Bill > H0015

This bill makes several changes to the Gardiner Scholarship Program and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program: The Gardiner Scholarship Program is expanded to include additional disabilities eligible for the scholarship, including rare diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 individuals, anaphylaxis, and others. The bill also prohibits students enrolled in the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind from being eligible for the Gardiner Scholarship. The authorized uses of Gardiner Scholarship funds are expanded to include fees for specialized services such as therapeutic horseback riding and music/art therapy. The bill also adds provisions regarding inactive scholarship accounts and the reversion of funds to the state. For the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, the bill revises the student eligibility criteria, expanding it to include students from households with incomes up to 260% of the federal poverty level. The bill also allows children of military members to apply for the scholarship at any time. Additionally, the scholarship amounts are revised, with different percentage amounts for students in different grade levels.

Budget and Finance, Education

Education Committee (House), PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee (House), PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee (House)

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/15