Title: Financial Aid for Female Victims of Rape, Incest, Domestic Violence, or Human Trafficking

Summary: Providing that certain low-income, female students who are pregnant as a result of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking and who decide to carry the pregnancy to term are exempt from paying specified postsecondary tuition and fees; establishing the Academic Success of Pregnant Female Students Who Are Victims of Sexual Abuse Grant Program within the Department of Education; providing student eligibility requirements; providing for program funding and the disbursement of awards, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to financial aid for female victims of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking; amending s. 1009.25, F.S.; providing that certain low income, female students who are pregnant as a result of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking and who decide to carry the pregnancy to term are exempt from paying specified postsecondary tuition and fees; authorizing the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors to adopt rules and regulations, respectively; creating s. 1009.8963, F.S.; establishing the Academic Success of Pregnant Female Students Who Are Victims of Sexual Abuse Grant Program within the Department of Education; providing the purpose of the program; providing student eligibility requirements; providing for program funding and the disbursement of awards; authorizing the State Board of Education to adopt rules; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (1) of section 1009.25, Florida Statutes, to read: 1009.25 Fee exemptions.  (1) The following students are exempt from the payment of tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that provides workforce education programs, Florida College System institution, or state university: (h)   Beginning with a female student who has a conception date of January 1, 2023, or thereafter, a female student who is pregnant as a result of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking, who decides to carry the pregnancy to term, and whose household income level does not exceed percent of the federal poverty level. The State Board of Education may adopt rules and the Board of Governors may adopt regulations regarding documentation and procedures to implement this paragraph. Section 2. Section 1009.8963, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 1009.8963   The Academic Success of Pregnant Female Students Who Are Victims of Sexual Abuse Grant Program. There is established within the Department of Education the Academic Success of Pregnant Female Students Who Are Victims of Sexual Abuse Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to provide funds for child care for low-income, female students who are pregnant as a result of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking and who decide to carry the pregnancy to term. (1)   A student is eligible for the program if she: (a)   Is pregnant as a result of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking; has a conception date of January 1, 2023, or thereafter; and decides to carry the pregnancy to term. (b)   Has a household income level that does not exceed percent of the federal poverty level. (c)   Is a Florida resident as described in s. 1009.40 and rules of the State Board of Education. (d)   Is enrolled at a school district career center, charter career technical center, Florida College System institution, or state university. (2)(a)   Subject to legislative appropriation, the department shall award grants to eligible students on a first-come, first served basis. (b)   The amount of a grant award shall be the average cost of a child care provider that holds a Gold Seal Quality Care designation under s. 1002.945 for the county in which the eligible student resides. (c)   The department shall disburse grant awards to eligible students at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. (3)   The State Board of Education may adopt rules to implement this section. Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.