The bill CS for SB 7030 establishes two new sections in Florida Statutes: Section 1011.687, which creates an operating categorical fund for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, and Section 1011.689, introducing the Educational Enrollment Stabilization Program. The operating fund will award scholarships based on full-time equivalent student participation, with the Department of Education responsible for quarterly fund releases contingent on compliance with program requirements. The Educational Enrollment Stabilization Program aims to provide supplemental state funds to school districts facing enrollment fluctuations, ensuring a minimum funding level per student and allowing for adjustments in subsequent payments if overpayments occur. The bill also includes amendments to existing statutes, such as renaming the Hope Scholarship Program and repealing the New Worlds Scholarship Accounts, while imposing new requirements on nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations.

Additionally, the bill modifies various aspects of the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, including eligibility criteria, application processes, and the management of scholarship funds. It mandates that parents notify scholarship organizations of their acceptance or declination of offers within specified timeframes and prohibits multiple scholarship applications for the same student. The bill also emphasizes the importance of verifying student eligibility and maintaining separate accounts for scholarship funds. Significant deletions from current law include the removal of certain requirements for private school operators regarding background screenings and the notification obligations for school districts about scholarship eligibility. Overall, the bill aims to enhance accountability, transparency, and the effective use of educational funds while streamlining the scholarship process for students and families in Florida.

Statutes affected:
S 7030 Filed: 1011.65, 1002.40, 1002.411, 1002.421, 1008.25, 1010.305, 1011.61, 11.45, 212.099, 1002.45
S 7030 c1: 1011.65, 1002.40, 1002.411, 1002.421, 1008.25, 1010.305, 1011.61, 11.45, 212.099, 1002.45
S 7030 e1: 1011.65, 1002.40, 1002.411, 1002.421, 1008.25, 1010.305, 1011.61, 11.45, 212.099, 1002.45