public service scholarship fund

HB 2616 creates a state scholarship fund administered by the Arizona Board of Regents to support students who complete federal national service programs (like AmeriCorps) and receive a federal post-service education award. The fund provides scholarships equal to the federal award amount, but only to students attending eligible Arizona schools (such as state universities or community colleges) who use the federal award first. Recipients must maintain good academic standing, use scholarship funds within three years of service completion, and cannot access funds until their federal award is fully exhausted. The state appropriates funds for this program in fiscal year 2025-2026.