ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

MYRIAM BOUSTILA

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH INTERN

JEFFREY ONG

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

                        HIGHER EDUCATION &

                        WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

                        COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 6, 2020

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1233, relating to community colleges; study

Purpose

An emergency measure that requires Arizona community colleges to conduct a joint study to examine the best methods to help students learn about state and federal financial benefits programs.

Background

The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education administers financial assistance programs available to community college and university students, including the Arizona Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership and the Arizona Teacher Student Loan Program (Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education).

The Arizona Board of Regents established a financial aid trust fund for the purposes of providing immediate aid to students with verifiable financial need, including students who are underrepresented in the population of university students or who by virtue of their special circumstances present unique needs for financial aid, and creating an endowment for future financial aid (A.R.S. § 15-1642).

In addition to a federal deadline each academic year, many states and colleges set priority deadlines to submit the free application for federal student aid for the aid programs they administer. Financial aid can come from federal, state, school and private sources to help students pay for college or career school. The aid can be received via a grant, scholarship, loan and work-study (U.S. Department of Education ).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Requires Arizona community colleges to jointly conduct a study to determine the best methods to help students:

a) learn about state and federal programs offering financial or other benefits; and

b) apply for financial or other benefits for community college students.

2. Requires the study to convene relevant stakeholders, including the following:

a) a representative from the Governor's office;

b) the president or chancellor of an Arizona community college; or

c) a representative from an agency that distributes or provides financial or other benefits to community college students.

3. Requires, by February 1, 2021, the community colleges to jointly submit a report of the findings and recommendations from the study to:

a) the Governor;

b) the President of the Senate;

c) the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

d) the Chairperson of the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee, or its successor committee; and

e) the Chairperson of the House Education Committee or its successor committee.

4. Requires, by February 1, 2021, community colleges to jointly transmit a copy of the report to the Secretary of State.

5. Defines community college as an educational institution that is operated by a district board and that provides a program not exceeding two years' training in the arts, sciences and humanities beyond grade 12 of the public or private high school course of study or vocational education, including terminal courses of a technical and vocational nature and basic adult education courses.

6. Repeals the study on January 1, 2022.

7. Becomes effective on signature of the Governor, if the emergency clause is enacted.