. 2703 |
|---|
| 4013 | 4013 | | Section 24. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) of 2704 |
|---|
| 4014 | 4014 | | section 1003.5716, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2705 |
|---|
| 4015 | 4015 | | 1003.5716 Transition to postsecondary education and ca reer 2706 |
|---|
| 4016 | 4016 | | opportunities.—All students with disabilities who are 3 years of 2707 |
|---|
| 4017 | 4017 | | age to 21 years of age have the right to a free, appropriate 2708 |
|---|
| 4018 | 4018 | | public education. As used in this section, the term "IEP" means 2709 |
|---|
| 4019 | 4019 | | individual education plan. 2710 |
|---|
| 4020 | 4020 | | (2) Beginning not later than the first IEP to be in effect 2711 |
|---|
| 4021 | 4021 | | when the student enters high school, attains the age of 14, or 2712 |
|---|
| 4022 | 4022 | | when determined appropriate by the parent and the IEP team, 2713 |
|---|
| 4023 | 4023 | | whichever occurs first, the IEP must include the following 2714 |
|---|
| 4024 | 4024 | | statements that must be updated annually: 2715 |
|---|
| 4025 | 4025 | | (a) A statement of intent to pursue a standard high school 2716 |
|---|
| 4026 | 4026 | | diploma and a Scholar or Merit designation, pursuant to s. 2717 |
|---|
| 4027 | 4027 | | 1003.4285, as determined by the parent. 2718 |
|---|
| 4028 | 4028 | | 1. The statement must document discussion of the process 2719 |
|---|
| 4029 | 4029 | | for a student with a disability who meets the requirements for a 2720 |
|---|
| 4030 | 4030 | | standard high school diploma to defer the receipt of such 2721 |
|---|
| 4031 | 4031 | | diploma pursuant to s. 1003.4282(8)(c) s. 1003.4282(9)(c). 2722 |
|---|
| 4032 | 4032 | | 2. For the IEP in effect at the beginning of the school 2723 |
|---|
| 4033 | 4033 | | year the student is expected to graduate, the statement mu st 2724 |
|---|
| 4034 | 4034 | | include a signed statement by the parent, the guardian, or the 2725 |
|---|
| 4042 | 4042 | | Page 110 of 114 |
|---|
| 4043 | 4043 | | 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 |
|---|
| 4044 | 4044 | | |
|---|
| 4045 | 4045 | | |
|---|
| 4046 | 4046 | | |
|---|
| 4047 | 4047 | | student, if the student has reached the age of majority and 2726 |
|---|
| 4048 | 4048 | | rights have transferred to the student, that he or she 2727 |
|---|
| 4049 | 4049 | | understands the process for deferment and identifying if the 2728 |
|---|
| 4050 | 4050 | | student will defer the receipt of his or her standard high 2729 |
|---|
| 4051 | 4051 | | school diploma. 2730 |
|---|
| 4052 | 4052 | | (b) A statement of intent to receive a standard high 2731 |
|---|
| 4053 | 4053 | | school diploma before the student attains the age of 22 and a 2732 |
|---|
| 4054 | 4054 | | description of how the student will fully meet the requirements 2733 |
|---|
| 4055 | 4055 | | in s. 1003.4282, including, but not limited to, a portfolio 2734 |
|---|
| 4056 | 4056 | | pursuant to s. 1003.4282(8)(b) s. 1003.4282(9)(b) which meets 2735 |
|---|
| 4057 | 4057 | | the criteria specified in State Board of Education rule. The IEP 2736 |
|---|
| 4058 | 4058 | | must also specify the outcomes and additional benefits expected 2737 |
|---|
| 4059 | 4059 | | by the parent and the IEP team at the time of the student's 2738 |
|---|
| 4060 | 4060 | | graduation. 2739 |
|---|
| 4061 | 4061 | | Section 25. Subsection (2) of section 1003.499, Florida 2740 |
|---|
| 4062 | 4062 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 2741 |
|---|
| 4063 | 4063 | | 1003.499 Florida Approved Courses and Tests (FACT) 2742 |
|---|
| 4064 | 4064 | | Initiative.— 2743 |
|---|
| 4065 | 4065 | | (2) FLORIDA APPROVED COURSES. —The Department of Education 2744 |
|---|
| 4066 | 4066 | | shall annually publish online a list of providers approved to 2745 |
|---|
| 4067 | 4067 | | offer Florida approv ed courses which shall be listed in the 2746 |
|---|
| 4068 | 4068 | | online catalog pursuant to s. 1002.321(5) s. 1002.321(6). 2747 |
|---|
| 4069 | 4069 | | (a) As used in this section, the term "Florida approved 2748 |
|---|
| 4070 | 4070 | | courses" means online courses provided by individuals which 2749 |
|---|
| 4071 | 4071 | | include, but are not limited to, massive open online courses or 2750 |
|---|
| 4079 | 4079 | | Page 111 of 114 |
|---|
| 4080 | 4080 | | 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 |
|---|
| 4081 | 4081 | | |
|---|
| 4082 | 4082 | | |
|---|
| 4083 | 4083 | | |
|---|
| 4084 | 4084 | | remedial education associated with the courses that are measured 2751 |
|---|
| 4085 | 4085 | | pursuant to s. 1008.22. Massive open online courses may be 2752 |
|---|
| 4086 | 4086 | | authorized in the following subject areas: Algebra I, biology, 2753 |
|---|
| 4087 | 4087 | | geometry, and civics. Courses may be applied toward requirements 2754 |
|---|
| 4088 | 4088 | | for promotion or graduation in whole, in subparts, or in a 2755 |
|---|
| 4089 | 4089 | | combination of whole and subparts. A student may not be required 2756 |
|---|
| 4090 | 4090 | | to repeat subparts that are satisfactorily completed. 2757 |
|---|
| 4091 | 4091 | | (b) A Florida approved course must be annually identifie d, 2758 |
|---|
| 4092 | 4092 | | approved, published, and shared for consideration by interested 2759 |
|---|
| 4093 | 4093 | | students and school districts. The Commissioner of Education 2760 |
|---|
| 4094 | 4094 | | shall approve each Florida approved course for application in K -2761 |
|---|
| 4095 | 4095 | | 12 public schools in accordance with rules of the State Board of 2762 |
|---|
| 4096 | 4096 | | Education. 2763 |
|---|
| 4097 | 4097 | | Section 26. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 2764 |
|---|
| 4098 | 4098 | | 1003.27, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2765 |
|---|
| 4099 | 4099 | | 1003.27 Court procedure and penalties. —The court procedure 2766 |
|---|
| 4100 | 4100 | | and penalties for the enforcement of the provisions of this 2767 |
|---|
| 4101 | 4101 | | part, relating to compulsory school attendance, shall be as 2768 |
|---|
| 4102 | 4102 | | follows: 2769 |
|---|
| 4103 | 4103 | | (2) NONENROLLMENT AND NONATTENDANCE CASES. — 2770 |
|---|
| 4104 | 4104 | | (c) Each designee of the governing body of each private 2771 |
|---|
| 4105 | 4105 | | school and each parent whose child is enrolled in a home 2772 |
|---|
| 4106 | 4106 | | education program or personalized education program may provide 2773 |
|---|
| 4107 | 4107 | | the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles with the 2774 |
|---|
| 4108 | 4108 | | legal name, sex, date of birth, and social security number of 2775 |
|---|
| 4116 | 4116 | | Page 112 of 114 |
|---|
| 4117 | 4117 | | 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 |
|---|
| 4118 | 4118 | | |
|---|
| 4119 | 4119 | | |
|---|
| 4120 | 4120 | | |
|---|
| 4121 | 4121 | | each minor student under his or her jurisdiction who fails to 2776 |
|---|
| 4122 | 4122 | | satisfy relevant attendance requirements and who f ails to 2777 |
|---|
| 4123 | 4123 | | otherwise satisfy the requirements of s. 322.091. The Department 2778 |
|---|
| 4124 | 4124 | | of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may not issue a driver 2779 |
|---|
| 4125 | 4125 | | license or learner's driver license to, and shall suspend any 2780 |
|---|
| 4126 | 4126 | | previously issued driver license or learner's driver license of, 2781 |
|---|
| 4127 | 4127 | | any such minor student pursuant to s. 322.091. 2782 |
|---|
| 4128 | 4128 | | Section 27. Paragraph (k) of subsection (4) of section 2783 |
|---|
| 4129 | 4129 | | 1003.485, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2784 |
|---|
| 4130 | 4130 | | 1003.485 The New Worlds Reading Initiative. — 2785 |
|---|
| 4131 | 4131 | | (4) ADMINISTRATOR RESPONSIBILITIES. —The administrator 2786 |
|---|
| 4132 | 4132 | | shall: 2787 |
|---|
| 4133 | 4133 | | (k) Expend eligible contributions received only for the 2788 |
|---|
| 4134 | 4134 | | purchase and delivery of books and to implement the requirements 2789 |
|---|
| 4135 | 4135 | | of this section, as well as for administrative expenses not to 2790 |
|---|
| 4136 | 4136 | | exceed 2 percent of total eligible contributions. 2791 |
|---|
| 4137 | 4137 | | Notwithstanding s. 1002.395(6)(l)2. s. 1002.395(6)(j)2., the 2792 |
|---|
| 4138 | 4138 | | administrator may carry forward up to 25 percent of eligible 2793 |
|---|
| 4139 | 4139 | | contributions made before January 1 of each state fiscal year 2794 |
|---|
| 4140 | 4140 | | and 100 percent of eligible contributions made on or after 2795 |
|---|
| 4141 | 4141 | | January 1 of each sta te fiscal year to the following state 2796 |
|---|
| 4142 | 4142 | | fiscal year for purposes authorized by this subsection. Any 2797 |
|---|
| 4143 | 4143 | | eligible contributions in excess of the allowable carry forward 2798 |
|---|
| 4144 | 4144 | | not used to provide additional books throughout the year to 2799 |
|---|
| 4145 | 4145 | | eligible students shall revert to the state treasury. 2800 |
|---|
| 4153 | 4153 | | Page 113 of 114 |
|---|
| 4154 | 4154 | | 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 |
|---|
| 4155 | 4155 | | |
|---|
| 4156 | 4156 | | |
|---|
| 4157 | 4157 | | |
|---|
| 4158 | 4158 | | Section 28. Subsections (3) and (5) of section 1009.30, 2801 |
|---|
| 4159 | 4159 | | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2802 |
|---|
| 4160 | 4160 | | 1009.30 Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program. — 2803 |
|---|
| 4161 | 4161 | | (3)(a) The program shall reimburse eligible postsecondary 2804 |
|---|
| 4162 | 4162 | | institutions for tuition and related instructional materials 2805 |
|---|
| 4163 | 4163 | | costs for dual enrollment courses taken during the fall or 2806 |
|---|
| 4164 | 4164 | | spring terms by eligible students, consisting of: 2807 |
|---|
| 4165 | 4165 | | 1. Private school students who take dual enrollment 2808 |
|---|
| 4166 | 4166 | | courses pursuant to s. 1007.271(24)(b); or 2809 |
|---|
| 4167 | 4167 | | 2. Home education program secondary students ; or 2810 |
|---|
| 4168 | 4168 | | 3. Personalized education program secondary students . 2811 |
|---|
| 4169 | 4169 | | (b) Beginning in the 2022 summer term, The program shall 2812 |
|---|
| 4170 | 4170 | | reimburse institutions for tuition and related instructional 2813 |
|---|
| 4171 | 4171 | | materials costs for dual enrollment courses taken by public 2814 |
|---|
| 4172 | 4172 | | school, private school, or home education program secondary 2815 |
|---|
| 4173 | 4173 | | students, or personalized education program secondary st udents 2816 |
|---|
| 4174 | 4174 | | during the summer term. 2817 |
|---|
| 4175 | 4175 | | (5) Each participating institution must report to the 2818 |
|---|
| 4176 | 4176 | | department any eligible secondary students eligible pursuant to 2819 |
|---|
| 4177 | 4177 | | subsection (3) from private schools or home education programs 2820 |
|---|
| 4178 | 4178 | | who were enrolled during the fall or sprin g terms within 30 days 2821 |
|---|
| 4179 | 4179 | | after the end of regular registration. Each participating 2822 |
|---|
| 4180 | 4180 | | institution must report to the department any secondary students 2823 |
|---|
| 4181 | 4181 | | eligible pursuant to subsection (3) public school, private 2824 |
|---|
| 4182 | 4182 | | school, or home education program students who were enrolled 2825 |
|---|
| 4190 | 4190 | | Page 114 of 114 |
|---|
| 4191 | 4191 | | 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 |
|---|
| 4192 | 4192 | | |
|---|
| 4193 | 4193 | | |
|---|
| 4194 | 4194 | | |
|---|
| 4195 | 4195 | | during the summer term within 30 days after the end of regular 2826 |
|---|
| 4196 | 4196 | | registration. For each dual enrollment course in which the 2827 |
|---|
| 4197 | 4197 | | student is enrolled, the report must include a unique student 2828 |
|---|
| 4198 | 4198 | | identifier, the postsecondary institution name, the 2829 |
|---|
| 4199 | 4199 | | postsecondary course number, and the postsecondary course name. 2830 |
|---|
| 4200 | 4200 | | The department shall reimburse each participating institution no 2831 |
|---|
| 4201 | 4201 | | later than 30 days after the institution has reported enrollment 2832 |
|---|
| 4202 | 4202 | | for that term. 2833 |
|---|
| 4203 | 4203 | | Section 29. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this 2834 |
|---|
| 4204 | 4204 | | act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon 2835 |
|---|
| 4205 | 4205 | | this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1, 2836 |
|---|
| 4206 | 4206 | | 2023. 2837 |
|---|