Florida Senate - 2024 SB 634



By Senator Simon





3-01014-24 2024634__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to residency status for tuition
3 purposes; amending s. 1009.21, F.S.; providing an
4 additional method for a student to prove residency for
5 tuition purposes; providing an effective date.
6
7 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
8
9 Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
10 1009.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
11 1009.21 Determination of resident status for tuition
12 purposes.—Students shall be classified as residents or
13 nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in
14 postsecondary educational programs offered by charter technical
15 career centers or career centers operated by school districts,
16 in Florida College System institutions, and in state
17 universities.
18 (3)
19 (c) Each institution of higher education shall
20 affirmatively determine that an applicant who has been granted
21 admission to that institution as a Florida resident meets the
22 residency requirements of this section at the time of initial
23 enrollment. The residency determination must be documented by
24 the submission of written or electronic verification that
25 includes two or more of the documents identified in this
26 paragraph, unless the document provided is the document
27 described in sub-subparagraph 1.f., which is deemed a single,
28 conclusive piece of evidence proving residency. No single piece
29 of evidence shall be conclusive.
30 1. The documents must include at least one of the
31 following:
32 a. A Florida voter’s registration card.
33 b. A Florida driver license.
34 c. A State of Florida identification card.
35 d. A Florida vehicle registration.
36 e. Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied
37 as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual’s
38 parent if the individual is a dependent child.
39 f. An application for property tax exemption for homestead
40 property that has been approved by a property appraiser,
41 provided that such property has been continuously maintained as
42 the primary residence for at least 12 months before the first
43 day of the semester for which the resident status is being
44 claimed Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida.
45 g. Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple
46 years if the Florida high school diploma or high school
47 equivalency diploma was earned within the last 12 months.
48 h. Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for
49 at least 30 hours per week for a 12-month period.
50 2. The documents may include one or more of the following:
51 a. A declaration of domicile in Florida.
52 b. A Florida professional or occupational license.
53 c. Florida incorporation.
54 d. A document evidencing family ties in Florida.
55 e. Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or
56 professional organization.
57 f. Any other documentation that supports the student’s
58 request for resident status, including, but not limited to,
59 utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; a
60 lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments;
61 or an official state, federal, or court document evidencing
62 legal ties to Florida.
63 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
S 634 Filed: 1009.21