Proposal to restrict Bright Futures aid passes first hurdle
A controversial bill that would limit Bright Futures scholarships and other financial aid for students who pursue majors or career programs the state thinks will “not lead directly to employment” gained approval from a key state Senate committee on Tuesday, despite objections from Democrats and dozens of students who said the proposal would discourage young Floridians from pursuing their passions and staying in-state to attend school.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, would also reduce Bright Futures eligibility for students who have earned college credit in high school through International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement and dual enrollment programs.
Baxley and other Republicans said the proposal should help guide college students towards fields that will help them land high-paying jobs after they graduate. But the bill doesn’t spell out which programs will be blacklisted, leaving that decision to the Board of Governors and the Board of Education.
“The worst thing is to be at a juncture where you’ve graduated from one of our universities and have a degree and to find out you’re not hireable for some reason,” Baxley said during Tuesday’s Senate Education Committee hearing.
The senator unveiled an amended version of the bill on Monday after facing public backlash over the original proposal, including an online petition started by a high school senior that has received more than 100,000 signatures. But the latest version still contains many of the provisions that critics condemned, including cutting off Bright Futures awards and other state aid for students who pursue majors the state thinks aren’t desirable to employers.
Senate leaders support Baxley’s legislation, though it does not have a House companion that includes the most controversial aspects. However, House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, said during his speech at the Legislature’s organization session in November that college students should pay less for courses that will help train them for fields deemed high-demand.
But Democrats argued during Tuesday’s committee meeting that they had no business penalizing students for picking majors deemed less desirable.
“There’s no individual freedom or liberty when the government strips away scholarships from students have rightfully earned just because they won’t tow the govern
ment’s line,” said Sen. Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale. “This is absolute government control and we should not allow it.”
Senate Education Committee members voted on Baxley’s bill along party lines, with the Republicans supporting the proposal and Democrats opposing it. Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, stepped in as chair, replacing Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, who had to travel home for a Covid-related family emergency.
A pair of amendments to the bill failed, including one from Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, that would’ve allowed students to appeal their aid decisions if their major was one that the state deemed undesirable. Baxley objected to Polsky’s amendment, saying “if we set people on this pathway with this view that it’s an entitlement that they have a right to protest,” that was a “mischaracterization of our scholastic aid.”
“These are not claims. These
are not contracts,” Baxley said. “This is about our futures and how we’re going to improve our society by encouraging these talented people.”
Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, said he agreed the state should give students incentives to pursue fields where there is a shortage of workers, like nursing, but should not promote some courses of study at the expense of others. Financial aid provides access to higher education, he said, and the state should not put up more barriers to students who need help paying for school.
“Bright Futures is not an entitlement program,” said Jones, responding to Baxley’s earlier comments. “This is a hands-up approach to keep talent here, to retain the talent here.”
Eligibility for Bright Futures awards is based on students’ GPAs, college entrance exam scores and completion of community service hours. Baxley’s proposal would create additional paths for students to become eligible if they earn associate degrees at state colleges through Florida’s dual
enrollment program or score high enough on AP exams and receive the program’s capstone diploma.
The scholarships cover up to 100% of tuition and fees at state universities and are very popular, with more than 111,000 students receiving the award during the 2019-2020 school year. More than 60 people, mostly high school and college students, signed up to speak during Tuesday’s meeting and all opposed the proposal.
Many of the speakers said reducing the awards for students in certain fields infringed on their personal freedoms and could have unintended consequences, including hurting those who choose liberal arts majors and intend to go onto graduate school.
Kayla Dougherty, a senior at the University of North Florida, said receiving the Bright Futures scholarship allowed her to take advantage of opportunities on her campus, including participating in student government for three years and serving in her current role as student body vice president. Dougherty, who majored in political science and philosophy, said she’s been hired as a legal assistant by a prominent law firm that “loved” her resume.
“If I had to choose a STEM major in order to afford college, I don’t think I would have been as successful as I am, I would not have spent four fulfilling years at UNF, and I would not have been able to set myself up to go to law school someday,” she told the senators.
Baxley’s bill also would put the Legislature in charge of setting the value of those awards each year as it writes the budget. Bright Futures scholarships are funded by the Florida Lottery and state spent $618 million on the program during the 2019-2020 school year. A staff analysis of Baxley’s bill makes it clear the proposal is expected to result in savings to the state.
“Although additional students may qualify for Bright Futures through high school acceleration programs, Bright Futures students may no longer be eligible for funding if they are not enrolled in a degree program on the approved list,” the analysis said.
Dear Readers: Every year during this time I step away from my column to work on other creative projects. I hope you enjoy these “Best Of ” Q&A from 10 years ago. Today’s topic is: “Germ Donors.”
I’ll be back with fresh Q&A next week.
Dear Amy: I’ve been happily married for two years. I am grateful for my in-laws’ kindness and enjoy their company. The problem is my mother-inlaw’s cooking. She does not wash her hands!
I have caught her putting her fingers in food, licking her fingers and putting her fingers back in the same dish.
During our Christmas visit, she and I prepared leftovers. She “re-mashed” the potatoes with her bare hands, without ever washing her hands!
My husband and I are disgusted.
Is there any way to bring this to her attention without hurting her feelings?
— Grossed Out
Dear Grossed Out:
This is extremely unappetizing, not to mention unhealthy. If your motherin-law handled uncooked chicken or shellfish and then plunged her unwashed hands directly into a bowl of mashed potatoes, for instance, this could cross-contaminate foods and spread foodborne illness. If you were pregnant and contracted listeria from these unsanitary practices, it could be disastrous.
The CDC offers recommendations for safe food handling practices — and washing utensils and hands are paramount (cdc.gov). Because your husband was raised by his mother and is also grossed out by this, one wonders if she has always done this, or if this is a new development. If it’s new, his mother could have her own health issues leading to this behavior. Bringing this up shouldn’t cause conflict, though your mother-in-law might be a little stung. Try saying: “Mom, I’m very concerned about hand-washing in the kitchen. Can you help me out here? I feel like I can’t eat comfortably unless the cook washes her hands often. I love your cooking, but I can’t eat after I’ve seen your hands in the food.”
Dear Amy: My husband and I frequent a local restaurant every week. We have been going to this place sometimes two or three times a week for the last four years.
There is one waitress who insists on serving us. She is good at her job, but every time she greets us, she kisses us on our lips.
It makes me very uncomfortable. I have mentioned to her a few times that I have a cold and so “no kisses for me,” but then the next time we go in, she does it again!
— Diner in a Dilemma Dear Diner: The only thing left to do is to tell this person, “I apologize because I should have told you a long time ago, but I really don’t like to be kissed when we come in. It makes me very uncomfortable. I hope you understand.” If she won’t respect this boundary, you should mention this to the manager.
Dear Amy: My in-laws think nothing about putting a spoon they licked back into the coleslaw or potato salad, or double-dipping chips into salsa or dips. My kids were taught not to do this. We’ve mentioned this to them a few times, but they get offended. What are the health risks? Maybe if we could explain it from a positive viewpoint, they might understand.
— Always Offended
Dear Offended: My instinct was that this wasn’t really so harmful (despite the famous “double-dipping” episode of “Seinfeld” that has been burned into our collective memory). And then I did some checking.
The Food and Drug Administration referred me to a 2008 Clemson University study. The question researchers chose to answer is: “Does double-dipping actually spread bacteria and germs?” They assembled volunteers and used wheat crackers and dips. Ultimately, they found that in just a few doubledips, about 10,000 bacteria were transferred from the eater’s mouth to the remaining dip. According to the director of the study, this is the rough equivalent of kissing someone on the mouth. If the person is carrying an infectious disease, it could possibly be transmitted to others. So, you have to ask yourselves, are you on kissing terms with your in-laws?