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REFERENCE TITLE: promise scholarship program; ADOA; appropriation |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session 2020
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SB 1661 |
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Introduced by Senator Boyer: Representative Lieberman
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AN ACT
amending Title 41, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-710.02; appropriating monies; relating to the department of administration.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 41, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41‑710.02, to read:
41-710.02. Arizona promise scholarship program; commission; fund; eligibility; program termination; commission termination
A. The Arizona promise scholarship program is established. The department shall administer the program and the Arizona promise scholarship commission established by subsection B of this section shall oversee the program.
B. The Arizona promise scholarship commission is established consisting of the following members:
1. One president of a community college in a county with a population of more than six hundred thousand persons who is appointed by the president of the senate.
2. One president of a community college in a county with a population of six hundred thousand or fewer persons who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
3. One member who has expertise in nontraditional students in higher education and who is appointed by the governor.
4. One member who has expertise in higher education financial aid, who resides in a county WITH A POPULATION OF MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND PERSONS and WHO is appointed by the governor.
5. One member who has expertise in higher education financial aid, who resides in a county WITH A POPULATION OF SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND or fewer PERSONS and WHO is appointed by the governor.
C. The Arizona promise scholarship commission shall contract with a vendor that is selected through a request for proposals to provide student support to scholarship recipients under this section.
D. The Arizona promise scholarship fund is established consisting of legislative appropriations made for the purpose of administering the Arizona promise scholarship program. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated and are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations. The department shall administer the fund and shall establish criteria for distributing monies in the fund to scholarship recipients.
E. The department shall award to each eligible student applicant a $4,000 annual scholarship for a maximum of two years.
F. To be eligible for a scholarship under this section, a student must do all of the following:
1. Be enrolled in a community college as defined in section 15‑1401.
2. Submit proof that the student graduated from high school with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
3. Submit proof that the student has deposited at least $500 into an account as defined in section 15‑1871.
G. A student may reapply to receive a scholarship under this section for a second year if the student meets both of the following requirements:
1. Submits proof that the student deposited an additional $500 or more into an account as defined in section 15‑1871.
2. Remains in good academic standing at the community college as defined in section 15‑1401 in which the student is enrolled.
H. An eligible student may apply for a scholarship under this section by applying to The department in a manner prescribed by the department.
I. The program established pursuant to this section ends on July 1, 2030 pursuant to section 41-3102, and the commission established pursuant to this section ends on July 1, 2028 pursuant to section 41‑3103.
Sec. 2. Appropriation; Arizona promise scholarship fund
The sum of $96,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2020-2021 to the Arizona promise scholarship fund established by section 41‑710.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.