On Tuesday, the House Education Committee approved a bipartisan bill, HB 2178, intended to empower public university students in determining the allocation of their tuition and fees to support student organizations and clubs.
Arizona State Rep. Alexander Kolodin’s bill, cosponsored by Representatives Michael Carbone (R) and Alma Hernandez (D), was approved along party lines.
“Forcing Jewish students to fund calls for their own genocide is unconscionable. It is regretful that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, at least in this committee, did not see eye to eye on this issue. But I am thankful for both my Republican colleagues on the committee and my bipartisan co-sponsors for helping with this lift,” Kolodin told the Arizona Daily Independent.
“No student should be compelled to fund groups that harbor ideologies against their beliefs, especially when those groups literally seek to destroy them,” said Kolodin. “Testimony shared during the Ad Hoc Committee on Antisemitism meeting in December detailed troubling experiences of harassment and discrimination based on Jewish identity. It was clear that more must be done to address the increasing problem of antisemitism on school campuses. That’s the intent behind my sponsorship of HB 2178, which will ensure that every student, including our Jewish community, has the autonomy to support organizations aligned with their values.”
HB 2178 mandates that each public university, when transferring funds to university-recognized student organizations or clubs, must allow every tuition-paying student to designate one or more organizations to receive a proportional share of the transferred funds.
The bill also “ensures that funds are transferred in accordance with the students’ selections, promoting transparency and accountability in the allocation process.”
Under HB 2178, if a student opts not to select any student organizations or clubs, the money they contribute will be distributed according to the rules already in place by law. Supporters say this “ensures fair distribution even if a student doesn’t make a specific choice.”
These groups are supporting terrorist organizations and that’s against Az law. And student fees should have oversight and fees should not come from tax dollars.
“This is common-sense legislation that protects Arizona’s college students and respects their beliefs and values. These groups are supporting terrorist organizations and that is against Arizona law.” said State Representative Michael Carbone. “Taking someone’s money, ostensibly to support clubs and organizations that are supposed to add value to their college life, and then using it to fund hate speech and threats is wrong.”