HB2904 is a bill that makes necessary changes to higher education laws to implement the FY 2025 state budget. The bill establishes the Arizona Community Colleges Promise Program Fund, which is administered by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) and consists of legislative appropriations. The fund is continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing. ABOR is directed to distribute 20% of the fund equally among all community college districts (CCDs) and 80% proportionately based on full-time equivalent student enrollment. Each CCD is required to establish a Community College Promise Program Scholarship Fund to provide financial assistance to eligible students, with up to 10% of the monies used for administrative expenses and student support services.

The bill also outlines eligibility criteria for students to receive initial and continued financial aid awards from the Scholarship Fund. Additionally, it requires CCDs to establish policies for qualified expenses that can be covered by the financial aid awards. The bill repeals the Spouses and Dependents of Law Enforcement Officers Tuition Scholarship Fund on July 1, 2025, transferring any remaining monies to the state General Fund. Furthermore, it allows for a state match of less than two dollars for each dollar raised by the surcharge on student registration fees for the Arizona Financial Aid Trust Fund for FY 2025 and specifies operating state aid and aid for STEM and workforce programs for CCDs as per the FY 2025 General Appropriations Act. The bill becomes effective on the general effective date.

Statutes affected:
Chaptered Version: 15-1705