REFERENCE TITLE: community colleges; joint study; benefits.

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

HB 2645

Introduced by

Representative Shah

AN ACT

Requiring community colleges to conduct a joint study on financial and other benefits.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Community colleges; students; financial benefits; study; report; delayed repeal; definition

A.  The community colleges in this state shall jointly conduct a study to determine the best method or methods for helping community college students both:

1.  Learn about state and federal programs that offer financial or other benefits to community college students.

2.  Apply for the benefits described in paragraph 1 of this subsection.

B.  In conducting the study pursuant to subsection A of this section, community colleges shall convene relevant stakeholders, including at least the following:

1.  A representative from the governor's office.

2.  The president or chancellor of a community college in this state.

3.  A representative from an agency that distributes or provides the benefits described in subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section.

C.  On or before February 1, 2022, the community colleges shall jointly submit a report that details the findings and recommendations of the study conducted pursuant to subsection A of this section to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chairperson of the senate higher education and workforce development committee, or its successor committee, and the chairperson of the house education committee, or its successor committee, and shall transmit a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

D.  This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2022.

E.  For the purposes of this section, "community college" has the same meaning in section 15-1401, Arizona Revised Statutes.

Sec. 2.   Emergency

This act is an emergency measure that is necessary to preserve the public peace, health or safety and is operative immediately as provided by law.