FL S0520

Allows students unable to accept scholarships immediately after high school due to full-time religious or service obligations lasting at least 18 months to begin their award periods upon completion of the obligation, with sponsoring organizations required to meet nonprofit 501(c)(3) or federal service organization standards.

Requires Florida Academic Scholars and Florida Medallion Scholars to identify a civic issue or professional area of interest and develop a volunteer service plan, with 75-100 hours of service work required and documented in writing with signatures from student, parent/guardian, and organization representative.

Creates the Florida Gold Seal CAPE-Vocational Scholars award for high school students graduating in 2016-2017 and thereafter who earn minimum 5 postsecondary credit hours through CAPE industry certifications and complete 30 hours of volunteer service work.

Establishes credit hour limits for vocational scholarship recipients based on program type: up to 60 hours for applied technology diplomas, up to 72 hours for technical degree programs, and up to 72 hours for career certificate programs, with completion of technical degrees allowing up to 60 additional hours toward bachelor's degrees.

Eliminates obsolete standardized test score requirements for scholarship eligibility that applied only to students graduating before 2013-2014, consolidating requirements into current standards.