Assigned to ED FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1040
student activity fees; conscience exemption
Purpose
Requires the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) to exempt a student from the requirement
to pay student activity fees if the payment would violate the student's conscience or if outlined
circumstances apply to the student.
Background
The Arizona Constitution establishes ABOR to act as the governing body of Arizona's
public university system (Ariz. Const. art. 11 § 5). Statute outlines ABOR's responsibilities,
including fixing public university tuition and fees, differentiated between institutions and between
residents, nonresidents, undergraduate students, graduate students and students from foreign
countries. ABOR must adopt rules to govern the tuition and academic fee-setting process that
provide for a public hearing as an opportunity for public comment, a roll call vote for action on
changes in tuition or academic fees and outlined notification and disclosure requirements (A.R.S.
§ 15-1626).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires ABOR's rules governing tuition and academic fee-setting process to exempt a student
from the requirement to pay student activity fees if the payment of the student activity fees
would violate the student's conscience or the student:
a) is a veteran who recently returned from service;
b) was recently married or became a parent and does not participate in student activities;
c) objects to the student activity fees on religious or moral grounds;
d) demonstrates financial hardship; or
e) is on campus only part time.
2. Defines student activity fees as any fee that is charged to students by a public university and
that is used to support and facilitate the expression and activities of students or student
organizations.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 8, 2024
MH/sdr