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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
military veteran spouses; tuition scholarships
Purpose
Extends eligibility for a tuition scholarship from the Spouses of Military Veterans Tuition Scholarship Fund (Spouses of Veterans Tuition Fund) to a person who enrolls in a program approved by the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS) at a degree-granting private postsecondary educational institution (degree-granting private institution) in Arizona and who meets prescribed requirements.
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).
If allowing scholarships awarded from the Spouses of Veterans Tuition Fund to be used at degree-granting private institutions results in an increase in scholarship applicants, then there may be a fiscal impact to the state General Fund.
Provisions
1. Extends eligibility for a tuition scholarship from the Spouses of Veterans Tuition Fund to a person who enrolls in an ADVS approved program at a degree-granting private institution in Arizona and who meets prescribed requirements, including complying with the institution's satisfactory academic progress standards.
2. Caps the tuition scholarship for a student enrolled in a private post-secondary institution at the remainder of the average in-state tuition and fees charged by universities under ABOR, reduced by the amount of any federal aid scholarships or public grants and any other financial gifts, grants or aid received by the person.
3. Allows a tuition scholarship to only be used for tuition and mandatory fees at a degree-granting private institution.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on general affective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 5, 2024
ZD/KK/cs