Bill Text: AZ HB2420 | 2013 | Fifty-first Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: G.I. bill tuition gap program
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-01-24 - Referred to House PSMRA Committee [HB2420 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2013-HB2420-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: G.I. bill tuition gap program |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature First Regular Session 2013
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HB 2420 |
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Introduced by Representatives Borrelli, Larkin
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AN ACT
amending Title 15, chapter 14, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding article 12; making an appropriation; relating to the G.I. BILL TUITION GAP PROGRAM.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 14, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding article 12, to read:
ARTICLE 12. G.I. BILL TUITION GAP PROGRAM
15-1897. Definitions
In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Federal program" means the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational assistance Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-252).
2. "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means either:
(a) A community college under the jurisdiction of a community college district in this state or a community college that is owned, operated or chartered by an Indian tribe on its own Indian reservation.
(b) A university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents.
(c) A private college, vocational school or university in this state.
3. "Program" means the G.I. Bill Tuition Gap Program established pursuant to this article.
4. "Qualifying military veteran" means a person who meets all of the following requirements:
(a) Is eligible for in‑state tuition status pursuant to section 15‑1802.
(b) Is accepted into an institution with a course of study that leads to an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree.
(c) Has qualified for the federal program.
15-1897.01. G.I. bill tuition gap program; administration guidelines; G.I. bill tuition gap program fund
A. Beginning in the fall semester of 2014, The commission for postsecondary education shall establish a G.I. Bill Tuition Gap Program to serve qualifying military veterans with tuition assistance at institutions of higher education when benefits for a qualifying military veteran under the federal program are no longer available and the veteran has not completed an associate's or bachelor's degree.
B. The commission shall use the guidelines in this section to develop policies to implement and administer the program.
C. The commission shall allocate monies appropriated for the program to institutions to provide grants for qualifying military veterans. The commission may not use program monies for administrative costs.
D. An institution may not use more than three per cent of its program monies for administrative costs.
E. Monies returned to the commission pursuant to subsection G of this section shall be used for future allocations to institutions.
F. An institution shall award program grants to qualifying military veterans on an annual basis but shall distribute the monies on a QUARTERLY or semester basis, with continuing awards contingent on the qualifying military veteran maintaining satisfactory academic progress as prescribed by the institution. After the first year of enrollment at an institution, the amount of the tuition charged to each veteran shall not exceed the amount of the grant awarded to that veteran during the first academic year.
G. At the conclusion of the academic year, monies that were distributed to an institution but that were not awarded to a qualifying military veteran or used for allowed administrative purposes shall be returned to the commission.
H. A qualifying military veteran may receive a program grant until the earlier of the following occurs:
1. The qualifying military veteran completes the requirements for an associate's or bachelor's degree.
2. The expiration of twelve months from the time that the qualifying military veteran receives an initial program grant.
I. A qualifying military veteran who receives a program grant may use the grant monies only toward tuition at an institution of higher education in this state.
J. The G.I. Bill Tuition Gap Program fund is established consisting of monies appropriated to the fund. The commission for postsecondary education shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are subject to legislative appropriation. The commission may accept and spend federal monies and private grants, gifts, contributions and devises to assist in carrying out the purposes of this article. These monies do not revert to the state general fund at the end of a fiscal year.
15-1897.02. Program termination
The program established by this article ends on July 1, 2023 pursuant to section 41‑3102.
Sec. 2. Appropriation; G.I. bill tuition gap program
The sum of $250,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2013-2014 to the commission for postsecondary education for deposit in the G.I. bill tuition gap program fund established by section 15‑1897.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, for the purpose of providing grants to qualifying military veterans.
