Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Barbara Sharief
Department: County Commission
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2021-107 the title of which is as follows: (Commissioner Sharief)
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO REJECT SENATE BILL 86 AND ANY OTHER ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE SUBJECT MATTER LIMITATIONS ON BRIGHT FUTURES AND SIMILAR SCHOLARSHIPS OR TO PENALIZE STUDENTS FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT OR ADVANCED STUDY WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL; DIRECTING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS DESIGNATED HEREIN; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
body
Why Action is Necessary
Board approval is required for adoption of the proposed Resolution urging the Florida Legislature to reject Senate Bill 86 and any similar legislation.
What Action Accomplishes
Adopts a Resolution urging the Florida Legislature to reject Senate Bill 86 and any similar legislation.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
Senate Bill 86 (“SB 86”), introduced by Senator Dennis Baxley, is a threat to the continued availability of Florida Bright Futures and similar scholarships to deserving students. SB 86 would force students to pursue career paths approved by the State University System of Florida Board of Governors and the State Board of Education in order to receive full funding under these scholarship programs and would penalize students for pursuing dual enrollment and advanced placement opportunities while in high school.
Florida Bright Futures scholarships are an important part of funding for many aspiring college students. For the academic year 2019-2020, more than 110,000 Florida students received Florida Bright Futures scholarships totaling more than $618 million in disbursed funds. In addition, every year more than 60,000 students participate in Florida’s dual enrollment program, providing these students a head start on a college degree.
SB 86 would subject a student’s receipt of Bright Futures and similar scholarships to reduced limits based upon the student’s chosen area of study. SB 86 would limit the availability of scholarship funds to 60 credit hours per student unless the student is enrolled in a career certificate and undergraduate or graduate degree program on an approved list developed annually by the State University System of Florida Board of Governors and the State Board of Education. SB 86 would also penalize students who participate in dual enrollment or advanced placement opportunities while in high school by reducing the students’ later eligibility for Bright Futures and similar scholarships. The proposed legislation would also require that a student’s aid package be reevaluated each semester, placing the student’s continued education in jeopardy every semester.
The proposed Resolution, if adopted, would urge the Florida Legislature to reject SB 86 and any other attempt to constrain the availability of Bright Futures and similar scholarships to otherwise eligible and aspiring students in Broward County and the State of Florida.
Source of Additional Information
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
None.