From the ECS State Policy Database Postsecondary Students--Military

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary CA Signed into law 09/2012 Postsec. From bill summary: Enacts the Combat to College Act of 2012, which authorizes a qualifying student to use the 4 academic years during which the California Community Colleges and the California State University are required, and the University of California is requested, to grant priority registration for enrollment within 15 years of his/her leaving state or federal active duty. Requires the priority registration for enrollment to apply to enrollment for all degree and certificate programs offered by the institution after the military or veteran status of the student has been verified by the institution he/she attends. Requires students receiving this priority to comply with specified requirements. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_2101-2150/ab_2133_bill_20120920_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 2133 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 09/2012 Community College Directs the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, using common course descriptors and pertinent recommendations of the American Council on Education, to determine by July 1, 2015, the courses for which credit should be awarded for prior military experience. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_2451-2500/ab_2462_bill_20120920_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 2462 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 09/2012 Postsec. From bill summary: Makes students who were stationed in California for more than one year as active duty military for more than one year immediately prior to being discharged from the military exempt from paying nonresident tuition. Revises that provision for purposes of the California Community Colleges by making a community college student who was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in the state on active duty for more than one year immediately prior to being discharged from the military exempt from paying nonresident tuition for up to one year, to be used while he/she lives in this state and within two years of being discharged, if he/she files an affidavit with the community college stating that he.she intends to establish residency in California as soon as possible. Prohibits a former member of the U.S. military who received a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge from being eligible for an exemption. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_2451-2500/ab_2478_bill_20120920_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 2478 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 09/2012 P-12 Encourages the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California to consider and adopt the American Council on Education credit recommendations to give veterans due credit for their military experience. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0151-0200/acr_159_bill_20120918_chaptered.pdf Title: A.C.R. 159 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov NV Adopted 07/2012 Postsec. Establishes the Governor's Interagency Council on Veterans Affairs to help identify and prioritize the needs of Nevada veterans. The Council is to produce a report for the governor on how to improve services to veterans. http://gov.nv.gov/news/item/4294973661/ Title: Executive Order #2012-15 Source: gov.nv.gov LA Signed into law 06/2012 Postsec. Provides that, with the exception of tuition charged to a veteran under the federal Yellow Ribbon Program, a student who has served in the U.S. armed forces and physically resides in Louisiana for the duration of his enrollment in a state public institution of postsecondary education and meets at least one of specified other qualifications is entitled to resident classification for tuition purposes, regardless of the length of residency in the state. Directs the board of regents and each public postsecondary education management board to adopt rules and guidelines necessary to implement these provisions. http://legis.la.gov/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=811693 Title: H.B. 435 Source: legis.la.gov MA Signed into law 05/2012 Postsec. Requires public institution of higher education to develop a set of policies and procedures governing the evaluation of a student's military occupation, military training, coursework and experience, to determine whether academic credit shall be awarded by the institution for the evaluated occupation, experience, training and coursework. The Council may require that the occupation or occupations, training, experience or courses meet the standards of the American Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic credit. The Council may also require public institutions of higher education to develop a set of policies and procedures to standardize credit-by-exam equivalencies for exams funded through the department of defense. Requires public institutions of higher education to designate a single point of contact for a student who is enrolled in such an institution and who is also a veteran. http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S02254 Title: S.B. 2254 Source: http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/ AL Signed into law 05/2012 Postsec. Classifies certain members of the Alabama National Guard as residents eligible for in-state tuition rates. Title: H.B. 97 Source: Westlaw/StateNet SC Signed into law 05/2012 Postsec. Requires all state institutions of higher education to allow students to complete assignments or take make-up examinations when an absence is caused by attending or participating in military service, duty, training, or disaster relief efforts. http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess119_2011-2012/prever/3558_20120425.htm Title: H.B. 3558 Source: scstatehouse.gov LA Signed into law 05/2012 Postsec. Revises eligibility provisions for students who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students. Provides for initial award eligibility and continuing eligibility for certain students who reenlist in the United States Armed Forces and maintain continuous active duty under certain circumstances. Extends the length of time required to claim or maintain an award for certain students on active duty under certain circumstances. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=801418 Title: H.B. 945 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us OK Signed into law 05/2012 Postsec. Creates the Post-Military Service Occupation, Education and Credentialing Act. Authorizes the public and private institutions of higher education and the career and technology centers to utilize the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, published by the American Council on Education (ACE), to compare and apply academic credit for education, training and experience received through military duty or service which is applicable to the selected program of study for an honorably discharged military service member who becomes a student at an institution of higher education or career and technology center within 3 years after separation from military service. A new section of law requires each governing board to adopt by January 1, 2013, a policy authorizing the institution or career and technology center under the board's supervision and management to award educational credits to a student enrolled in the institution or career and technology center who is also honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States within 3 years of initial enrollment, for courses that are part of the student's military training or service and that meet the standards of the ACE or equivalent standards for awarding academic credit if the award of educational credit is based upon the institution's or technical career center's admission standards and its role, scope and mission. Requires each governing board to adopt necessary rules and procedures to implement the provisions of this section. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2011-12bills/SB/SB1863_ENR.RTF Title: S.B. 1863 Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us AK Signed into law 04/2012 Postsec. Directs the department or applicable board to accept military education, training, and service credit for some or all of the qualifications otherwise required of an applicant for a license or certificate issued or to accept academic credit towards a degree or technical education if an applicant provides satisfactory evidence of successful completion of relevant military education, training, or service. Permits department to provide a temporary occupational license for qualified military service members under certain circumstances. Requires that a postsecondary educational institution or workforce investment board demonstrate that it accepts military education, training, or service credit or hours toward a degree or technical program offered by the institution. http://www.legis.state.ak.us/PDF/27/Bills/HB0282C.PDF Title: H.B. 282 Source: legis.state.ak.us FL Signed into law 04/2012 Postsec. Requires each Florida College System institution and state university that offers priority course registration for a segment of the student population, or upon implementation of priority course registration for a segment of the student population, to provide priority course registration for veterans receiving GI Bill educational benefits, or veterans' spouse/dependents to whom the GI Bill benefits have been transferred. http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0045er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0045&Session=2012 Title: H.B. 45 Source: myfloridahouse.gov FL Signed into law 04/2012 Postsec. Requires the board of governors and the state board of education to adopt regulations & rules, respectively, that enable U.S. Armed Forces servicemembers to earn college credit at public postsecondary institutions for college-level training and education acquired in the military. http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0347er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0347&Session=2012 Title: H.B. 347 Source: myfloridahouse.gov FL Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Postsec. Establishes August 7th of each year as "Purple Heart Day," and encourages schools to commemorate Purple Heart Day and honor those wounded or killed while serving in any branch of the U.S. Armed Services. Requires each Florida College System institution and state university that offers priority course registration for a segment of the student population, or upon implementation of priority course registration for a segment of the student population, to provide priority course registration for each veteran receiving GI Bill educational benefits or for the spouse or dependent children of the veteran to whom the GI Bill educational benefits have been transferred. Encourages each independent postsecondary educational institution offering priority course registration to provide priority course registration for each veteran or spouse/dependents using GI Bill educational benefits. http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_s0922er.DOCX&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0922&Session=2012 Title: S.B. 922 Source: myfloridahouse.gov MN Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Clarifies eligibility for the early graduation military service award program. Establishes a deadline for submission of application and request for payment for early graduation military service award. Clarifies that once the original amount of the award has been paid, it cannot be renewed. Article 1, Sec. 9, Subd. 1,3 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/data/revisor/law/2012/0/2012-239.pdf Title: H.F. 2949 Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/ TN Signed into law 04/2012 Postsec. Provides that a combat veteran shall be allowed to register for classes prior to the general student population at any public institution of higher education. Stipulates early registration shall occur using the same procedure used by student athletes, disabled students, and honor students. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/HB2961.pdf Title: H.B. 2961 Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov PA Signed into law 04/2012 Community College Establishes State Military College Legislative Appointment Initiative Program. Allows each member of the Assembly to establish a state military college selection committee. Sets minimum qualifications for applicant selection. http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0560&pn=0728 Title: S.B. 560 Source: http://www.legis.state.pa.us HI Signed into law 04/2012 Postsec. Amends the University of Hawaii college-credit equivalency program to provide for the awarding of credit for service in the U.S. armed forces. Requires the program to develop a learning assessment or other criteria to determine college-level learning gained during service in the U.S. armed forces. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/bills/HB2639_HD2_.pdf Title: H.B. 2639 Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov ID Signed into law 03/2012 Postsec. SCHOLARSHIPS - Amends existing law relating to scholarships to revise provisions relating to eligibility of a scholarship of a spouse or child, to establish provisions relating to eligibility for a scholarship for a child of a military member, to establish provisions relating to eligibility for a scholarship for a spouse of a military member, to revise provisions relating to an individual who receives a scholarship, to revise provisions relating to educational qualifications, to revise provisions relating to certain benefits, to revise provisions relating to members of the armed forces, and to revise provisions relating to scholarships for the spouse or child of a public safety officer. http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2012/H0386E1.pdf Title: H.B. 386 Source: legislature.idaho.gov ID Signed into law 03/2012 Postsec. Helps separating service members who leave the military with documented training and experience that can prepare them for civilian employment; but this documentation is not always used by state entities to qualify them for licenses required for their occupation or to provide them academic credit. Reported unemployment rates of separating service members that are higher than national averages have brought attention to supporting issues such as expedited licensure and increased academic credit recognition to alleviate this problem. As of June 2011, 1,000,000 veterans were unemployed and the jobless rate for post-9/11 veterans was 13.3%, with young male veterans (ages 18 to 24) unemployment rate at 21.9%. Providing credit, where due, could help our veterans with employment and academic credit. http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2012/S1299.pdf Title: S.B. 1299 Source: legislature.idaho.gov IN Signed into law 03/2012 Postsec. Requires a state educational institution to adopt a policy to award educational credit to an individual who is enrolled in a state educational institution and successfully completes courses that: (1) are part of the individual's military service; (2) meet the standards of the American Council on Education for awarding academic credit; and (3) meet the state educational institution's role, scope, and mission. Requires that the commission for higher education must adopt rules that establish uniform guidelines for state educational institutions to follow when implementing the requirements. Provides that an occupational or professional licensure board shall issue a license, certificate, registration, or permit to a military service applicant or military spouse who meets certain requirements. Allows a board to issue a temporary practice permit or provisional license while the military service applicant or military spouse is satisfying certain requirements as determined by the board. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/PDF/HE/HE1116.1.pdf Title: H.B. 1116 Source: www.in.gov VA Signed into law 03/2012 Postsec. Requires the governing boards of each public institution of higher education, in accordance with guidelines developed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, to implement policies that award academic credit to students for educational experience gained from military service. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?121+ful+HB195ER+pdf Title: H.B. 195 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us/ VA Signed into law 03/2012 Postsec. Requires public institutions of higher education, in accordance with guidelines developed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, to implement policies that recognize the scheduling difficulties and obligations of active duty military personnel. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?121+ful+HB548ER+pdf Title: H.B. 548 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us/ SD Signed into law 02/2012 Postsec. Exempts veterans from the twelve-month residency requirement for the purposes of tuition and fees. http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2012/Bills/SB80ENR.pdf Title: S.B. 80 Source: http://legis.state.sd.us TX Adopted 02/2012 Postsec. Amends eligibility requirements for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program to clarify that students who have completed the equivalent of four years of ROTC training are eligible, if the institution awards ROTC credit for prior service in any branch of specified units. According to the February 24, 2012 Texas Register (page 50 http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/0224/0224adop.pdf), "the amendments align the section with current practices at institutions that award Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) credit to students based on their prior military service. Some students receive four years of ROTC credit without actually completing four years of ROTC training because of prior military service. These students will be allowed to qualify for awards through the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program." Adopted as published in the October 28, 2011 Texas Register (page 15 of 88): http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/1028/1028prop.pdf Title: 19 TAC 21.2244 Source: www.sos.state.tx.us TX Adopted 02/2012 Postsec. Amends provisions of the Exemption Program for Veterans and their Dependents (The Hazlewood Act). From February 24, 2012 Texas Register (page 50 http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/0224/0224adop.pdf): Clarifies that eligible veterans residing out of state solely due to their own (or their spouses') military orders are excluded from the provision that requires veterans to reside in Texas during the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed. Clarifies that these requirements are for veterans who claim the benefit for the first time beginning fall 2011. Indicates that an eligible veteran who wishes to assign his/her unused hours to a child through the Hazlewood Legacy Program must reside in Texas or must prove that he/she is eligible for the exception due to military orders, and provide documentation to prove his/her domicile in Texas. Adopted as published in the October 28, 2011 Texas Register (pages 14-15 of 88): http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/1028/1028prop.pdf Title: 19 TAC 21.2099, 2100, 2102, 2107, 2108 Source: www.sos.state.tx.us NY Issued 11/2011 Postsec. Continues the New York State Council on Returning Veterans and Their Families, and expands the membership and mission. Expansion of membership adds the Commissioner of the State Education Department, the President of the Higher Education Services Corporation or their designees, among others. Expanded mission includes making recommendations to (1) assist with the credentialing of military specialties into civilian occupations, so that the skills, education, training, experience, and credentials acquired by veterans during their military service can be used to expand their employment opportunities, and (2) provide returning veterans with information and assistance in meeting their academic goals, including information and assistance regarding scholarship opportunities and higher education loans. Directs every agency and authority in the state to review paths into the civilian workforce and identify ways the state can better recognize the skills, education, training, experience, and credentials acquired by veterans while in military service, including by reviewing licensure and educational credit programs to identify ways qualifying military training and experience can be counted. Executive Order 34: http://www.governor.ny.gov/executiveorder/34 Original 2008 Executive Order (revoked and superceded by Executive Order 34): http://www.governor.ny.gov/archive/paterson/executiveorders/eo_12.html Title: Executive Order 34 Source: www.governor.ny.gov CA Signed into law 10/2011 Postsec. From bill summary: Amends state law to conform with federal law granting a member of the Armed Forces, or his or her dependent, entitlement to resident classification for so long as he or she is continuously enrolled at that institution. Requests the Regents of the University of California to establish the same residency requirements as those established by this bill for students enrolled at the University of California. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0851-0900/ab_882_bill_20111009_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 882 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 10/2011 P-12 Postsec. From bill summary: Authorizes the organization of a California Cadet Corps (http://www.cadet.org/cadet/site/default.asp) at each college, community college or school where there is not currently a J.R.O.T.C. or R.O.T.C. program, and under such rules and regulations as the governing body of the schools and the Adjutant General may prescribe. Also authorizes the Adjutant General to appoint officers, warrant officers and noncommissioned officers for duty in each college, community college or school under the jurisdiction of the governing board, and requires that their pay, allowances and expenses be disbursed from the college, community college or school in which they serve. Authorizes the Adjutant General to order those officers to temporary state active duty to perform functions in support of the California Cadet Corps. Authorizes the governor, upon recommendation of the Adjutant General, to appoint Special Project Officers, warrant officers, and noncommissioned officers for service in the California Cadet Corps, and authorizes the Adjutant General to adopt rules and regulations for the promotion of officers, warrant officers and noncommissioned officers of the California Cadet Corps. Authorizes members of the California Cadet Corps to use California National Guard facilities for training purposes. Authorizes any executive officer, assistant executive officer, advisor, officer, warrant officer or noncommissioned officer hurt in the line of duty to receive workers' compensation. Creates a presumption that the yearly earning of such individual is not less than $10,000. Authorizes the instructors of a military academy meeting specified requirements, including having more than 80 students, to be commissioned in the California Cadet Corps, and authorizes the Adjutant General to enter into a cooperative agreement with a governing board of a school district or a county office of education to establish a military academy or an alternative education option. Requires the executive officer, the assistant executive officer, the regional advisors or military officers of the California National Guard, State Military Reserve, or Naval Militia detailed by the Adjutant General to inspect units of the California Cadet Corps at least once every 2 years and annually for any unit receiving a rating of unsatisfactory in a prior year's inspection. Also requires units in their first year of operation to receive an assistance visit to ensure assigned personnel receive the training and support needed to adequately prepare for their first formal, for-record inspection. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0501-0550/sb_537_bill_20111008_chaptered.pdf Title: S.B. 537 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 09/2011 Postsec. From bill summary: Existing law requires the California State University and each community college district, and requests the University of California, with respect to each campus in their respective jurisdictions that administers a priority enrollment system, to grant priority for registration for enrollment to any member or former member of the U.S. Armed Forces for any academic term attended at one of these institutions within 2 years of leaving active duty. This bill would grant priority enrollment to these members or former members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are California residents, within 4 years of leaving active duty. Because the bill would impose additional duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill provides that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs must be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0801-0850/sb_813_bill_20110930_chaptered.pdf Title: S.B. 813 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov OH Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Amends various provisions related to the Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program. Makes students at private institutions of higher education, community colleges, state community colleges, university branches, and technical colleges eligible for participation. Clarifies that "tuition" for purposes of the amount of scholarship payments does not include laboratory fees, room and board, or other similar fees and charges. Provides that scholarships will be approved for all eligible applicants. Repeals language regarding reducing an applicant's scholarship amount based on the amount of certain other service-related benefits. Makes applicants enrolled in 3 but fewer than 6 credit hours eligible for a scholarship. Establishes procedures for projecting the potential costs of the program (i.e., scholarship recipients) and identifies actions to be taken if the amounts available for the program are inadequate to provide scholarships for all eligible applicants. Pages 801-807 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part3.pdf Title: H.B. 153 - National Guard Scholarship Program Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us LA Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Awards educational credits to a student enrolled in a public college or university, who is also a veteran, for courses that are part of the student's military training or service and that meet certain academic standards. Provides definitions and implementation requirements, including the adoption of certain policies and necessary rules, regulations, and procedures. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=760100 Title: H.B. 500 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us LA Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Revises current statute on providing tuition exemption for family members of a member of the Louisiana National Guard. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=760079 Title: H.B. 232 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Specifies that military personnel, veterans or dependents seeking the tuition exemption must be currently residing in the state, effective with fall 2011 (provides grandfather clause for existing recipients who received an exemption while residing out of state). Requires the higher education coordinating board to allow, following the death of an individual eligible for an exemption, assignment of the exemption for the unused portion of the credit hours to a child of the person, to be made by the person's spouse or other legally designated caretaker of the child, if the child does not otherwise qualify for an exemption. Requires a child dependent eligible for an exemption to be 25 or younger on the first day of the term for which the exemption is claimed. Directs the higher education coordinating board to prescribe procedures by which a child who suffered from a severe illness or other debilitating condition that affected the child's ability to use the exemption before reaching age 25 to be granted additional time to use the exemption corresponding to the time the child was unable to use the exemption because of the illness or condition. Creates new section directing the governing board of an institution to provide a tuition exemption to the dependent child of a resident member of the U.S. Armed Forces (or who is otherwise eligible for resident tuition) for any semester during which the member is on active duty in a combative military operation outside the U.S. Requires each applicant to submit satisfactory evidence of eligibility for the exemption. Provides a person may not receive such an exemption for more than 150 semester credit hours, and may not receive an exemption if the person is in default on a Texas educational loan. Prohibits institutions from considering the person's eligibility for such an exemption when determining whether to admit the person to any certificate or degree program. Directs the legislature, in its appropriations to institutions of higher education, based on availability, to provide sufficient money to cover the full costs of such exemptions. Requires the higher education coordinating board, in the event of insufficient funds, to prorate the available funding to each institution for these purposes in proportion to the total amount the institution would otherwise be entitled to receive. Specifies an institution is required to grant an exemption from the payment of tuition under these provisions only to the extent money is available for that purpose. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/pdf/SB00639F.pdf#navpanes=0 Title: S.B. 639 Source: www.legis.state.tx.us OR Signed into law 06/2011 Community College Directs the board of each community college district, in consultation with the department of veterans' affairs, to develop standards for the district to award credit for education and training obtained during service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Requires the community college to give credit for education and training that meets board standards. Directs community college boards to develop methods to inform veterans about how credit may be received through U.S. Armed Forces education and training. http://www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measpdf/sb0200.dir/sb0275.en.pdf Title: S.B. 275 Source: www.leg.state.or.us VA Signed into law 04/2011 Postsec. Ensures that the established in-state tuition eligibility must not be affected by the establishment and maintenance of a place of residence in another jurisdiction for the purpose of maintaining a joint household with such member. Also provides that the spouse of an active-duty military service member, if such spouse has established domicile and claimed a dependent student on federal or state income tax returns, must not be subject to minimum income tests or requirements. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+CHAP0782 Title: H.B. 1848/S.B. 1279 Source: http://lis.virginia.gov UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Postsec. Requires an institution of higher education to grant resident status to the child of active duty military personnel if the child produces any of specified identification. http://le.utah.gov/~2011/bills/sbillenr/sb0046.pdf Title: S.B. 46 Source: le.utah.gov KY Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Postsec. Permits the governing board of a public university to adopt a tuition policy whereby any veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard who is eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits who enrolls as a student in the university as a non-Kentucky resident is charged no more than the maximum tuition reimbursement provided under the Post-9/11 GI Bill to public universities for eligible Kentucky residents. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/11RS/HB425/bill.doc Title: H.B. 425 - Resident Tuition for Veterans Source: www.lrc.ky.gov VA Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Authorizes certain veterans who elect to establish Virginia as their permanent residence for domiciliary purposes to establish immediate residency in Virginia and become eligible for in-state tuition, rather than waiting the required one-year period. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+CHAP0038+pdf Title: H.B. 1861/S.B. 824 Source: http://lis.virginia.gov/ VA Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Provides in-state tuition for any person who met the requirements for in-state tuition prior to being called to active duty in the National Guard of another state following completion of active duty service if during active duty that person maintained one or more of the following in Virginia rather than in another state or jurisdiction: a driver's license, motor vehicle registration, voter registration, employment, property ownership, or sources of financial support. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+CHAP0376+pdf Title: S.B. 1074 Source: http://lis.virginia.gov/ VA Signed into law 02/2011 Postsec. Updates language requiring the State Council of Higher Education to issue and update military reinstatement guidelines to allow reinstatement for students whose service in the uniformed services has required sudden withdrawal or prolonged absence from enrollment in a public institution of higher education. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+CHAP0027+pdf Title: H.B. 1647 Source: http://lis.virginia.gov/ MI Signed into law 10/2010 Postsec. Expresses legislative intent that each public university receiving a certain state appropriation: (1) Voluntarily participate in the yellow ribbon GI education enhancement program and, by October 1 of each year, report to the legislature, the presidents council, and the state universities of Michigan on whether or not it has chosen to participate in the yellow ribbon GI education enhancement program; (2) Establish an on-campus veterans' liaison to provide information and assistance to all student veterans; and (3) Provide flexible enrollment application deadlines for all veterans. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2009-2010/publicact/htm/2010-PA-0203.htm Title: S.B. 1157 - Sec. 480 Source: http://www.legislature.mi.gov CA Signed into law 09/2010 Postsec. As an alternative to specified protections for a student granted an academic leave of absence for military service, requires an institution, upon election by the student, to make arrangements to reasonably accommodate and assist the student so that he/she is able to meet any and all coursework requirements that he/she may have missed due to military service. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_1051-1100/sb_1075_bill_20100924_chaptered.pdf Title: S.B. 1075 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov NY Vetoed 08/2010 P-12 Postsec. Establishes the New York state interagency coordinating council for service-disabled veterans. Identifies council members, including the commissioner of the education department or his/her designee. Identifies the powers and duties of the council, including to promote implementation of a statewide program of coordinated services for service-disabled veterans that includes matters pertaining to educational training and retraining services and facilities. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=a8296&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y Title: A.B. 8296A/S.B. 7112 Source: assembly.state.ny.us MO Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Postsec. Currently, students who are active-duty military dependents are exempt from the three-year attendance requirement for the A+ Program. This substitute adds a dependent of a retired military member who relocates to Missouri within one year of the date of his or her parent's retirement from active duty to the attendance exemption. Chapter 335 http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB2147&year=2010&code=R Title: H.B. 2147 Source: http://www.house.mo.gov CT Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Clarifies that eligibility for the waiver of tuition at state universities and colleges is limited to veterans who have served time additional to that spent in training and in attendance at military service academies. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/ACT/Pa/pdf/2010PA-00066-R00SB-00215-PA.pdf Title: S.B. 215 Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov VA Issued 03/2010 Postsec. Establishes the Governor's Commission on Higher Education Reform, Innovation and Investment. Directs the commission to consider the current state of public and private higher education in the state, and best practices in other states and countries. Directs the commission to make findings and recommendations for addressing the following priorities: (1) Preserving and enhancing the instructional excellence of Virginia's leading universities and of the higher education system as a whole (2) Significantly increasing the percentage of college-age Virginians who enroll in colleges and complete degrees (3) Attracting and preparing young people for the STEM areas and other disciplines (e.g., healthcare and advanced manufacturing) where skill shortages now exist and/or unmet demand is anticipated (4) Forging new public-private partnerships and regional strategies for business recruitment, workforce preparation, and university-based research (5) Making the state a national leader in providing higher education opportunities to military personnel and veterans (6) Crafting a sustainable higher education funding model that will move Virginia toward higher levels of educational attainment and economic competitiveness over the next 15 years (7) Developing innovative ways to deliver quality instruction, cost-saving reform strategies, and affordable new pathways to degree attainment for Virginians, regardless of income or background (8) Evaluating strategies to reduce costs through additional college placement testing and accelerated degree completion (9) Creating effective workforce development programs through expanded use of the community college system in coordination with the commission on economic development and job creation. Calls for the creation of the following committees, and identifies tasks for each committee: (1) Increased Degree Attainment, Financial Aid and Workforce Training; (2) Implement Innovation and Cost Containment; and (3) Regional Strategies/Partnerships for Research and Economic Development. Directs the committee to submit its interim findings and recommendations on matters potentially impacting the executive budget by September 30, 2010. Directs the commission to an interim report of its activities, findings and recommendations by November 30, 2010. Provides the interim report must focus primarily on increasing degree attainment, concentrating increased educational attainment in STEM areas and other high-demand and high-income fields, a model for higher education funding, and partnerships through which public and private colleges and community colleges participate actively in economic development and workforce training. Directs the commission to continue to meet and make recommendations on additional stated objectives throughout 2011. Provides this executive order will become effective upon signing and remain in full force and effect until March 26, 2011 unless amended or rescinded by further executive order. http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Issues/ExecutiveOrders/pdf/EO_9.pdf Title: E.O. 9 Source: www.governor.virginia.gov WV Signed into law 03/2010 Postsec. Requires public higher education institutions to adopt the recent recommendations of the Veterans Initiative Task Force which would make campuses more "military or veteran friendly." Components of the plan are to include, but are not limited to, devising methods of lowering the bureaucratic barriers facing veterans in enrollment, reenrollment, financial aid, transitioning into the educational process, appoint veterans' advocates and providing training for them in as many institutional units as is feasible, designing one or more areas on campus for veterans to congregate and discuss shared concerns, developing programs to ease the transition from military life into higher education, and assisting veterans in gaining knowledge and applying for benefits. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=HB4145%20SUB%20ENR.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=4145 Title: H.B. 4145 Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us NJ Signed into law 01/2010 Postsec. Community College Requires a member of the National Guard to apply for all tuition benefits available through U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in order to qualify for tuition-free enrollment at a public institution of higher education. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A4500/4253_I1.PDF Title: A.B. 4253 Source: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us CA Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Postsec. Specifies that priority registration provisions of the University of California, California State University and community college districts apply to any member or former member of the Armed Forces who has received an honorable discharge, a general discharge, or an other than honorable discharge, and to any member or former member of the State Military Reserve, but not to those who have received either a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge. Defines Armed Forces of the United States for these purposes. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0351-0400/sb_361_bill_20091011_chaptered.pdf Title: S.B. 361 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov IL Signed into law 08/2009 Postsec. Creates the Higher Education Veterans Campus Service Act. Requires all public colleges and universities to conduct a survey of the services and programs that are provided for veterans, active duty military personnel and their families at each of their respective campuses. Sets forth the elements the survey must evaluate. Requires the survey to be made available as a guidebook to all veterans enrolling in the institution, and to be available on the home page of all campus Internet links as soon as practical. Requires each public college and university to appoint a Coordinator of Veterans and Military Personnel Student Services on each campus. Requires the board of higher education and the department of veterans' affairs to conduct a joint review of the surveys. Requires the governor's office to conduct a review of the surveys and to submit an evaluation report to each college and university, offering suggestions on the conduct of student veteran-related policies and programs. Authorizes the board of higher education and the department of veterans' affairs to issue a best practices report to highlight those programs and services that are most beneficial to veterans and active duty military personnel. Requires public colleges and universities to make their best efforts to determine how online curricula can be expanded or altered to serve the needs of student veterans and currently-deployed military, including the extent to which institutions can share share existing technologies to improve the online curricula of peer institutions. Requires institutions, one year after the effective date of this act and each year afterwards, to report to the board of higher education on the fiscal impact of the programs and services related to the requirements of this Act. Requires the board of higher education to compile this information and submit a report to the governor, the governor's office of management and budget, the director of veterans' affairs, and specified legislative leaders. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/SB/PDF/09600SB1624lv.pdf Title: S.B. 1624 Source: www.ilga.gov/legislation CA Signed into law 07/2009 Postsec. From legislative analysis: Establishes the California National Guard Education Assistance Award Program on behalf of qualifying members of the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, and the Naval Militia under the administration of the commission. Requires the Student Aid Commission, in consultation with the Military Department, to adopt emergency rules and regulations for the purpose of implementing the program. Requires the Student Aid Commission to report annually to the legislature regarding program participation. Requires the Legislative Analyst, on or before January 1, 2016, to prepare and submit to the legislature a report on the program. Provides that the program would become operative only if funds are appropriated for the purposes of the program. Also provides that implementation of the program would be contingent upon the receipt of federal funds. Provides the program would become inactive on July 1, 2019, and would be repealed on January 1, 2020. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0001-0050/abx4_12_bill_20090728_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 12D - Section 4 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov OR Signed into law 06/2009 Postsec. Community College Creates Campus Veterans' Service Officers Program in Department of Veterans' Affairs; directs department to appoint sufficient number of veterans' service officers to ensure assignment of one veterans' service officer to every community college and every institution in Oregon University System. Chapter 759 http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2100.dir/hb2178.en.pdf Title: H.B. 2178 Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us/ OH Adopted 06/2009 Postsec. Revises rules relating to student residency for state subsidy and tuition surcharge purposes. Includes in the definition of residents (for purposes of determining tuition payment classification) veterans, their spouses and dependents who meet specified criteria. http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3333/0/1/3333-1-10_PH_FF_A_RU_20090622_0900.pdf Title: OAC 3333-1-10 Source: www.registerofohio.state.oh.us TX Signed into law 06/2009 Postsec. Creates the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program. Provides eligible students must be a member in good standing of an ROTC program while enrolled in a public or private institution of higher education in the state, be appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor or a state legislator, and enter into an agreement that, among other requirements, the student will complete four years of ROTC training and, after graduation, enter into a four-year commitment to serve in the Texas Army or Air Force National Guard or as a commissioned officer in any branch of the U.S. armed forces.. Provides that in each year, the governor and the lieutenant governor may each appoint two students and each state senator and each state representative may appoint one student to receive an initial scholarship. Requires the higher education coordinating board to award such scholarships beginning with the 2010-11 academic year. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB03452F.pdf Title: H.B. 3452 Source: www.legis.state.tx.us NJ Signed into law 06/2009 Postsec. Community College Establishes the Troops to College Program. Directs Commission on Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, to establish the program to assist New Jersey's public institutions of higher education in coordinating the provision of a comprehensive array of services to assist veterans in making the transition into the college classroom. Services may include assistance in applying for state and federal student financial aid, counseling resources, a campus veterans' assistance officer to provide a single point of contact for information on the institution's benefits and programs for veterans, and an online resource to consolidate pertinent information specifically for veterans attending that institution. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/PL09/125_.HTM Title: A.B. 3360/S.B. 2171 Source: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us GA Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Postsec. Provides that dependent children of military personnel stationed in the state on active duty meet the residency requirements for purposes of HOPE scholarships. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb484.pdf Title: H.B. 484 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet GA Signed into law 05/2009 Postsec. Community College Urges the Board of Trustees and the president of the Georgia Military College to maintain the current military programs at the military junior college of Georgia, Georgia Military College. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sr96.pdf Title: S.R. 96 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet GA Signed into law 05/2008 Postsec. Creates new sections 20-3-395 ff. related to student loans. Authorizes the Georgia Student Finance Authority to provide direct, low-interest loans to eligible students who are legal residents of the state. Provides for maximum amount, repayment period and student eligibility criteria. Directs the authority to establish a separate fund for loans. Directs the authority, beginning with the first fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the fund has a balance of $500,000.00 or more, for each fiscal year, to determine the amount of moneys available for loans and determine by a random selection process the recipients of such loans. Directs the authority to establish a repayment schedule for direct loans made to students, including GOT Student Loans as provided below. Specifies criteria that render a student ineligible for a direct loan (such as a GOT Student Loan or EPS Student Loan), including if the student is not a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien. Adds new sections 20-3-400 ff. Enacts the Graduate on Time (GOT) Student Loan Act to provide student loans to students in eligible postsecondary institutions in the state. Specifies that dual enrollment classes do not establish the beginning date of a postsecondary course of study. Provides that the maximum amount of a GOT Student Loan is the lesser of $10,000 per calendar year or the cost of attendance for a calendar year minus the estimated amount of the student´s financial aid, with a maximum total eligibility of $40,000 per student. Provides that the annual interest rate for any GOT Student Loan is 1% retroactive to the origination date of the loan for each student who meets minimum GPA criteria and who either earns a bachelor's degree within four years or earns a bachelor's or first professional degree within five years if the course of study was designed to be completed in five years and either meets the requirements for a first professional degree program or includes undergraduate studies, leads to a bachelor's or first professional degree. Establishes a 2% interest rate for any GOT Student Loan for any student meeting minimum GPA criteria who completes a bachelor's degree in five years, or who completes within six years a program of study that meets the requirements for a first professional degree program and was designed to be completed in six years, or completes a course of that includes undergraduate studies and leads to a bachelor's or first professional degree. Adds new sections 20-3-405 ff. Enacts the Education for Public Service (EPS) Student Loan Act. Defines "public service." Provides that the maximum amount of a GOT Student Loan is the lesser of $10,000 per calendar year or the cost of attendance for a calendar year minus the estimated amount of the student´s financial aid, and that the maximum amount of EPS Student Loans for a degree equals $10,000 times the number of academic years required for a full-time student to earn the degree. Provides that the annual interest rate for any EPS Student Loan is 1% retroactive to the origination date of the EPS Student Loan for each student who meets minimum GPA criteria and who completes five years of public service after completing one degree with the assistance of an EPS Student Loan or 10 years of public service after earning two degrees with the assistance of two or more EPS Student Loans. Provides criteria under which an EPS Student Loan is converted to an interest-free loan. Requires each Georgia income tax return form for taxable years beginning on or after 2008 to contain language offering the taxpayer the opportunity to contribute to the funds established for direct loans, Graduate on Time (GOT) Student Loans, and Education for Public Service (EPS) Student Loans by either donating all or any part of any tax refund due, or by contributing any amount over and above any amount of tax owed. Adds new section 20-3-440 ff. Establishes a program to provide $1,500 of tuition grant assistance per semester to eligible students attending North Georgia College and State University, Georgia´s only state-supported military college. Establishes student eligibility criteria, including that the student has signed a contract to accept a commission, effective upon graduation, as an officer in any branch of the U.S. armed services or the Army National Guard. Provides that North Georgia College and State University is subject to examination by the state auditor to determine whether the school has properly certified eligibility and enrollment of students and credited grants paid on behalf of such students. Provides that any person who knowingly makes any false statement or misrepresentation or who accepts such statement or misrepresentation knowing it to be false for the purpose of enabling an ineligible student to wrongfully obtain a grant is guilty of a misdemeanor. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb169.pdf Title: S.B. 169 Source: www.legis.state.ga.us KS Signed into law 04/2008 Community College Authorizes the selection committee at each ROTC institution to award ROTC scholarships to qualifying students enrolled at a community college. Requires the state board of regents to submit a report to the legislature by the beginning of the 2011 legislative session on the administration of the ROTC scholarship program. Establishes June 30, 2011 sunset. http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/437.pdf Title: S.B. 437 Source: www.kslegislature.org GA Vetoed 05/2007 Postsec. Relates to eligibility requirements for a Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) grant. Provides that students at Georgia Military College are eligible for HOPE grants. Bill: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb363.pdf Veto message (scroll down): http://www.gov.state.ga.us/press/2007/press1441.shtml Title: H.B. 363 Source: www.legis.state.ga.us VA Signed into law 03/2007 Postsec. Clarifies that active duty military personnel, or activated or temporarily mobilized (activated for service for 6 months or more) reservists or National Guard members, assigned to a permanent duty station or workplace geographically located in Virginia who reside in Virginia shall be eligible for in-state tuition, along with their dependents, so long as the dependents are continuously enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program of an institution of higher education in Virginia or are transferring between Virginia institutions of higher education or from an undergraduate degree program to a graduate degree program. http://198.246.135.1/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB1996ER Title: H.B. 1996 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us/lis.htm AZ Signed into law 04/2006 Postsec. Concerns higher education; relates to military personnel and their dependents; provides for reciprocity agreements on acceptance of educational credits. Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) and the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) to pursue reciprocity agreements with other states regarding transfer credits of military personnel and their dependents.  Additionally, qualified dependents of military personnel are given permanent in-state tuition status. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/47leg/2r/bills/hb2764h.pdf Title: H.B. 2764 Source: Arizona State Legislature