House Bill 5101 amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning education, with a particular focus on the Education Estimating Conference and the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. The bill mandates the Education Estimating Conference to forecast specific student calculations, including the number of full-time equivalent students eligible for funding and the number of scholarships funded by tax credit revenue. It also requires governmental agencies and nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations to provide necessary data to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research. Additionally, the bill revises the purpose of the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program to prioritize children from families with limited financial resources, introduces a definition for "fraud," and outlines responsibilities for the Department of Education and parents regarding scholarship applications and eligibility verification.

Furthermore, the bill introduces several amendments to enhance accountability and streamline the scholarship process. It establishes specific deadlines for parents to notify scholarship organizations about acceptance and renewal, mandates that organizations maintain separate accounts for each eligible student, and requires the recovery of improperly received funds. The bill also modifies the funding structure for educational programs, including adjustments to the calculation of full-time equivalent student membership and funding for exceptional student education programs. Overall, HB 5101 aims to refine the funding processes, improve transparency, and ensure that students receive adequate support for their education while promoting compliance among private schools and scholarship organizations.

Statutes affected:
H 5101 Filed: 216.136, 1002.421, 1008.386, 1010.305, 1011.61, 1011.622, 1011.65, 110.1228, 402.22, 1002.32, 1002.33, 1003.485, 1003.4935, 1003.498, 1008.44, 1011.68, 1012.44