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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
medical schools; admissions; in-state students
Purpose
Effective January 1, 2027, requires a public university medical school (medical school) to give priority consideration in the first round of admissions interviews to applicants from Arizona who meet prescribed admissions qualifications and requirements and to offer an interview to such applicants from Arizona. Outlines admissions information that a medical school must include in promotional materials and on the medical school's website and reporting requirements for medical schools to demonstrate compliance with the prescribed requirements.
Background
The University
of Arizona (U of A) School of Medicine must give priority consideration to
applicants who demonstrate a willingness to practice in medically underserved
areas of Arizona. Additionally, the U of A School of Medicine must prepare a
plan to encourage students to enter the primary care disciplines and reserve at
least 60 percent of the residency positions available for medical school
graduates entering primary care disciplines programs, of which at least 12
percent must be reserved for medical school graduates entering the family
medicine program (A.R.S.
§§ 15-1751
and 15-1753).
To be considered
for admission into the U of A's School of Medicine, applicants must meet
specified requirements, including: 1) taking the Medical College Admissions
Test and achieving a minimum composite score of 500 within four years of
matriculation into medical school;
2) having a cumulative science and overall GPA of 3.0 or better in
undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate studies; 3) having earned a
bachelor's degree or completed 60 credit hours in an educational institution
located in the United States or Canada that is approved by a regional
accrediting body; 4) completion of outlined required courses; and 5) obtaining
a fingerprint clearance card issued by the Department of Public Safety (U
of A).
To be eligible to classify as an in-state student at an Arizona community college or public university for tuition purposes, a person must be domiciled in Arizona for one year, subject to outlined exceptions. A person who is not domiciled in Arizona for at least one year is entitled to in-state student classification under certain conditions, including if the person: 1) has participated in AmeriCorps in Arizona for at least one year; 2) is a member and resident of a recognized Indian tribe whose reservation land lies in Arizona and extends to another state; 3) is a veteran or honorably discharged or retired member of the U.S. Armed Forces and meets specified requirements; or 4) is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or the spouse or dependent of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and meets specified requirements (A.R.S. § 15-1802).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires, if a public university has a medical school, the medical school to, in a manner consistent with any standards set by the medical school's national accrediting organization:
a) post admissions information on the medical school's website and include the admissions information in any promotional materials distributed to prospective students;
b) offer an interview to each applicant from Arizona who submits a timely application, meets or exceeds the qualifications and requirements for admission to the medical school and pays all application fees;
c) if applicable, give priority consideration in the first round of admissions interviews to any applicant from Arizona who meets the medical school's prescribed admissions qualifications and requirements; and
d) by October 1, annually report specified information to the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) relating to the prior school year.
2. Requires the admissions information posted on the medical school's website and distributed to prospective students to include:
a) minimum qualifications and requirements for admission to the medical school;
b) the amount of all application fees;
c) deadlines dates and procedures for prospective students to apply for medical school admission; and
d) if applicable, the dates on which the medical school will interview applicants for admissions to the medical school.
3. Requires a medical school's annual report to ABOR on the prior school year to include:
a) the number of applicants from Arizona who submitted a timely application;
b) the number of applicants from Arizona who were interviewed for submitting an applicant, meeting or exceeding admissions qualifications or requirements and paying all application fees;
c) the number of applicants from Arizona who were admitted to the medical school;
d) a description of procedures that the medical school implemented and actions that the medical school undertook to comply with prescribed requirements; and
e) any other information requested by ABOR.
4. Deems that an applicant is from Arizona if the applicant is classified as an in-state student or graduated from a high school in Arizona.
5. Makes technical and conforming changes.
6. Becomes effective on January 1, 2027.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Specifies that the prescribed requirements on a public university medical school must be consistent with any standards set by the medical school's national accrediting organization.
2. Removes the specification that the required interview for a qualified applicant be on the next available interview date.
3. Delays the effective date to January 1, 2027.
Senate Action
ED 2/12/25 DP 5-2-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 25, 2025
MH/SDR/ci