HB 2354
Initials FK Page 1 House Engrossed
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-fifth Legislature
Second Regular Session
House: MAPS DP 15-0-0-0
HB 2354: tuition; family; post-traumatic stress; suicide
Sponsor: Representative Biasiucci, LD 5
House Engrossed
Overview
Outlines additional tuition wavier scholarship (TWS) issuing requirements for the Arizona Board
of Regents (ABOR) and community college districts (districts) for spouses and children of
veterans, peace officers (PO) or firefighters who die by suicide caused by a post-traumatic stress
injury in the line of duty.
History
ABOR has purview only over Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University and the
University of Arizona (A.R.S. § 15-1601).
Arizona has 10 community college districts (https://arizonacommunitycolleges.org/).
Current statute states ABOR and districts must issue a TWS, to a school within its jurisdiction, to
a qualified child or spouse of a verified PO, correctional officer, firefighter, emergency paramedic,
national guard member or an Arizona resident member of the United States armed forces who
was killed, or died by injuries sustained, in the line of duty A.R.S § 15-1808).
A TWS is limited to children, of eligible persons, under 30 years old, and to spouses who have
not remarried (A.R.S. § 15-1808).
Statute stipulates that a member is eligible to receive a disability pension prior to the member's
normal retirement date due to accidental disability or catastrophic disability (A.R.S. § 38-844).
Statue outlines that a peace officer or firefighter may receive benefits under the Public Safety
Personnel Defined Contribution Retirement Plan Disability Program (A.R.S. § 38-870).
Provisions
1. Requires ABOR to issue a TWS to qualified individuals at any instate public university. (Sec.
1)
2. Requires districts to issue a TWS to qualified individuals at any community college within the
district. (Sec. 1)
3. States ABOR and districts must verify that a person is a child or spouse of a qualified individual
with the Arizona Peace Officers Memorial Board, The Arizona Fallen Firefighter Memorial
Committee or the Arizona Department of Veterans' services prior to issuing a TWS. (Sec. 1)
4. Adds death by suicide due to a post-traumatic stress injury to the TWS eligibility requirements
for a child or spouse of a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, a PO or a firefighter.
(Sec. 1)
5. Contains an additional TWS eligibility clause. (Sec. 2)
6. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note