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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
military veteran spouses; tuition scholarships
Purpose
Background
Subject to available monies, the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) must use Spouses of Veterans Tuition Fund monies to award a tuition scholarship to any person who: 1) enrolls in an Arizona public university or community college; 2) is the spouse of an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces; 3) qualifies for in-state student status; 4) is an Arizona resident at the time of applying for and while receiving a tuition scholarship; 5) annually submits the free application for federal student aid; 6) meets satisfactory academic progress standards established by the university or community college; and 7) completes a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 release form to allow for the release of information needed to determine continued eligibility. An applicant must submit proof of their spouse's honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions.
ABOR must award
Spouses of Veterans Tuition Fund scholarships on a first-come,
first-served basis in an amount equal to the tuition and mandatory fees charged
by the university or community college, reduced by any other financial aid. A
scholarship must be limited to up to eight semesters and used only at a public
university or community college for a certificate, an associate degree or a
baccalaureate degree (A.R.S.
§ 15-1809).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Extends eligibility for a tuition scholarship from the Spouses of Veterans Tuition Fund to a person who enrolls in a degree-granting private institution in Arizona and meets the prescribed requirements, including complying with the institution's satisfactory academic progress standards.
2.
Directs ABOR, subject to available monies, to award an eligible
applicant enrolled in a
degree-granting private institution a scholarship in an amount equal to the
institution's tuition and fees, reduced by any other financial aid.
3. Allows a tuition scholarship to be used for tuition and mandatory fees at a degree-granting private institution.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 31, 2023
LB/KT/slp