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REFERENCE TITLE: financial aid program; tuition surcharge |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025
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HB 2752 |
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Introduced by Representatives Sandoval: Abeytia, Aguilar, Austin, Blattman, Cavero, Contreras P, Crews, Garcia, Liguori, Luna-Nájera, Márquez, Peshlakai, Simacek, Stahl Hamilton, Villegas
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AN ACT
amending title 15, chapter 13, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-1642.01; amending title 15, chapter 13, article 6, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-1706; appropriating monies; relating to financial aid.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 13, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-1642.01, to read:
15-1642.01. Surcharge on out-of-state students; disposition
The Arizona board of regents shall assess a surcharge of $300 each year on tuition paid by each student who is not a resident of this state. Monies collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, in the arizona higher education financial aid program fund established by section 15-1706.
Sec. 2. Title 15, chapter 13, article 6, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-1706, to read:
15-1706. Arizona higher education financial aid program; fund; distribution requirements; rules
A. The Arizona board of regents shall establish the Arizona higher education financial aid program.
B. The Board shall establish application, evaluation and approval procedures and criteria for persons to apply to participate in the Arizona higher education financial aid program.
C. The Arizona higher education financial aid program fund is established consisting of legislative appropriations and monies deposited pursuant to section 15-1642.01. The board shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated. The board may annually retain up to five percent of the monies in the fund for administrative purposes. The board shall distribute monies in the fund to qualifying students as provided in this section.
D. In order to qualify for distributions from the Arizona higher education financial aid program fund, a person must meet at least all of the following criteria:
1. Be a resident of this state.
2. Be currently enrolled in or accepted for enrollment in either:
(a) a UNIVERSITY under the jurisdiction of the arizona board of regents.
(b) A community college under the JURISDICTION of a community college district GOVERNING board.
3. Maintain a grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent, at the university or community college where the student is enrolled. If the grade point average of an otherwise qualifying student falls below 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, the student is no longer eligible for a distribution from the fund until the student meets the grade point average requirement prescribed in this paragraph.
E. Beginning in 2026, the board shall distribute monies from the Arizona higher education financial aid program fund on or before August 1 of each year to qualifying students to cover the full amount of each qualifying student's tuition and fees at the university or community college where the qualifying student is enrolled. If there are insufficient monies available in the Arizona higher education financial aid program fund during any fiscal year to cover the tuition and fees of all qualifying students, the board shall distribute the monies in the fund to qualifying students on a first-come, first-served basis.
F. The board shall adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section.
Sec. 3. Appropriation; Arizona higher education financial aid program fund; exemption
A. The sum of $500,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2025-2026 to the Arizona higher education financial aid program fund established by section 15-1706, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, for the purposes of this act.
B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.
Sec. 4. Requirements for enactment; two-thirds vote
Pursuant to article IX, section 22, Constitution of Arizona, this act is effective only on the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members of each house of the legislature and is effective immediately on the signature of the governor or, if the governor vetoes this act, on the subsequent affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members of each house of the legislature.