CS/HB 181 - Sunshine Scholarship Program

• Establishes the Sunshine Scholarship Program administered by the Department of Education to fund 100 percent of tuition and fees for Florida residents pursuing associate degrees or career certificates at Florida College System institutions, career centers, or charter technical career centers.

• Requires students to have annual household income of $50,000 or less, maintain full-time enrollment (minimum 12 semester hours), complete the FAFSA annually, and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

• Mandates that Pell Grants, Florida Public Student Assistance Grants, and Florida Bright Futures Scholarships be credited to tuition and fees before Sunshine Scholarship funds are applied.

• Requires students to reside and work in Florida for the same period they received funds after program completion or disenrollment; students failing to meet this requirement must repay the full award plus interest at the federal student loan rate, with exceptions for military enlistment and continued enrollment in baccalaureate or higher degree programs.

• Takes effect July 1, 2018; funding provided through the General Appropriations Act; State Board of Education authorized to adopt implementing rules.