Revamped Bright Futures bill clears first hurdle By Ryan Dailey TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - With dozens of students testifying against the bill, a controversial plan to reduce Bright Futures scholarships for students who pursue degrees deemed unlikely to lead to jobs was approved Tuesday by a Senate committee. The proposal (SB 86), sponsored by Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, advanced from the Republican-controlled Senate Education Committee in a 5-4 party-line vote. An amendment adopted by the committee changed the proposal from completely cutting Bright Futures aid for certain majors to reducing the scholarship amounts awarded to students. The majors at risk of reduced scholarships would be on lists of degrees deemed by higher education governing boards as not leading to employment.
A bill filed on Feb. 23 by Florida Republican Senator Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala) may affect the aid students receive from the Bright Futures scholarship based on their chosen majors. SB 86, titled Student Financial Aid, asserts that the Florida Board of Governors and the State Board of Education would approve a list of degree programs that lead directly to employment after college graduation. The list would be updated each year considering “national, state and regional industry demand for certificate holders and graduates.” Students studying in programs not on the list would only get funding from Bright Futures for 60 credit hours, half of a normal bachelor’s degree. The logic in this is that funding the first two years of credits would allow students to adapt to a degree that would be on the list.
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Florida bill would limit college aid for degrees that donât lead to jobs Republican lawmakers argue that degrees vary in value and should not be funded equally. Â Â State Sen. Dennis Baxley has filed a bill that would limit financial aid for degrees the state deems unlikely to result in a job. [ Times (2019) ] Updated Feb. 24 State financial aid for college would be based on whether a studentâs course of study is likely to result in a job after graduation, under a bill filed Tuesday in the Florida Legislature. The bill, SB 86, was filed by Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala. It would require the Board of Governors and the State Board of Education to approve a list of career certificate, undergraduate and graduate degree programs that lead directly to employment. The list would be updated every year. And students in programs not on the list would receive less aid, a maximum of 60 credit hours instead of the 120 hours typically needed for a bachelorâs degree.