Arizona 2024 2024 Regular Session

Arizona Senate Bill SB1728 Comm Sub / Analysis

Filed 02/12/2024

                    Assigned to ED & APPROP 	FOR COMMITTEE 
 
 
 
 
ARIZONA STATE SENATE 
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session 
 
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1728 
 
appropriation; dual enrollment training; scholarships 
Purpose 
Appropriates $500,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2025 to the Arizona 
Board of Regents (ABOR) to administer a dual enrollment instructor scholarship program. 
Requires ABOR to award scholarships to eligible teachers that seek to become dual enrollment 
instructors.  
Background 
The Arizona Constitution establishes ABOR to act as the governing body of Arizona's 
public university system. ABOR governs the three state institutions and is legally, fiscally and 
strategically responsible for the state universities (Ariz. Const. art. 11 § 5). 
A dual enrollment course is a college-level course that is: 1) conducted on the campus of 
a high school or a career technical education district; 2) applicable to an established community 
college academic degree or certificate program; and 3) transferable to an Arizona public university 
(A.R.S. § 15-101). 
SB 1728 appropriates $500,000 from the state GF in FY 2025 to ABOR.  
Provisions 
1. Appropriates $500,000 from the state GF in FY 2025 to ABOR to administer a dual enrollment 
instructor scholarship program.  
2. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing until July 1, 2027, when all unexpended and 
unencumbered monies revert to the state GF.  
3. Requires ABOR, in FYs 2025, 2026 and 2027, to use the monies to award scholarships on a 
first-come, first-served basis to provide scholarships to eligible teachers that seek to become 
dual enrollment instructors.  
4. Allows ABOR to award a scholarship to an eligible teacher for up to the actual costs of an 
educational or training program that satisfies the requirements adopted by a higher learning 
commission for dual enrollment instructors.  
5. Prohibits the amount of scholarship monies awarded from exceeding the teacher's actual costs 
minus other financial gifts, aid or grants received by the teacher.   FACT SHEET 
S.B. 1728 
Page 2 
 
 
6. Requires ABOR, by ______, 2024 and each year after, to submit a report to the President of 
the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Governor and provide a copy to 
the Secretary of State on the previous school year that includes the: 
a) statewide number of applicants for dual enrollment instructor scholarships; 
b) names of each school district and charter school that employs eligible teachers that received 
or applied for dual enrollment instructor scholarships; and  
c) average amount of scholarship monies awarded.  
7. Repeals this act on December 31, 2028. 
8. Defines eligible teacher as a certificated teacher that is currently employed by a school district 
or charter school in Arizona if both of the following apply: 
a) the school district or charter school that employs the teacher does not offer dual enrollment 
courses on or before the date on which the teacher enrolls in the educational or training 
program; and  
b) at least 75 percent of the students that are enrolled in the school district or charter school 
that employs the teacher are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.  
9. Defines higher learning commission as a higher learning commission that accredits  
degree-granting postsecondary education institutions in the north central region, including 
Arizona. 
10.  Becomes effective on the general effective date.  
Prepared by Senate Research 
February 12, 2024 
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