HB 1019 2023
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hb1019-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to independent postsecondary 2
educational grants; creating s. 1009.8911, F.S.; 3
authorizing the Department of Education to award 4
grants to students enrolled at certain colleges and 5
universities; providing requirements for such colleges 6
and universities; providing that such colleges and 7
universities are not under the jurisdiction of the 8
Commission for Independent Education; providing an 9
effective date. 10
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
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Section 1. Section 1009.8911, Florida Statutes, is created 14
to read: 15
1009.8911 Educational grants to students enrolled in 16
independent nonprofit colleges and universiti es.— 17
(1) Subject to legislative funding: 18
(a) The Department of Education shall issue a grant 19
pursuant to s. 1009.89 to any full -time, degree-seeking 20
undergraduate student who is registered at an independent 21
nonprofit college or university that meets al l of the following 22
criteria: 23
1. Was eligible for the Access to Better Learning and 24
Education Grant Program as of January 1, 2021. 25
HB 1019 2023
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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
2. Has been located in the state for more than 20 years. 26
3. Offers at least one nursing program at its campus, 27
including practical nursing programs, registered nursing 28
programs, or advanced practice registered nursing programs, and 29
is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. 30
4. Has a secular purpose. The receipt of state aid by 31
students at the college or university m ay not have the primary 32
effect of advancing or impeding religion, or result in an 33
excessive entanglement between the state and any religious sect. 34
5. Has notified the department in writing of its decision 35
to apply for the grant no later than September 1, 2023. 36
6. Except for s. 1009.89(1) and (3), complies with all 37
other requirements provided in s. 1009.89. 38
(b) The department shall issue a grant pursuant to s. 39
1009.89 to any full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student 40
who is registered at an indepe ndent for-profit college or 41
university that meets all of the following criteria: 42
1. Has a level 6 accreditation from the Southern 43
Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. 44
2. Is located in and charted by the state. 45
3. Was licensed by the department on or before October 1, 46
2021. 47
4. Has a secular purpose. The receipt of state aid by 48
students at the college or university may not have the primary 49
effect of advancing or impeding religion, or result in an 50
HB 1019 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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
excessive entanglement between the state and any religious sect. 51
5. Has notified the department in writing of its decision 52
to apply for the grant no later than September 1, 2023. 53
6. Except for s. 1009.89(1) and (3), complies with all 54
other requirements provided in s . 1009.89. 55
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An eligible college or university under this subsection may not 57
be a state university or Florida College System institution. 58
(2) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, an 59
eligible college or university applying for a grant under this 60
section is outside the jurisdiction of, and is not subject to 61
licensure by, the Commission for Independent Education. 62
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 63