AZ SB1343

Establishes community college opportunity grants administered by community college district governing boards and tribal colleges beginning August 1, 2021, covering tuition and approved educational fees for up to 18 credit hours for one year.

Eligible students must be Arizona high school graduates or equivalency diploma holders with a minimum 2.0 GPA, complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), enroll for at least 6 credit hours, and have parental/family adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less.

Creates the community college opportunity grant fund to be administered by the state treasurer and distributed to tribal colleges and community colleges based on eligible student enrollment and costs, with grants reduced by other financial aid including Pell grants.

Appropriates $5,000,000 from the state general fund to the community college opportunity grant fund in each of fiscal years 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024.

Includes prorating of funds if insufficient monies exist in any fiscal year and allows reduced grant amounts for students enrolled in fewer than 12 credit hours per semester.