15-1809.02. Spouses and dependents of law enforcement officers tuition scholarship fund; tuition scholarships; eligibility; rules; reporting requirements; definition

944 words·~4 min read·/az/title-15/15-1809-02

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

A. The spouses and dependents of law enforcement officers tuition scholarship fund is established consisting of monies deposited pursuant to section 15-1809, subsection E and legislative appropriations. The Arizona board of regents shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated and are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations. Subject to available monies, the Arizona board of regents shall use the monies in the fund to award tuition scholarships to any individual who meets all of the following requirements:

1. Enrolls in any of the following:

(a)A university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents.

(b)A community college as defined in section 15-1401.

(c)A career technical education program that is offered to adults or an associate degree program offered by a career technical education district pursuant to section 15-398.

(d)A private postsecondary educational institution in this state that is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 30, article 2.

2. Is either:

(a)The spouse of a law enforcement officer.

(b)Under twenty-seven years of age and a dependent of a law enforcement officer.

3. Is a resident of this state when the individual both:

(a)Applies for a tuition scholarship.

(b)Receives a tuition scholarship pursuant to this section.

4. For an individual who is enrolled in a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents, is physically present in this state during each semester for which the individual receives a tuition scholarship pursuant to this section.

B. An individual who meets the requirements prescribed in subsection A of this section may apply to the Arizona board of regents for a tuition scholarship from the fund in a manner prescribed by the Arizona board of regents. Subject to available monies, the Arizona board of regents shall award an eligible individual a tuition scholarship that is equal to the amount of tuition and mandatory fees charged by the university, community college or career technical education district in which the individual is enrolled, reduced by the amount of any federal aid scholarships or public grants and any other financial gifts, grants or aid received by that individual, except that if the individual is enrolled in a private postsecondary educational institution, the tuition scholarship may not exceed the remainder of the average in-state tuition and fees charged by universities under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents minus other gifts and aid awarded to that individual.

The Arizona board of regents shall verify that each individual satisfies the requirements prescribed in subsection A of this section before awarding a tuition scholarship. If the Arizona board of regents determines that an individual no longer satisfies the requirements prescribed in subsection A of this section, the Arizona board of regents may not distribute additional monies from the fund to the individual until the individual submits documentation showing that the individual satisfies all requirements prescribed in subsection A of this section.

C. A tuition scholarship awarded pursuant to this section is subject to the following requirements:

1. A tuition scholarship award is limited to not more than four academic years or eight semesters.

2. Tuition scholarship award monies may be used only for a career technical education district program certificate or license, a private vocational program as defined in section 32-3001, an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree.

3. Tuition scholarship award monies may be used only to pay tuition and mandatory fees at a career technical education district, a private postsecondary educational institution in this state that is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 30, article 2, a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents or a community college as defined in section 15-1401. If the individual is enrolled in a career technical education district program and is not charged to attend the career technical education district program, the Arizona board of regents may not award the individual a tuition scholarship pursuant to this section.

D. The Arizona board of regents shall award tuition scholarships pursuant to this section on a first-come, first-served basis. If there are insufficient monies in the fund, the Arizona board of regents may not award a tuition scholarship to an eligible individual pursuant to this section.

E. The Arizona board of regents may rely on a copy of the law enforcement officer's commission card and a current employment verification letter from the law enforcement officer's employer to establish that an individual is a law enforcement officer for the purposes of this section.

F. The Arizona board of regents may adopt rules for the purposes of administering this section.

G. On or before March 1 each year, the Arizona board of regents shall report to the joint legislative budget committee and the governor's office of strategic planning and budgeting on all of the following:

1. The total number of students who received a tuition scholarship pursuant to this section by eligible postsecondary institution in the current academic year.

2. The total amounts awarded and average amounts awarded pursuant to this section by eligible postsecondary institution in the current academic year.

3. The total number of students who received a tuition scholarship pursuant to this section and who graduated or completed a program of study by eligible postsecondary institution.

4. Each law enforcement agency that employs a law enforcement officer whose spouse or dependent, or both, receives a tuition scholarship pursuant to this section.

H. For the purposes of this section, "law enforcement officer" means an individual who is a resident of this state and who is currently employed in this state as either a peace officer as defined in section 15-1808 or a correctional officer.