The Arizona Legislature has been in session since Jan. 12, sifting through this year's proposed bills, which include several that could impact students and university employees throughout Arizona.
The following are pieces of legislation that have been proposed so far. They include University issues such as tuition, admission and hiring practices at ASU.
Tuition freeze
House Bill 2496 would exempt current students from any future tuition or fee increases approved by the Arizona Board of Regents.
Any full-time student attending an Arizona university for at least one semester immediately preceding the implementation of a tuition increase would be eligible for the frozen fees. The exemption would remain in effect until the student graduates, transfers, withdraws or is expelled from the university.
More financial aid
Senate Bill 1310 would increase the amount of money the state contributes to the Arizona Financial Aid Trust.
Currently, the state is required to match the state universities' donation to the fund, dollar for dollar.
The new bill would require the state to give $1.50 for every dollar the universities put into the fund.
The state is currently paying $2.1 million to AFAT, $700,000 short of its required contribution for the 2002-2003 school year.
If the state fully funded the trust according to the bill's formula, its contribution would be $4.2 million.
Enrollment growth
HB 2047 would bind into law the formula the Regents have used to calculate enrollment-growth funding requests since 1958. The formula asks that the state fund one more faculty position for every 22 new students.
The Regents discussed modifying this formula for each university under the Changing Directions initiative at their January meeting, said Scott Smith, ASU director of State Relations.
Tuition installment plan
SB 1031 would require Arizona universities to accept tuition payments in at least four installments during a semester. ASU currently allows students to pay tuition in three installments, Smith said.
New tuition waivers
SB 1263 would grant a tuition waiver to any National Guard member medically discharged from the service. Children and spouses of National Guard members killed in action also would be eligible for waivers.
HB 2532 would create a new tuition waiver for dependent students in foster care who enroll at an Arizona university or community college before their 21st birthday.
Illegal immigrants
HB 2392 would forbid immigrants without refugee or lawful immigration status from being recognized as in-state students.
Hiring practices
HB 2359 and HB 2369 are related measures clarifying background-check policies for potential university employees.
HB 2369 would allow any university president to remove any vice president, dean, professor or employee with a similar position convicted of sexual offenses, kidnapping, homicide, assault, burglary, sexual exploitation of children or stalking.
HB 2359 would make former employees who contribute to background checks criminally responsible for any false information that negatively impacts the applicant.
ASU is currently required to conduct background checks for applicants to positions dealing with information technology, handling money or health, safety and welfare, Smith said.
The University is working with the bills' sponsors to adjust hiring practices without adopting the bills.
Accepting credits
HB 2493 and SB 1259 are related measures that would require Arizona universities to equally consider credits from public, private, charter, vocational, fine arts and home schools when admitting high school students.
Tax-free frats
HB 2060 would exempt fraternities from paying property taxes on houses that are not located on university-owned land at any Arizona school. Fraternity housing on university property is already tax-free, Smith said.
Thanking Carey, Fulton
Senate Concurrent Resolutions 1013 and 1026 would recognize real estate executives W. P. Carey and Ira A. Fulton for their $50 million donations to ASU.
Reach the reporter at amanda.keim@asu.edu.
