Assigned to ED AS PASSED BY COW
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1206
military veteran spouses; tuition scholarships
Purpose
Extends eligibility for a tuition scholarship from the Spouses of Military Veterans Tuition
Scholarship Fund (Spouses of Veterans Tuition Fund) to a person who attends a degree-granting
private postsecondary educational institution (degree-granting private institution) in Arizona and
meets prescribed requirements.
Background
Subject to available monies, the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) must use Spouses of
Veterans Tuition Fund monies to award a tuition scholarship to any person who: 1) enrolls in an
Arizona public university or community college; 2) is the spouse of an honorably discharged
veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces; 3) qualifies for in-state student status; 4) is an Arizona resident
at the time of applying for and while receiving a tuition scholarship; 5) annually submits the free
application for federal student aid; 6) meets satisfactory academic progress standards established
by the university or community college; and 7) completes a Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act of 1974 release form to allow for the release of information needed to determine continued
eligibility. An applicant must submit proof of their spouse's honorable discharge or general
discharge under honorable conditions.
ABOR must award Spouses of Veterans Tuition Fund scholarships on a first-come,
first-served basis in an amount equal to the tuition and mandatory fees charged by the university
or community college, reduced by any other financial aid. A scholarship must be limited to up to
eight semesters and used only at a public university or community college for a certificate, an
associate degree or a baccalaureate degree (A.R.S. ยง 15-1809).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Extends eligibility for a tuition scholarship from the Spouses of Veterans Tuition Fund to a
person who enrolls in a program offered by a degree-granting private institution in Arizona if:
a) the program is approved by the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services for federal GI
Bill educational assistance; and
b) the person meets the scholarship requirements prescribed for a student enrolled in a public
university, including complying with the institution's satisfactory academic progress
standards. FACT SHEET
S.B. 1206
Page 2
2. Caps a Spouses of Veterans Tuition Fund tuition scholarship to an eligible applicant enrolled
in a degree-granting private institution at the remainder of the average in-state tuition and fees
charged by public universities, reduced by any other financial aid received by that person.
3. Allows a tuition scholarship to be used for tuition and mandatory fees at a degree-granting
private institution.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Adds, to the requirements for a student in a degree-granting private institution for a Spouses
of Veterans Tuition scholarship, that the student must be enrolled in a program approved by
the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services for a federal GI Bill educational assistance.
2. Caps a Spouses of Veterans Tuition Fund provided by a degree-granting private institution at
the remainder of the average in-state tuition and fees charged by public universities, reduced
by any other financial aid.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
Senate Action
ED 2/2/23 DP 5-2-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 21, 2023
LB/KT/slp