Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Definitions.
(a) "Commission" means the Criminal Justice
Standards and Training Commission within the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement;
(b) "Department" means
the Florida Department of Education;
(c) "Institution" means any Florida College
System institution listed in Section
1000.21(3),
F.S., and any school district technical center; and
(d) "School district technical center" means
a technical career center under Section
1001.44, F.S., or a charter
career center under Section
1002.34,
F.S.
(2) General
Eligibility Requirements for a Law Enforcement Academy Scholarship. To receive
aid, a trainee must meet the following requirements:
(a) Enroll at a Florida College System
institution or a school district technical center;
(b) Enroll in a law enforcement officer basic
recruit training program that has been approved by the Commission under Chapter
943, F.S.;
(c) Not be sponsored by
an employing agency to pay the cost of tuition and other fess and expenses
authorized under Section
1009.896(6),
F.S.
(3) Period of the
award. An award is made for the fiscal year, July 1 through June 30.
(4) Initial Awards. A trainee's award shall
not exceed the cost of tuition, fees and eligible expenses described in Section
1009.896(6),
F.S., less all other state and federal financial assistance and any financial
assistance provided by a trainee's employing agency for the cost of tuition and
other expenses covered under Section
1009.896(6),
F.S.
(5) Renewal awards. A
trainee's award will automatically be renewed for the new fiscal year to cover
remaining eligible expenses incurred for the same program in which the trainee
was enrolled in the prior fiscal year.
(6) Institutional responsibilities. Each
institution with a law enforcement officer basic recruit training program
approved by the Commission under Chapter 943, F.S., must comply with the
following requirements:
(a) Award Procedures.
1. Develop processes and forms needed for
trainees to apply for the program;
2. Make preliminary determinations of trainee
eligibility for a scholarship based on the eligiblity criteria found in
subsection (2) of this rule;
3.
Prioritize trainees as first-come, first-served, based on the date a trainee's
application is determined to be complete; and
4. Provide individual award notices to
trainees enrolled at the institution that lists the fund amounts awarded to the
trainee, identifying the amounts for tuition, fees and expenses as described in
Section 1009.896(6),
F.S.
(b) Reporting.
Within thirty (30) days of the end of the institution's regular drop/add period
for each term, each institution must report to the Department the following
information:
1. The social security number
and amount awarded to each trainee; and
2. The social security number of each trainee
who is eligible for the scholarship, but who was not awarded
funds.
(c) Refunds.
Institutions must remit refunds with accompanying documentation to the
Department within thirty (30) days of the institution's drop/add period for
trainees who are not enrolled after the drop/add deadline or who no longer meet
the eligibility requirements for the scholarship provided in subsection (2) of
this rule, and by July 15 for all other funds not disbursed within the award
period in order that funds be utilized to provide the most scholarship
awards.
(d) Institutions must
adhere to the duties relating to state financial aid established for
postsecondary institutions enumerated in Section
1009.46,
F.S.
(7) Department
Responsibilities. Each year that funds for the scholarship are available, the
Department will:
(a) Provide eligible
institutions the total amount scholarship funds for each fiscal year;
(b) Allocate funds beginning thirty (30) days
after the end the of the application window as specified by the
Department;
(c) Reallocate refunded
amounts to ensure maximum effective use of scholarship funds; and
(d) Consider any appeal regarding a trainee's
eligibility for a scholarship in accordance with the provisions of Section
1009.42 and Rule 6A-20.0371,
F.A.C.
Rulemaking Authority
1001.02(1),
(2)(n),
1009.896(7) FS.
Law Implemented 1009.40,
1009.896
FS.
New 11-23-22.
