ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

Senate: ED DP 4-3-0-0 | 3rd Read 16-14-0-0

House: ED DP 6-4-0-0

SB 1145: student activity fees; conscience exemption

Sponsor: Senator Hoffman, LD 15

House Engrossed

Overview

Exempts a public university student from having to pay student activity fees if payment violates the student's conscience or if the student meets other prescribed criteria.

History

The Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) governs the three public universities and is tasked with numerous powers and duties, including: 1) adopting, and authorizing each university to adopt, policies for the administration and governance of the universities; 2) fixing tuition and fees for students; 3) adopting rules to govern its tuition and academic fee setting process; 4) establishing curricula and designating courses; 5) awarding degrees and diplomas; and 6) annually adopting an operating budget for each university (A.R.S. §§ 15-1601, 15-1626).

Statute directs ABOR to establish a free expression committee and annually submit a report containing prescribed information relating to free expression, including an accounting of how student activity fees were allocated in the previous year (A.R.S. § 15-1867). ABOR's FY 2022 Free Expression Annual Report details how student activity fees were allocated by the three public universities.

Provisions

1.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteMandates ABOR adopt rules to exempt a student from the requirement to pay student activity fees if payment would violate the student's conscience or the student:

a)   is a veteran who recently returned from service;

b)   was recently married or became a parent and does not participate in student activities;

c)   objects to the student activity fees on religious or moral grounds;

d)   demonstrates financial hardship; or

e)   is on campus only part time. (Sec. 1)

2.   Defines student activity fees as any fee charged to students by a public university and that is used to support and facilitate the expression and activities of students or student organizations. (Sec. 1)

3.   Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)

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7.                     SB 1145

8.   Initials CH/SJ        Page 0 House Engrossed

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