Bill Text: AZ HB2527 | 2021 | Fifty-fifth Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Arizona community college promise scholarships
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-01 - House read second time [HB2527 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2021-HB2527-Introduced.html
|
REFERENCE TITLE: Arizona community college promise scholarships |
|
State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session 2021
|
|
HB 2527 |
|
|
|
Introduced by Representatives Lieberman: Cobb, Rodriguez, Wilmeth, Senators Bowie, Boyer
|
AN ACT
amending title 41, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-710.02; appropriating monies; relating to the department of administration.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 41, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41‑710.02, to read:
41-710.02. Arizona community college promise scholarship program; commission; fund; eligibility; program termination; commission termination
A. The Arizona community college promise scholarship program is established. The department shall administer the program, and the Arizona community college promise scholarship commission established by subsection B of this section shall oversee the program.
B. The Arizona community college promise scholarship commission is established consisting of the following members:
1. One president of a community college in a county with a population of more than six hundred thousand persons who is appointed by the president of the senate.
2. One president of a community college in a county with a population of six hundred thousand or less persons who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
3. One member who has expertise in nontraditional students in higher education and who is appointed by the governor.
4. One member who has expertise in higher education financial aid, who resides in a county WITH A POPULATION OF MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND PERSONS and WHO is appointed by the governor.
5. One member who has expertise in higher education financial aid, who resides in a county WITH A POPULATION OF SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND or less PERSONS and WHO is appointed by the governor.
C. The Arizona community college promise scholarship commission shall contract with a vendor that both:
1. Is a nonprofit organization that has statewide experience in administering scholarships and awards for institutions of higher education.
2. Is selected through a request for proposals to provide student support to scholarship recipients under this section.
D. The Arizona community college promise scholarship fund is established consisting of legislative appropriations and private grants, gifts, contributions and devises made for the purpose of administering the Arizona community college promise scholarship program. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated and are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations. The department may accept and spend private grants, gifts, contributions and devises to assist in carrying out the purposes of this section. These monies do not revert to the state general fund at the end of a fiscal year. The department shall administer the fund and shall establish criteria for distributing monies in the fund to scholarship recipients. The department may use up to ten percent of monies in the fund for administrative expenses and student support services. The department shall provide the following student support services:
1. Virtual mentoring.
2. Access to a PROFESSIONAL mentor with experience in helping community college students.
3. A structured mentoring and advising program that has demonstrated results.
E. An eligible student may apply for a scholarship under this section by applying to The department in a manner prescribed by the department. To be eligible for a scholarship under this section, a student must meet all of the following:
1. As of October 1, 2021, not be enrolled in an institution of higher education.
2. After October 1, 2021, be enrolled in a community college as defined in section 15‑1401.
3. Submit proof that the student graduated from a high school in this state in either 2020 or 2021 with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
4. Complete and submit a free application for federal student aid for the year in which the student is applying for a scholarship under this section and meet the eligibility criteria for the federal pell grant.
F. The department shall award to each eligible student applicant a scholarship of up to $3,000 each year for a maximum of two years. A recipient may use the scholarship monies for any cost of attending the community college and is not required to use the monies only for tuition.
G. A scholarship provided pursuant to this section shall be reduced by the amount of any other federal aid scholarships or public grants and any other public aid received by that person from or through the community college at which the person is enrolled, except that a scholarship may not be reduced by the amount of federal grants received by the person from the department of child safety under the Arizona education and training voucher program.
H. A student may reapply to receive a scholarship under this section for a second year if the student meets both of the following requirements:
1. Submits proof that the student has deposited an additional $500 or more in an account as defined in section 15‑1871.
2. Remains in good academic standing at the community college as defined in section 15‑1401 in which the student is enrolled.
I. The program established by this section ends on July 1, 2031 pursuant to section 41-3102, and the commission established by this section ends on July 1, 2029 pursuant to section 41‑3103.
Sec. 2. Appropriation; Arizona community college promise scholarship fund
The sum of $10,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2021-2022 to the Arizona community college promise scholarship fund established by section 41‑710.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.
