To incorporate changes made during the 2021 Legislative Session related to the New Worlds Reading Initiative, as indicated in HB-3 including the Department’s process for designating an administrator for the initiative, as ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-6.0960Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To incorporate changes made during the 2021 Legislative Session related to the New Worlds Reading Initiative, as indicated in HB-3 including the Department’s process for designating an administrator for the initiative, as well as program changes related to the Gardiner as indicated in HB-7045. The effect will be to update the application form for non-profit scholarship funding organizations.

SUMMARY: To update the form IEPC SFO-3 to include the New Worlds Reading Initiative.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: The proposed rule will have no regulatory cost and no negative economic impact and will not require legislative ratification. This amendment incorporates changes made during the 2021 Legislative Session related to the New Worlds Reading Initiative and the Gardiner Scholarship Program as indicated in HB-3 and HB-7045.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1001.02(1), 1001.02(2)(h), 1002.395, F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1002.395, F.S.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: August 18, 2021, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus, 254 N.E. 4th St., Building 3, Chapman Conference Room 3210, Miami, FL 33132.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Dr. Dakeyan Graham, Executive Director of the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Florida Department of Education, [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-6.0960 Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.

The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program will be implemented as required by Section 1002.395, F.S., to allow nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations to provide scholarships from eligible contributions to qualified students attending eligible private schools or public schools outside the school district in which the student resides or in a laboratory school.

(1) Eligibility of nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations.

(a) A nonprofit organization may apply or register to be a scholarship-funding organization by having its principal officer or legal representative submit documentation to the Department of Education as specified in Form IEPC SFO-1, Nonprofit Scholarship-Funding Organization Participation Application for New Scholarship Funding Organization (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-04661) Form IEPC SFO-2, Nonprofit Scholarship-Funding Organization Participation Renewal for Scholarship Funding Organization (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-04662), or Form IEPC SFO-3, Nonprofit Scholarship-Funding Organization Participation Application for State Universities and Independent Colleges or Universities (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-04663), which are hereby incorporated by reference to become a part of this rule to become effective November 2014, November 2014, and September 2021, respectively. The appropriate Nonprofit Scholarship-Funding Organization Form must be signed by the owner or operator, submitted annually, and be postmarked no later than September 1. Forms may be obtained through Florida Department of Education, Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1044, Tallahassee, Florida 32399 or http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/information/CTC/SFO_Renewal.asp.

(b) through (k) No change.

(2) through (6) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1002.395(9)(i), (13)(d), (16)(h)-(i) FS. Law Implemented 1002.395 FS. History–New 2-5-07, Amended 11-26-08, 6-22-10, 10-25-10, 11-4-14, 3-22-17, 8-21-18,

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Dr. Dakeyan Graham, Executive Director of the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Florida Department of Education.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Richard Corcoran, Commissioner, Department of Education.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: July 16, 2021

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: July 13, 2021