STATE CAPITOL,
PHOENIX – The governor recently signed a bill Rep. Mark Cardenas, D-Phoenix
(District 19), introduced that will help National Guard members cover a portion
of their college tuition.
“Arizona was one of only
three states that provided no educational assistance to guardsmen,” Cardenas
said. “This affects recruitment efforts because educational benefits are among
the most sought after by potential recruits.”
HB 2240 creates a
tuition waiver program for Arizona’s National Guard members who want to attend
in-state, public universities. The waiver will be available beginning in 2017,
provided that universities have funding available to cover the cost.
“In recent years, we
have seen fewer continuing military education opportunities, although members of
the armed forces are required to graduate from college in order to qualify for
some promotions,” Cardenas said. “Without career advancement, some guardsmen may
not stay in the service. By signing this bill into law, the governor has helped
ongoing efforts to better serve those who serve our country.”
To see the full text of
the bill, go to http://www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=2240&Session_Id=114&image.x=0&image.y=0.
