Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 3-16-18

Local/State Politics
Governor Signs Education Bills
Last week, Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill 7109. The bills focus on the Bright Scholars Florida Academic Scholars and the Bright Futures Scholars Medallion Scholars.
Both bills take effect in the fall semester of the 2018-2019 ac- ademic year.
Governor Scott also signed a bill into law that reinstates full funding of the Bright Futures Florida Academic Scholars award at 100% of tuition and fees for spring, summer, and fall semesters.
It also allots $300 in the fall and spring semesters to cover instructional materials and other costs.
The legislation also reinstates funding for the Bright Futures Florida Medallion Scholars award at 75% if tuition and fees for spring, summer, and fall semesters. These bills take effect in the fall semester of the 2018-2019 academic year.
Deadline Nears To Apply For Supervisor Of Elections Scholarships
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last December, Craig Latimer, Hills- borough County Supervisor of Elections in- vited students to apply for a scholarship. The scholarship is provided by the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections (FSASE).
The deadline to submit the application is Thursday, March 29, 2018, at 5 p.m.
The FSASE is offering three $1,200 schol- arships to eligible Florida residents currently enrolled or accepted as full-time students in a senior college or university in Florida.
Hillsborough County residents must apply through the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office. The Office will review all applications and submit one finalist to the FSASE Scholarship Committee. The Commit- tee will make the final selections of winners.
Some of the requirements are: students must be registered to vote in Florida, and sub- mit their applications to the County in which they are registered.
Students must be majoring in Political Sci- ence, Public or Business Administration, Journalism, or Mass Communications.
The applicant must have completed two years of junior college or undergraduate work and hold enough credits for enrollment as a junior.
CRAIG LATIMER Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections
Students must have been a resident of Florida for two years before the current aca- demic year in which the application is made.
Students must be able to demonstrate fi- nancial need.
Students interested in applying for the scholarship can find more information about the scholarship requirements can contact Ms. Angel Porter at (813) 276-2296, or at www.VoteHillsborough.org.
Governor Signs Bill To Establish Sales Tax Holidays
Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill 7109 last week. The bill establishes a period of time in which no sales taxes will be collected during two dates during the summer.
The first is the establishment of the Hurricane Preparedness Tax Holiday. Legislators created a seven-day “disaster prepared- ness” sales tax holiday.
The holiday begins on Friday, June 1st, and ends of Thursday, June 7th.
During that week, residents can purchase items such as flash- lights and lanterns costing $20 or less; radio and tarps costing $50 or less; coolers costing $30 or less; and generators costing $750 or less, among other things.
The second tax holiday will take place from August 3rd until August 5th.
This sales tax holiday was created as a back-to- school sales tax holiday.
During this period, clothing, footwear, and backpacks costing $60 or less can be purchased without paying sales tax. School supplies must cost $15 or less.
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018