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 government’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.”

“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.

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.