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Senate Engrossed |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fourth Legislature First Regular Session 2019
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SENATE BILL 1191 |
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AN ACT
amending Title 15, chapter 12, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-1454; repealing section 15-1454, Arizona Revised Statutes; APPROPRIATING monies; relating to community college district governing boards.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 12, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-1454, to read:
15-1454. Arizona works community college grants; requirements; fund; reports
A. Beginning August 1, 2019, each community college district governing board shall administer an Arizona works community college grants pilot program to provide grants for students who are enrolled in career and technical education programs at a community college in that community college district. The grants shall be used to pay for tuition and fees at the community college district. The grants shall be funded with monies distributed from the Arizona works community college grant fund established by this section. If any fiscal year monies in the Arizona works community college grant fund are insufficient to pay tuition and fees for each eligible student, the monies distributed from the fund in that fiscal year shall be prorated. The amount of an Arizona works community college grant may not exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the community college of attendance minus all other financial aid, which shall be credited first to the student's tuition and mandatory fees, including financial aid received from a federal Pell grant.
B. In order to be eligible for an Arizona works community college grant, a student must meet all of the following requirements:
1. Be a resident of this state.
2. Complete a free application for federal student aid.
3. Enroll at a community college in this state in a Career and Technical Education program or a program that leads to certification by an industry or vocation.
4. Be either:
(a) A dependent student who reports on a free application for federal student aid a parental federal adjusted gross income of $55,000 or less.
(b) An independent student who reports on a free application for federal student aid a family adjusted gross income of $55,000 or less.
5. Have a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
C. After the first academic year in which a student receives an Arizona works community college grant pursuant to this section, the student may reapply and be eligible for the grant if the student completes at least thirty hours of volunteer service during the previous academic year. A student is eligible to receive a grant pursuant to this section for only two consecutive academic years. A student must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale in order to renew an Arizona works community college grant.
D. The Arizona works community college grant fund is established consisting of legislative appropriations. The state treasurer shall administer the Arizona works community college grant fund. Monies in the Arizona Works Community College Grant fund are subject to legislative appropriation. The state treasurer shall distribute monies from the Arizona works community college grant fund to community colleges in this state based on the cost of tuition and mandatory fees minus all other financial aid for students eligible for grants pursuant to this section at each community college district. Community college districts shall cooperate with and provide all necessary information to the state treasurer for the purpose of disbursing grant monies for eligible students.
E. Community colleges in this state shall annually report a summary of the following information to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the auditor general:
1. The number of students who apply for grants pursuant to this section and the number of grants issued.
2. The average grant amount.
3. The academic completion rate of students who are issued grants pursuant to this section.
4. The job placement rate of students who are issued grants and complete career and technical education programs or courses.
5. The number of students who are issued grants and obtain certifications.
F. The auditor general shall complete a special audit, pursuant to section 41-1279.03, evaluating the effect of the grants on student career and technical education course or program completion, receipt of certifications, job placement and other measures deemed appropriate by the auditor general, on or before October 15, 2025, and submit the special audit to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives. The auditor general shall provide a copy of the special audit to the secretary of state. Community college districts shall cooperate with and provide all necessary information and data to the auditor general in a format prescribed by the auditor general to perform the special audit pursuant to this section.
Sec. 2. Appropriations; Arizona works community college grant fund
The sum of $5,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in each of fiscal years 2019‑2020, 2020‑2021, and 2021‑2022 to the state treasurer for deposit in the Arizona works community college grant fund established by section 15‑1454, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.
Sec. 3. Delayed repeal
Section 15-1454, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, is repealed from and after June 30, 2023.
Sec. 4. Retroactivity
This act applies retroactively to from and after July 31, 2019.