Currents March 2017 5
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Senate Bills 2 and 4 are key components of the Senate ' s Excellence in Higher Education Agenda for the 2017 Legislative Session . Senate Bill 2 , the Florida Excellence in Higher Education Act , promotes on-time graduation by expanding student financial assistance and support , establishing tuition and fee incentives , streamlining 2 + 2 articulation , and strengthening mechanisms that keep colleges and universities accountable to Florida taxpayers . Senate Bill 4 , Faculty Recruitment , expands policy and funding tools universities can leverage to recruit and retain the very best faculty , enhance professional and graduate schools , and improve aging infrastructure and research laboratories .
SENATE BILL 2 - THE FLORIDA EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCA- TION ACT
Expands Student Financial Assistance and Support .
Reinstates Highest Bright Futures Scholarship Program Award ( Florida Academic Scholar ) to cover 100 percent of tuition and certain tuition-indexed fees , including the summer term , plus $ 300 for textbooks and collegerelated expenses during the fall and spring terms .
Expands the Benacquisto Scholar Program to provide awards for qualified out-of-state students , as funded in the General Appropriations Act ( GAA ), equal to the highest cost of resident student attendance at a state university . The student must physically reside in the community of the university he or she is attending .
Revises the 1st Generation Matching Grant Program to provide two to one ( state to local match versus one to one ), as funded in the GAA .
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