This bill proposes the establishment of the Public Service Scholarship Fund, which will be administered by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). The fund will consist of legislative appropriations and other sources of funding, with the stipulation that the funds are exempt from lapsing provisions. The bill outlines that ABOR will use the fund to provide scholarships to students who complete a term of service in a federally supported national service program and subsequently receive a federal postservice education award. The scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and will equal the amount of the federal postservice education award.

Additionally, the bill specifies eligibility requirements for scholarship recipients, including maintaining good academic standing and using the scholarship within three years of completing their service. Unused scholarship funds will revert to the Public Service Scholarship Fund after this period. The bill also defines "educational institution" to include Arizona public universities and community colleges. An unspecified amount will be appropriated from the state General Fund to support this initiative in fiscal year 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-1706