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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
House: ED DP 7-3-2-0 |
HB 2240: tuition waiver; children; veterans; disabilities
Sponsor: Representative Blackman, LD 7
House Engrossed
Overview
Creates the Dependents of Military Personnel Tuition Scholarship Fund (Fund) to award a tuition scholarship to the eligible child or dependent of a member or former member of the U.S. Armed Forces who has a disability rating of at least 30%. Appropriates $15,000,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2027 to the Fund.
History
A person is eligible for a tuition waiver scholarship at an Arizona public university or community college if they are the child or spouse of:
1) a peace officer, correctional officer, firefighter, emergency paramedic, National Guard member or U.S. Armed Forces member who was an Arizona resident or stationed in Arizona and who was killed in the line of duty or who died from injuries suffered in the line of duty; or
2) an Arizona resident who was a U.S. Armed Forces veteran or who served as a peace officer, firefighter or U.S. Armed Forces member at the time of their death, who suffered a post-traumatic stress injury in the line of duty and who died by suicide.
To be eligible, a child must be 30 years old or younger and a spouse may not be remarried. Tuition waiver scholarships are limited for a spouse or any one child to: 1) 64 credit hours at Arizona community colleges; and 2) a total number of credits equal to the number of credits required for a baccalaureate degree at Arizona public universities for the student's initially declared course of study (A.R.S. § 15-1808).
The Spouses of Military Veterans Tuition Scholarship Fund is administered by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) to award tuition scholarships to the spouses of honorably discharged U.S. Armed Forces veterans. The spouse must be a resident of Arizona while receiving the scholarship, amongst other prescribed requirements (A.R.S. § 15-1809).
Provisions
1. Allows ABOR, in addition to statutory tuition waiver scholarships and subject to Fund requirements, to provide a tuition scholarship to a child or dependent of a member or former member of the U.S. Armed Forces who:
a. has a disability rating determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of 30% or more; and
b. is an Arizona resident or was stationed in Arizona at the time of the injury that resulted in the disability rating. (Sec. 1)
2. Establishes the Fund that is administered by ABOR and that consists of legislative appropriations. (Sec. 2)
3. Specifies Fund monies are continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing. (Sec. 2)
4. Appropriates $15,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to the Fund. (Sec. 3)
5. Instructs the Treasurer, on notice from ABOR, to invest and divest Fund monies and credit monies earned from investment to the Fund. (Sec. 2)
6. Requires ABOR, subject to available monies, to use Fund monies to award tuition scholarships on a first-come, first-served basis to any individual who:
a. is the child or dependent of a member or former member of the U.S. Armed Forces who:
i. is determined by the VA to have a disability rating of at least 30%; and
ii. is an Arizona resident or was stationed in Arizona at the time of the injury that resulted in the disability rating;
b. provides to ABOR documentation from the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services that verifies that the individual meets the eligibility requirements;
c. is enrolled full-time at an Arizona public university or community college;
d. completed and submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid before each year in which the individual receives a tuition scholarship;
e. is an Arizona resident;
f. has not been convicted of a felony; and
g. has not obtained a total number of postsecondary education credits that meets or exceeds the number of credits required for a baccalaureate degree at an Arizona public university for the individual's initially declared course of study. (Sec. 2)
7. Prohibits ABOR from awarding a tuition scholarship to:
a. any individual for more than four academic years or eight semesters; and
b. an eligible individual if there are insufficient Fund monies. (Sec. 2)
8. Caps a tuition scholarship at an amount that does not exceed an individual's actual cost of in-state tuition and fees minus the amount of any federal aid scholarships, public grants or other financial gifts, grants or aid the individual receives for the same term. (Sec. 2)
9. Makes a conforming change. (Sec. 1)
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13. Initials CH/JD HB 2240
14. 3/11/2026 Page 0 House Engrossed
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