ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: MAPS DP 15-0-0-0-0

HB 2336: tuition; family; posttraumatic stress; suicide

Sponsor: Representative Shah, LD 5

House Engrossed

Overview

Grants eligibility for tuition wavier scholarships (TWSs) to spouses and children of veterans, peace officers or firefighters who die by suicide caused by a posttraumatic stress injury (PTSI).  

History

A TWS covers the full cost of tuition, at a university governed by the Arizona Board or Regents or at a community college district, for eligible persons.

Under current law, the children and spouses of those who were killed in the line of duty, while in the following positions, are eligible for a TWS:

1)   Peace officer;

2)   Correctional officer;

3)   Firefighter;

4)   Emergency paramedic;

5)   National guard member; or

6)   Member of the United States armed forces (A.R.S. § 15-1808).

A TWS recipient who is a child of one of the outlined individuals must not be more than 30 years old, and a TWS recipient who was a spouse must not be remarried. A TWS may not cover more than the number of credits necessary for a baccalaureate degree (A.R.S. § 15-1808).

Provisions☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☒ Fiscal Note

1.   Broadens eligibility for a TWS to include an individual who is the child or spouse of a person who:

a)   Was a: i) veteran; ii) current or former peace officer; iii) firefighter; or  iv) member of the United States armed forces;

b)   Was a resident of Arizona at the time of death;

c)   Suffered a PTSI; and 

d)   Died by suicide. (sec. 1)

2.   Specifies that the person who committed suicide is not required to have been employed as a peace officer or firefighter, or serving on active military duty, at the time of death. (Sec. 1)

3.   Asserts that a spouse or child may qualify for the TWS regardless of the date that the PTSI was suffered or the suicide was committed. (Sec. 2)

4.   Directs surplus monies appropriated to the Spouses of Military Veterans Tuition Scholarship Fund to be distributed to state universities for costs associated with the TWS. (Sec. 1)

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

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9.                     HB 2336

10.  Initials NM Page 0 House Engrossed

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