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House Engrossed
law enforcement; families; tuition scholarships |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session 2023
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HOUSE BILL 2420 |
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An Act
amending title 15, chapter 14, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-1809.02; appropriating monies; relating to education.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 14, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-1809.02, to read:
15-1809.02. Spouses and dependents of law enforcement officers tuition scholarship fund; tuition scholarships; eligibility; rules; reporting requirements; definition
A. The spouses and dependents of law enforcement officers tuition scholarship fund is established consisting of legislative appropriations. The Arizona board of regents shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are subject to legislative appropriation and are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations. Subject to available monies, the Arizona board of regents shall use the monies in the fund to award tuition scholarships to any person who meets both of the following requirements:
1. Enrolls in any of the following:
(a) A university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents.
(b) A community college as defined in section 15-1401.
(c) A career technical education program that is offered to adults or an associate degree program offered by a career technical education district pursuant to section 15-398.
(d) A private postsecondary educational institution in this state that is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 30, article 2.
2. Is either:
(a) the spouse of a law enforcement officer.
(b) Under twenty-seven years of age and A dependent of a law enforcement officer.
B. A person who meets the requirements prescribed in subsection A of this section may apply to the Arizona board of regents for a tuition scholarship from the fund in a manner prescribed by the Arizona board of regents. Subject to available monies, the Arizona board of regents shall award an eligible person a tuition scholarship that is equal to the amount of tuition and mandatory fees charged by the university, community college or career technical education district in which the person is enrolled, reduced by the amount of any federal aid scholarships or public grants and any other financial gifts, grants or aid received by that person, except that if the person is enrolled in a private postsecondary educational institution, the tuition scholarship may not exceed the remainder of the average in-state tuition and fees charged by universities under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents minus other gifts and aid awarded to that person. The Arizona board of regents shall verify that the person satisfies the requirements prescribed in subsection A of this section before awarding a tuition scholarship. If the Arizona board of regents determines that a person no longer satisfies the requirements prescribed in subsection A of this section, the Arizona board of regents may not award a subsequent tuition scholarship from the fund until the person submits documentation showing that the person satisfies all requirements prescribed in subsection A of this section.
C. A tuition scholarship provided pursuant to this section shall be:
1. Limited to not more than four academic years or eight semesters.
2. Used only for a career technical education district program certificate or license, a private vocational program as defined in section 32-3001, an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree.
3. Used only to pay tuition and mandatory fees at a career technical education district, a private postsecondary educational institution in this state that is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 30, article 2, a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents or a community college as defined in section 15-1401. If the applicant is not charged to attend a career technical education district program, the Arizona board of regents may not award the applicant a tuition scholarship under this section.
D. Tuition scholarships under this section shall be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. If there are insufficient monies in the fund, the Arizona board of regents may not award a tuition scholarship to an eligible person under this section.
E. The Arizona board of regents may rely on a copy of the law enforcement officer's commission card and a current employment verification letter from the law enforcement officer's employer to establish that an individual is a law enforcement officer for the purposes of this section.
F. The Arizona board of regents may adopt rules for the purposes of administering this section.
G. On or before March 1, 2024 and each year thereafter, the Arizona board of regents shall report to the joint legislative budget committee and the governor's office of strategic planning and budgeting on all of the following:
1. The total number of students who received a tuition scholarship under this section by eligible postsecondary institution in the current academic year.
2. The total amounts awarded and average amounts awarded by eligible postsecondary institution in the current academic year.
3. The total number of students who received a tuition scholarship under this section and who graduated or completed a program of study by ELIGIBLE postsecondary institution.
4. Each law enforcement agency that employs a law enforcement officer whose spouse or dependent, or both, receives a tuition scholarship under this section.
H. For the purposes of this section, "law enforcement officer" means a person who is currently employed as either a peace officer as defined in section 15-1808 or a correctional officer.
Sec. 2. Appropriation; spouses and dependents of law enforcement officers tuition scholarship fund; intent
A. The sum of $10,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2023-2024 to the spouses and dependents of law enforcement officers tuition scholarship fund established by section 15-1809.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, and is appropriated from the spouses and dependents of law enforcement officers tuition scholarship fund to the Arizona board of regents.
B. The legislature intends that the appropriation made in subsection A of this section be considered ongoing funding in future years.