House of Representatives

HB 2613

education and training vouchers; appropriation

Sponsor: Representative Biggs

DPA	Committee on Appropriations (B)
DPA	Caucus and COW
X	As Engrossed and As Passed the House	This bill as passed the House contains an Appropriation clause.

Appropriates an unspecified amount from the general fund in Fiscal Year 2006-07 to the Department of Economic Security (DES) for its education and training vouchers program for foster youth in kindergarten through twelfth grades.

History

In Federal FY 2004, the State of Arizona was allocated $524,273 through the federal Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program.  This Program was not funded through the state appropriation.

ETC provides funds for post-secondary education and training to young adults who are currently or were formerly in foster care.  Any person who was in a state or tribal foster care program when age 16, 17, 18 or who was adopted from the state foster care system between 16 and 21 years of age, may apply for these funds. 

All post-secondary programs attended must either be accredited or certified by the Department of Education.  Eligible programs include community, four-year, and vocational schools (as described in the Higher Education Act of 1965).  Financial assistance is paid directly to the student and may not exceed the total cost of attendance.

Vouchers funds have been used for traditional education related expenses including tuition, books, fees, school supplies and living expenses included rent, utilities, clothing food, child care, transportation, medical care, etc. as well as “other education support needs” including purchase of computers, school curriculum related software, uniforms, tools, etc.

During FY 2004, 110 current and former foster youth received an educational voucher.  By the end of FY 2005, this number totaled 156 program participants; a 42 % increase.

Provisions

· Makes a blank appropriation from the GF in FY 2006-07 to DES for its educational and training voucher program for foster youth and former foster youth in K-12.

Amendment

Committee on Appropriations B

• Requires the Department of Economic Security to establish a case management unit consisting of two case managers to develop and coordinate the program.
• Case managers must assist youth in:

• Graduating from high school
• Passing the Arizona Instrument Measure Standards (AIMS) Test
• Applying for postsecondary financial assistance
• Applying for postsecondary education

• DES must prepare a report on or before March 1 containing information on:

• Overall enrollment in the program
• Ages and grades of participants
• County residence
• High school graduation rates of participants
• Recipients of the general equivalency diploma
• Enrollment in postsecondary education

• Requires DES to submit a copy of the report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Secretary of State and the Director of the Arizona State library, Archives and Public records.
• Appropriates $500,000 to DES to implement the program.
• Applies funds, exclusively, for the completion of high school and postsecondary education.

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Forty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session          2          March 9, 2006

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