REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2354

tuition; family; post-traumatic stress; suicide

Purpose

Adds, to individuals eligible for an Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) or community college district (CCD) tuition waiver scholarship (tuition waiver), a child or spouse of a
U.S. Armed Forces veteran or member, peace officer or firefighter who died by suicide after suffering a post-traumatic stress injury in the line of duty.

Background

Arizona public universities and CCDs must grant a tuition waiver to: 1) a verified child or spouse of a peace officer, correctional officer, firefighter, emergency paramedic or member of the National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces who was killed or died from injuries suffered in the line of duty while residing or stationed in Arizona; 2) a National Guard member who received a Purple Heart citation on or after September 11, 2001; 3) an Arizona National Guard member who was medically discharged due to an injury suffered during active duty, in training status or in response to a Governor-declared state of emergency; and 4) a U.S. Armed Forces member or former member who was residing or stationed in Arizona at the time of an injury that resulted in a Purple Heart citation and whose U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (U.S. VA) disability rating is at least 50 percent. A tuition waiver recipient who is a child of the outlined individuals must be 30 years old or younger and a recipient who is a spouse must not be remarried. The tuition waiver is limited to 64 community college credit hours and a total number of credits equal to the number required for a baccalaureate degree at a public university (A.R.S. § 15-1808).

The Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) fiscal note estimates that providing tuition waivers to the qualifying children and spouses of military service members, veterans, peace officers and firefighters who died by suicide would cost public universities and community colleges an annual total of approximately $300,000. JLBC states that the estimate does not include former peace officers and firefighters (JLBC fiscal note).

Provisions

1. Requires ABOR or a CCD to provide a tuition waiver to an individual at a public university or community college who is otherwise eligible for the tuition waiver and is the child or spouse of a person who:

a) was a veteran in the U.S. Armed Forces or was serving or previously served as a peace officer, firefighter or U.S. Armed Forces member at the time of the person's death;

b) was an Arizona resident at the time of the person's death;

c) suffered a post-traumatic stress injury in the line of duty; and

d) died by suicide.

2. Establishes the following as prima facie evidence that the person suffered a post-traumatic stress injury:

a) documentation that the peace officer or firefighter at any point received a disability pension or benefits for a post-traumatic stress injury;

b) a discharge or other document from the U.S. Armed Forces showing that the member or veteran was discharged because of or suffered from a post-traumatic stress injury; or

c) documentation from the U.S. VA showing that the member or veteran suffered from a
post-traumatic stress injury.

3. Directs ABOR or a CCD to verify that an individual is a child or spouse of a person who meets the outlined requirements with the:

a) Arizona Peace Officers Memorial Board;

b) Arizona Fallen Firefighter Memorial Committee; or

c) Arizona Department of Veterans Services.

4. Specifies that a person is not required to have been employed as a peace officer or firefighter or serving on active duty as a U.S. Armed Forces member at the time of the person's death for the person's child or spouse to be eligible for the tuition waiver.

5. Specifies that an individual who meets the tuition waiver requirements under the category for a child or spouse of an individual who died by suicide after a post-traumatic injury in the line of duty is eligible regardless of the date on which the individual's parent or spouse suffered the post-traumatic stress injury and committed suicide.

6. Makes technical and conforming changes.

7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Revisions

· Updates the fiscal impact statement.

House Action

MAPS 2/14/22 DP 15-0-0-0

3^rd Read 2/24/22 58-1-1

Prepared by Senate Research

May 6, 2022

LB/MS/slp