6A-20.0284. Florida Law Enforcement Academy Scholarship Program

(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. History‒New 11-23-22.