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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
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 program offered by a degree-granting private institution in Arizona if:
a) the program is approved by the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services for federal GI Bill educational assistance; and
b) the person meets the scholarship requirements prescribed for a student enrolled in a public university, including complying with the institution's satisfactory academic progress standards.
2. Caps a Spouses of Veterans Tuition Fund tuition scholarship to an eligible applicant enrolled in a degree-granting private institution at the remainder of the average in-state tuition and fees charged by public universities, reduced by any other financial aid received by that person.
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.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
Senate Action
ED 2/2/23 DP 5-2-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 21, 2023
LB/KT/slp