CS for SB 1344 - Higher Education

• Revises Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program eligibility requirements, including requiring Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submission, shortening renewal periods from 7 to 4 years for students graduating in 2010-2011 and later, and reducing maximum credit hours for which scholarships may be awarded

• Establishes $225,000 annual compensation cap for community college presidents paid from state funds, with exceptions for non-state funding sources

• Modifies textbook affordability policies to encourage use of open-access textbooks and requires Florida Distance Learning Consortium to develop online registration process for undergraduate distance learning courses by December 1, 2010

• Expands workforce education program funding to require full fee support for continuing workforce education courses and excludes these enrollments from full-time equivalent funding calculations

• Creates new electronic library resource licensing process requiring state universities, colleges, school districts, and public libraries to collaborate on identifying core resource categories through annual coordination