ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

HB 2354: tuition; family; post-traumatic stress; suicide

Sponsor: Representative Biasiucci, LD 5

Committee on Military Affairs & Public Safety

Overview

Outlines additional tuition wavier scholarship (TWS) issuing requirements for the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) and community college districts (districts) for spouses and children of veterans, peace officers (PO) or firefighters who die by suicide caused by a post-traumatic stress injury in the line of duty.

History

ABOR has purview only over Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University and the University of Arizona (A.R.S. § 15-1601).

Arizona has 10 community college districts (https://arizonacommunitycolleges.org/).

Current statute states ABOR and districts must issue a TWS, to a school within its jurisdiction, to a qualified child or spouse of a verified PO, correctional officer, firefighter, emergency paramedic, national guard member or an Arizona resident member of the United States armed forces who was killed, or died by injuries sustained, in the line of duty A.R.S § 15-1808).

A TWS is limited to children, of eligible persons, under 30 years old, and to spouses who have not remarried (A.R.S. § 15-1808).

Statute stipulates that a member is eligible to receive a disability pension prior to the member's normal retirement date due to accidental disability or catastrophic disability (A.R.S. § 38-844).

Statue outlines that a peace officer or firefighter may receive benefits under the Public Safety Personnel Defined Contribution Retirement Plan Disability Program (A.R.S. § 38-870).

Provisions

1. Requires ABOR to issue a TWS to qualified individuals at any instate public university. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires districts to issue a TWS to qualified individuals at any community college within the district. (Sec. 1)

3. States ABOR and districts must verify that a person is a child or spouse of a qualified individual with the Arizona Peace Officers Memorial Board, The Arizona Fallen Firefighter Memorial Committee or the Arizona Department of Veterans' services prior to issuing a TWS. (Sec. 1)

4. Adds death by suicide due to a post-traumatic stress injury to the TWS eligibility requirements for a child or spouse of a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, a PO or a firefighter. (Sec. 1)

5. Contains an additional TWS eligibility clause. (Sec. 2)

6. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

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10. HB 2354

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