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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
universities; scholarships; funding
Purpose
Establishes eligibility requirements for regents scholarships. Increases the required annual appropriation from the state General Fund to the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) for the improvement, support and maintenance of ABOR institutions.
Background
The Arizona Constitution establishes ABOR as the governing entity for Arizona's university system which consists of Arizona State University (ASU), Northern Arizona University (NAU) and the University of Arizona (UA) (Ariz. Const. art. 11 § 5).
Current statute requires the Legislature to annually appropriate $0.85 for every $1,000 of the assessed valuation of all taxable property in Arizona, as calculated by the Arizona Department of Revenue, for the improvement, support and maintenance of ABOR institutions, including: 1) salaries and current expenses; 2) equipment purchases; 3) necessary repairs; 4) new building construction; 5) land purchases; and 6) expenses connected with managing the institutions (A.R.S. § 15-1661).
S.B. 1523 requires an annual increase in the annual state General Fund appropriation to ABOR. The size of each increase will depend on the change in the gross domestic product price deflator (GDP price deflator) for the two calendar years prior to the budget year.
Provisions
1. Requires ABOR to annually award the regents scholarships to any person who:
a) is an Arizona resident;
b) obtained an A or B letter grade, or equivalent, in each core academic course required for high school graduation in Arizona; and
c) is admitted to a public Arizona university.
2. Requires the Legislature, beginning in FY 2020, to annually increase the statutorily required annual appropriation for the improvement, support and maintenance of ABOR institutions by the lesser of:
a) two percent; or
b) the change in the GDP price deflator between the second preceding calendar year and the calendar year immediately preceding the budget year.
3. Sets the minimum annual appropriation at the amount appropriated in FY 2019.
4. Makes technical changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 14, 2019
JO/LB/gs