Bright Future Scholarship Increases/Flat rate tuition (Block Tuition)/OOS Benacquisto Scholarship

[Kteacher22]

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/bills.aspx?SessionId=83&HouseChamber=B&BillText=Bright

[Kteacher22]

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/bills.aspx?SessionId=83&HouseChamber=B&BillText=Bright

[Tigershark43]

Wow…it does appear that they killed it on Friday. Someone please tell me otherwise

[Tigershark43]

Then there is this article from 12 hours ago that makes it seem as though it’s definitely still on…I’m confused lol.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/florida-politics-blog/fl-reg-florida-legislature-what-passed-what-failed-20170502-story.html

[ufmomfriend]

BE AWARE…I am only speculating here!!!
But perhaps these are different congressmen’s versions of the same bill with their suggestions, wants and revisions that are not being considered any more and are being tabled due to end of session “housekeeping”. Perhaps a very regular occurrence and we shouldn’t be jump to the worst case senario.
That is my positive attitude shining thru…lol.
I hope someone can tell me I am correct. Fingers crossed!!!

[Tigershark43]

That would make sense. That recent article from the Sun-Sentinel calmed me down a good bit. Like the way you think

[madredos]

Florida. We are the state that puts the fun in dysfunction.

[minniemouse143]

Look up SB 374… I am no expert, but let me know what you think. HB 3 and SB 2 might be gone, but I believe the Florida Academic Scholar Bright Futures increase is there.

[Kteacher22]

That Sun sentinel article is very encouraging! That’s for finding that. I didn’t sees anything on sb374 about bright futures .

[Tigershark43]

Start reading at line 8004 lol:
http://m.flsenate.gov/session/bill/2017/374/billtext/e1/pdf

[Kteacher22]

Wow! I had no idea these bills were that long! Lol Thanks Tigershark

[minniemouse143]

In everything I have read, it looks like Negron from the Senate compromised with Corcoron from the House and included the Bright Futures increase to the legislative bill. Just has to be voted on on Monday and then off to the Governor. At that point, we just have to wait and see…

[lcgusa]

Pretty sure Scott was championing the BF as a political move, as well as summer class BF. Don’t know if he will veto if this bill doesn’t include his “Visit Florida” project.

[minniemouse143]

I agree. He seems to promtote the Bright Futures expansion… but you are right, we have to see if he vetoes the whole thing, or parts of it. He still gets “Visit Florida” in the bill, but it was cut to 25million from 75million I believe.

[Kteacher22]

When does the budget proposal go to the governor?

[Tigershark43]

House and senate just passed budget which restores top level bright futures to 100% of tuition and fees plus $300 per semester. All up to Gov Scott now.

[crazy4info]

@Tigershark43 was the Benacquisto for OOS removed from the bill?

[Tigershark43]

Starting at line 8158, looks like it’s still in there if I’m looking at the right document. Pretty sure this is the one they voted on and passed according to the senate site. Not positive though.
http://m.flsenate.gov/session/bill/2017/374/billtext/e1/html

[Zinhead]

Here is the verbiage from line 8158:

1009.893 Benacquisto Scholarship Program.— (2) The Benacquisto Scholarship Program is created to reward a high school graduate who receives recognition as a National Merit Scholar or National Achievement Scholar and who initially enrolls in the 2014-2015 academic year or, later, in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible Florida public or independent postsecondary educational institution.

(4) In order to be eligible for an award under the scholarship program, a student must meet the requirements of paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).:

(a) A student who is a resident of the state, as determined in s. 1009.40 and rules of the State Board of Education, must:;

1. Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s. 1003.4282, 8145 or s. 1003.435 unless: a. The student completes a home education program according to s. 1002.41; or b. The student earns a high school diploma from a non- Florida school while living with a parent who is on military or CS for CS for public service assignment out of this state;
2. Be accepted by and enroll in a Florida public or independent postsecondary educational institution that is regionally accredited; and
3. Be enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible regionally accredited Florida public or independent postsecondary educational institution during the fall academic term following high school graduation.

(b) A student who initially enrolls in a baccalaureate degree program in the 2017-2018 academic year or later and who is not a resident of this state, as determined pursuant to s. 1009.40 and rules of the State Board of Education, must:

1. Physically reside in this state on or near the campus of the postsecondary educational institution in which the student is enrolled;
2. Earn a high school diploma from a school outside Florida which is comparable to a standard Florida high school diploma or its equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s. 8168 1003.4282, or s. 1003.435 or must complete a home education program in another state; and
3. Be accepted by and enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible regionally accredited Florida public or independent postsecondary educational institution during the fall academic term following high school graduation.

(5)(a) 1. An eligible student who meets the requirements of paragraph (4)(a), who is a National Merit Scholar or National Achievement Scholar, and who attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution shall receive a scholarship award equal to the institutional cost of attendance minus the sum of the student’s Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship or National Achievement Scholarship.

1. An eligible student who meets the requirements under paragraph (4)(b), who is a National Merit Scholar, and who attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution shall receive a scholarship award equal to the institutional cost of attendance for a resident of this state less the student’s National Merit Scholarship. Such student is exempt from the payment of out-of-state fees.

(b) An eligible student who is a National Merit Scholar or National Achievement Scholar and who attends a Florida independent postsecondary educational institution shall receive a scholarship award equal to the highest cost of attendance for a resident of this state enrolled at a Florida public university, as reported by the Board of Governors of the State University System, minus the sum of the student’s Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship or National Achievement Scholarship.

The OOS component is still there, although it limits the award to in-state “cost of attendance” if one attends private colleges (sorry Miami). It also includes National Achievement Scholars but not Hispanic Recognition Program scholars.

[crazy4info]

Following that Benacquisto Scholarship closely! Will be interesting to see what happens for OOS students.