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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5417
February Session, 2026
AN ACT ALLOWING CHILDREN OF VETERANS TO USE SUCH
VETERAN'S UNUSED TUITION WAIVERS AND REQUIRING STATE
FUNDING FOR TUITION WAIVERS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 10a -77 of the 2026 supplement to the general 1
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2
(Effective July 1, 2026): 3
(a) Subject to the provisions of section 10a -26, the Board of Regents 4
for Higher Education shall fix fees for tuition at the Connecticut State 5
Community College and shall fix fees for such other purposes as the 6
board deems necessary at the college, and may make refunds to the 7
same. 8
(b) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall establish and 9
administer a fund to be known as the Connecticut State Community 10
College Operating Fund. Appropriations from general revenues of the 11
state and, upon request by the board and with an annual review and 12
approval by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the 13
amount of the appropriations for fringe benefits and workers' 14
compensation applicable to the Connecticut State Community College 15
pursuant to subsection (a) of section 4 -73, shall be transferred from the 16
Comptroller, and all tuition revenue received by the Connecticut State 17
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Community College in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) 18
of this section shall be deposited in said fund. Income from student fees 19
or related charges; the proceeds of auxiliary activities and business 20
enterprises, gifts and donations; federal funds and grants for purposes 21
other than research, and all receipts derived from the conduct by the 22
college of their education extension programs and summer school 23
sessions shall be credited to said fund but shall be allocated to the central 24
office and campus operating accounts which shall be established and 25
maintained for the central office and each campus of the Connecticut 26
State Community College. If the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 27
Management disapproves such transfer, the secretary may require the 28
amount of the appropriation for operating expenses to be used for 29
personal services and fringe benefits to be excluded from said fund. The 30
State Treasurer shall review and approve the transfer prior to such 31
request by the board. The board shall establish an equitable policy, in 32
accordance with section 10a -8, for allocation of appropriations from 33
general revenues of the state, fringe benefits transferred from the 34
Comptroller and tuition revenue deposited in the Connecticut State 35
Community College Operating Fund. At the beginning of each quarter 36
of the fiscal year, the board shall allocate and transfer, in accordance 37
with said policy, moneys for expenditure in such campus operating 38
accounts, exclusive of amounts retained for central office operations and 39
reasonable reserves for future distribution. All costs of waiving or 40
remitting tuition pursuant to subsection [(f)] (g) of this section shall be 41
charged to the Connecticut State Community College Operating Fund. 42
Repairs, alterations or additions to facilities supported by operating 43
funds and costing one million dollars or more shall require the approval 44
of the General Assembly, or when the General Assembly is not in 45
session, of the Finance Advisory Committee. Any balance of receipts 46
above expenditures shall remain in said fund, except such sums as may 47
be required for deposit into a debt service fund or the General Fund for 48
further payment by the Treasurer of debt service on general obligation 49
bonds of the state issued for purposes of the regional community -50
technical colleges, or after July 1, 2023, for the purposes of the 51
Connecticut State Community College. 52
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(c) Commencing December 1, 1984, and thereafter not later than sixty 53
days after the close of each quarter, the Board of Regents for Higher 54
Education shall submit to the joint standing committee of the General 55
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and 56
the budgets of state agencies, the Office of Higher Education and the 57
Office of Policy and Management a report on the actual expenditures of 58
the Connecticut State Community College Operating Fund. 59
(d) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall waive the 60
payment of tuition at the Connecticut State Community College (1) for 61
any dependent child of a person whom the armed forces of the United 62
States has declared to be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of 63
war while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which 64
child has been accepted for admission to said college and is a resident 65
of the state at the time such child is accepted for admission to said 66
college, (2) subject to the provisions of [subsection] subsections (e) and 67
(f) of this section, for any veteran [, as defined in section 27 -103,] who 68
performed service in time of war, [, as defined in section 27-103, except 69
that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not 70
include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, which 71
veteran] has been accepted for admission to said college and is 72
domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission 73
to said college, or for the child of any such veteran. Said board shall also 74
waive for any such veteran, or for the child of such veteran, the payment 75
of any extension fees under section 10a -26 for educational extension 76
programs, (3) for any resident of the state (A) sixty -two years of age or 77
older, or (B) who is a resident of a nursing home, as defined in section 78
19a-490, and has maintained residency at such nursing home for not less 79
than thirty days, provided, at the end of the regular registration period, 80
there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other 81
than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to 82
offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is 83
space available in such course after accommodating all such students, 84
(4) for any student attending the Connecticut State Police Academy who 85
is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said academy offered in 86
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coordination with the Connecticut State Community College which 87
accredits courses taken in such program, (5) for any active member of 88
the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified 89
by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a 90
member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted 91
for admission to said college on a full -time or part -time basis in an 92
undergraduate degree-granting program. Said board shall also waive 93
for any such member the payment of any extension fees under section 94
10a-26 for educational extension programs, (6) for any dependent child 95
of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or 96
auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7 -323j, or 97
member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) 98
state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) 99
for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving 100
spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of this state, (8) 101
for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a 102
multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and 103
Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (9) for any resident of the state 104
who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was 105
killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed 106
forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was 107
a resident of this state. If any person who receives a tuition waiver in 108
accordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives 109
educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be 110
reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. Veterans 111
and members of the National Guard described in subdivision (5) of this 112
subsection shall be given the same status as students not receiving 113
tuition waivers in registering for courses at the Connecticut State 114
Community College. [Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, 115
as] As used in this subsection and subsection (f) of this section , 116
"domiciled in this state", notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-117
30, includes domicile for less than one year and "veteran" and "service 118
in time of war" have the same meanings as provided in section 27 -103, 119
except "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance 120
at a military service academy. 121
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(e) (1) If any veteran described in subsection (d) of this section has 122
applied for federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans 123
Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the Board of Regents for Higher 124
Education shall waive the payment of tuition and extension fees at the 125
Connecticut State Community College for such veteran in accordance 126
with subdivision (2) of this subsection. If any such veteran certifies to 127
said board that such veteran's application for such federal educational 128
assistance has been denied or withdrawn, said board shall waive the 129
payment of tuition and extension fees in accordance with subsection (d) 130
of this section. 131
(2) (A) For purposes of this subdivision, "veteran tuition benefit" 132
means the portion of federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 133
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to be paid to the 134
Connecticut State Community College on behalf of a veteran that 135
represents payment for tuition and extension fees. Such portion shall be 136
calculated by multiplying (i) the total amount of such federal 137
educational assistance to be paid to said college on behalf of such 138
veteran by (ii) an amount obtained by dividing (I) the sum of the actual 139
tuition and extension fees charged by said college to such veteran by (II) 140
the sum of the actual tuition, extension fees and other fees charged by 141
said college to such veteran. 142
(B) Said board shall waive the payment of tuition and extension fees 143
in excess of the veteran tuition benefit at any of the regional community-144
technical colleges for such veteran. 145
(f) In accordance with subsection (d) of this section, the Board of 146
Regents for Higher Education shall waive the payment of tuition and 147
extension fees for not more than one child of a veteran, provided (1) such 148
child has been accepted for admission to the Connecticut State 149
Community College, (2) such veteran and child are domiciled in this 150
state at the time such child is accepted for admission to said college, and 151
(3) neither such veteran nor such child has ever received a prior waiver 152
of tuition and extension fees pursuant to this section or section 10a -99, 153
as amended by this act, or 10a-105, as amended by this act. A qualifying 154
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child of a veteran may receive a waiver pursuant to this subsection on 155
the basis of one parent who is a veteran, provided another child in a 156
family may receive such waiver on the basis of another parent who is a 157
veteran. 158
[(f)] (g) Said board shall set aside from the anticipated tuition revenue 159
from the Connecticut State Community College, an amount not less than 160
that required by said board's tuition policy. Such funds shall be used to 161
provide tuition waivers, tuition remissions, grants for educational 162
expenses and student employment for residents enrolled in the 163
Connecticut State Community College as full or part-time matriculated 164
students in a degree -granting program, or enrolled in a precollege 165
remedial program, who demonstrate substantial financial need. Said 166
board may also set aside from its anticipated tuition revenue an 167
additional amount equal to one per cent of such tuition revenue for 168
financial assistance for students who would not otherwise be eligible for 169
financial assistance but who do have a financial need as determined by 170
the college in accordance with this subsection. In determining such 171
financial need, the college shall exclude the value of equity in the 172
principal residence of the student's parents or legal guardians, or in the 173
student's principal residence if the student is not considered to be a 174
dependent of his parents or legal guardians and shall assess the earnings 175
of a dependent student at the rate of thirty per cent. 176
[(g)] (h) The Connecticut State Community College Operating Fund 177
shall be reimbursed for the total amount [by which] of the tuition and 178
extension fee waivers granted under subsection (d) of this section 179
[exceed five per cent of tuition and extension fee revenue ] through an 180
annual state appropriation. The Board of Regents for Higher Education 181
shall request such an appropriation and such appropriation shall be 182
based upon an estimate of tuition and extension fee revenue loss using 183
tuition and extension fee rates in effect for the fiscal year in which such 184
appropriation will apply. 185
[(h)] (i) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall allow any 186
student who is a member of the armed forces called to active duty 187
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during any semester to enroll in any course for which such student had 188
remitted tuition but which was not completed due to active duty status. 189
Such course reenrollment shall be offered to any qualifying student for 190
a period not exceeding four years after the date of release from active 191
duty without additional tuition, student fee or related charge, except if 192
such student has been fully reimbursed for the tuition, fees and charges 193
for the course that was not completed. 194
[(i)] (j) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall not assess or 195
charge a graduation fee to any student enrolled in the Connecticut State 196
Community College for the purpose of graduating from said college. 197
Sec. 2. Section 10a -99 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes 198
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 199
1, 2026): 200
(a) Subject to the provisions of section 10a -26, the Board of Regents 201
for Higher Education shall fix fees for tuition and for such other 202
purposes as the board deems necessary for each state university within 203
the Connecticut State University System, and may make refunds of the 204
same. 205
(b) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall establish and 206
administer a fund to be known as the Connecticut State University 207
System Operating Fund. Appropriations from general revenues of the 208
state and upon request by the Connecticut State University System and 209
with the annual review and approval by the Secretary of the Office of 210
Policy and Management, the amount of the appropriations for fringe 211
benefits pursuant to subsection (a) of section 4 -73, shall be transferred 212
from the State Comptroller and all tuition revenue received by the 213
Connecticut State University System in accordance with the provisions 214
of subsection (a) of this section shall be deposited in said fund. Income 215
from student fees or related charges, the proceeds of auxiliary activities 216
and business enterprises, gifts and donations, federal funds and grants, 217
subject to the provisions of sections 10a-98 to 10a-98g, inclusive, and all 218
receipts derived from the conduct by a state university of its education 219
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extension program and its summer school session shall be credited to 220
said fund but shall be allocated to the central office and institutional 221
operating accounts which shall be established and maintained for the 222
central office and each state university. Any such gifts and donations, 223
federal funds and grants for purposes of research shall be allocated to 224
separate accounts within such central office and institutional operating 225
accounts. If the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 226
disapproves such transfer, the secretary may require the amount of the 227
appropriation for operating expenses to be used for personal services 228
and fringe benefits to be excluded from said fund. The State Treasurer 229
shall review and approve the transfer prior to such request by the 230
university. The board shall establish an equitable policy, in accordance 231
with section 10a -8, for allocation of appropriations from general 232
revenues of the state, fringe benefits transferred from the State 233
Comptroller and tuition revenue deposited in the Connecticut State 234
University System Operating Fund. At the beginning of each quarter of 235
the fiscal year, the board shall allocate and transfer, in accordance with 236
said policy, moneys for expenditure in such institutional operating 237
accounts, exclusive of amounts retained for central office operations and 238
reasonable reserves for future distribution. All costs of waiving or 239
remitting tuition pursuant to subsection [(f)] (g) of this section shall be 240
charged to the Connecticut State University System Operating Fund. 241
Repairs, alterations or additions to facilities supported by the 242
Connecticut State University System Operating Fund and costing one 243
million dollars or more shall require the approval of the General 244
Assembly, or when the General Assembly is not in session, of the 245
Finance Advisory Committee. Any balance of receipts above 246
expenditures shall remain in said fund, except such sums as may be 247
required for deposit into a debt service fund or the General Fund for 248
further payment by the Treasurer of debt service on general obligation 249
bonds of the state issued for purposes of the Connecticut State 250
University System. 251
(c) Commencing December 1, 1984, and thereafter not later than sixty 252
days after the close of each quarter, the Board of Regents for Higher 253
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Education shall submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-254
4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 255
cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state 256
agencies, the Office of Higher Education and the Office of Policy and 257
Management a report on the actual expenditures of the Connecticut 258
State University System Operating Fund. 259
(d) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall waive the 260
payment of tuition fees for undergraduate and graduate degree 261
programs at the Connecticut State University System (1) for any 262
dependent child of a person whom the armed forces of the United States 263
has declared to be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war 264
while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child 265
has been accepted for admission to [such] an institution within said 266
system and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted for 267
admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of 268
[subsection] subsections (e) and (f) of this section, for any veteran [, as 269
defined in section 27 -103,] who performed service in time of war, [as 270
defined in section 27 -103, except that for purposes of this subsection, 271
"service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a 272
military service academy, which veteran ] has been accepted for 273
admission to such institution and is domiciled in this state at the time 274
such veteran is accepted for admission to such institution , or for the 275
child of any such veteran . Said board shall also waive for any such 276
veteran, or for the child of such veteran, the payment of any extension 277
fees under section 10a-26 for educational extension programs, (3) for any 278
resident of the state sixty -two years of age or older who has been 279
accepted for admission to such institution, provided (A) such resident 280
is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular 281
registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number 282
of students other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to 283
this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to 284
enroll and there is space available in such course after accommodating 285
all such students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticut Police 286
Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said 287
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academy offered in coordination with the university which accredits 288
courses taken in such program, (5) for any active member of the 289
Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by 290
the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member 291
in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for 292
admission to such institution on a full -time or part -time basis in an 293
undergraduate or graduate degree -granting program. Said board shall 294
also waive for any such member the payment of any extension fees 295
under section 10a -26 for educational extension programs, (6) for any 296
dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7 -294a, or 297
supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in 298
section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal 299
employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5 -154, killed in 300
the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state who is a dependent 301
child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a 302
resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state 303
who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of 304
Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (9) for 305
any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse 306
of a person who was killed in action while performing active military 307
duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 308
11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state. If any person who receives 309
a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions of this subsection also 310
receives educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver 311
shall be reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. 312
Veterans and members of the National Guard described in subdivision 313
(5) of this subsection shall be given the same status as students not 314
receiving tuition waivers in registering for courses at Connecticut state 315
universities. [Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a -30, as] As 316
used in this subsection and subsection (f) of this section , "domiciled in 317
this state" , notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a -30, includes 318
domicile for less than one year and "veteran" and "service in time of war" 319
have the same meanings as provided in section 27 -103, except "service 320
in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military 321
service academy. 322
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(e) (1) If any veteran described in subsection (d) of this section has 323
applied for federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans 324
Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the Board of Regents for Higher 325
Education shall waive the payment of tuition and extension fees at the 326
Connecticut State University System for such veteran in accordance 327
with subdivision (2) of this subsection. If any such veteran certifies to 328
said board that such veteran's application for such federal educational 329
assistance has been denied or withdrawn, said board shall waive the 330
payment of tuition and extension fees in accordance with subsection (d) 331
of this section. 332
(2) (A) For purposes of this subdivision, "veteran tuition benefit" 333
means the portion of federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 334
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to be paid to the 335
Connecticut State University System on behalf of a veteran that 336
represents payment for tuition and extension fees. Such portion shall be 337
calculated by multiplying (i) the total amount of such federal 338
educational assistance to be paid to the Connecticut State University 339
System on behalf of such veteran by (ii) an amount obtained by dividing 340
(I) the sum of the actual tuition and extension fees charged by the 341
Connecticut State University System to such veteran by (II) the sum of 342
the actual tuition, extension fees and other fees charged by the 343
Connecticut State University System to such veteran. 344
(B) Said board shall waive the payment of tuition and extension fees 345
in excess of the veteran tuition benefit at the Connecticut State 346
University System for such veteran. 347
(f) In accordance with subsection (d) of this section, the Board of 348
Regents for Higher Education shall waive the payment of tuition and 349
extension fees for not more than one child of a veteran, provided (1) such 350
child has been accepted for admission to an institution within the 351
Connecticut State University System, (2) such veteran and child are 352
domiciled in this state at the time such child is accepted for admission 353
to such institution, and (3) neither such veteran nor such child has ever 354
received a prior waiver of tuition and extension fees pursuant to this 355
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section or section 10a-77, as amended by this act, or 10a-105, as amended 356
by this act. A qualifying child of a veteran may receive a waiver 357
pursuant to this subsection on the basis of one parent who is a veteran, 358
provided another child in a family may receive such waiver on the basis 359
of another parent who is a veteran. 360
[(f)] (g) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall set aside 361
from its anticipated tuition revenue, an amount not less than that 362
required by the tuition policy established under subdivision (3) of 363
subsection (a) of section 10a -6. Such funds shall be used to provide 364
tuition waivers, tuition remissions, grants for educational expenses and 365
student employment for any undergraduate or graduate student who is 366
enrolled as a full or part-time matriculated student in a degree-granting 367
program, or enrolled in a precollege remedial program, and who 368
demonstrates substantial financial need. Said board may also set aside 369
from its anticipated tuition revenue an additional amount equal to one 370
per cent of such tuition revenue for financial assistance for students who 371
would not otherwise be eligible for financial assistance but who do have 372
a financial need as determined by the university in accordance with this 373
subsection. In determining such financial need, the university shall 374
exclude the value of equity in the principal residence of the student's 375
parents or legal guardians, or in the student's principal residence if the 376
student is not considered to be a dependent of his parents or legal 377
guardians and shall assess the earnings of a dependent student at the 378
rate of thirty per cent. 379
[(g)] (h) The Connecticut State University System Operating Fund 380
shall be reimbursed for the total amount [by which] of the tuition and 381
extension fee waivers granted under subsection (d) of this section 382
[exceed two and one-half per cent of tuition and extension fee revenue] 383
through an annual state appropriation. The Board of Regents for Higher 384
Education shall request such an appropriation and such appropriation 385
shall be based upon an estimate of tuition and extension fee revenue loss 386
using tuition and extension fee rates in effect for the fiscal year in which 387
such appropriation will apply. 388
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[(h)] (i) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall allow any 389
student who is a member of the armed forces called to active duty 390
during any semester to enroll in any course for which such student had 391
remitted tuition but which was not completed due to active duty status. 392
Such course reenrollment shall be offered to any qualifying student for 393
a period not exceeding four years after the date of release from active 394
duty without additional tuition, student fee or related charge, except if 395
such student has been fully reimbursed for the tuition, fees and charges 396
for the course that was not completed. 397
[(i)] (j) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall not assess or 398
charge a graduation fee to any student enrolled in the Connecticut State 399
University System for the purpose of graduating from a state university 400
within such system. 401
Sec. 3. Section 10a-105 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes 402
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 403
1, 2026): 404
(a) Subject to the provisions of sections 10a-8 and 10a-26, the Board of 405
Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall fix fees for tuition and 406
shall fix fees for such other purposes as the board deems necessary at 407
The University of Connecticut, and may make refunds of the same. 408
(b) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall 409
establish and administer a fund to be known as The University of 410
Connecticut Operating Fund, and in addition, may establish a Special 411
External Gift Fund, and an endowment fund, as defined in section 10a -412
109c, and such other funds as may be established pursuant to 413
subdivision (13) of subsection (a) of section 10a -109d. Appropriations 414
from general revenues of the state and, upon request by the university 415
and with an annual review and approval by the Secretary of the Office 416
of Policy and Management, the amount of the appropriations for fringe 417
benefits and workers' compensation applicable to the university 418
pursuant to subsection (a) of section 4 -73, shall be transferred from the 419
Comptroller, and all tuition revenue received by the university in 420
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accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, income 421
from student fees or related charges, the proceeds of auxiliary activities 422
and business enterprises, gifts and donations, federal funds and grants 423
for purposes other than research and all receipts derived from the 424
conduct by The University of Connecticut of its education extension 425
program and its summer school session, except funds received by The 426
University of Connecticut Health Center, shall be deposited in said 427
operating fund. If the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 428
disapproves such transfer, he may require the amount of the 429
appropriation for operating expenses to be used for personal services 430
and fringe benefits to be excluded from said fund. The State Treasurer 431
shall review and approve the transfer prior to such request by the 432
university. All costs of waiving or remitting tuition pursuant to 433
subsection [(g)] (h) of this section, except the cost of waiving or remitting 434
tuition for students enrolled in the schools of medicine or dental 435
medicine, shall be charged to said fund. Repairs, alterations or additions 436
to facilities supported by said fund costing one million dollars or more 437
shall require the approval of the General Assembly, or when the General 438
Assembly is not in session, of the Finance Advisory Committee. Any 439
balance of receipts above expenditures shall remain in said fund, except 440
such sums as may be required for deposit into a debt service fund or the 441
General Fund for further payment by the Treasurer of debt service on 442
general obligation bonds of the state issued for purposes of The 443
University of Connecticut. 444
(c) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall 445
establish and administer a fund to be known as The University of 446
Connecticut Health Center Operating Fund. Appropriations from 447
general revenues of the state except the amount of the appropriation for 448
operating expenses to be used for personal services and the 449
appropriations for fringe benefits pursuant to subsection (a) of section 450
4-73, all tuition revenue received by the health center in accordance with 451
the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, income from student fees 452
or related charges, proceeds from auxiliary and business enterprises, 453
gifts and donations, federal funds and grants for purposes other than 454
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research and other income relative to these activities shall be deposited 455
in said fund. All costs of waiving or remitting tuition pursuant to 456
subsection [(g)] (h) of this section for students enrolled in the schools of 457
medicine or dental medicine shall be charged to said fund. Repairs, 458
alterations or additions to facilities supported by said fund costing one 459
million dollars or more shall require the approval of the General 460
Assembly, or when the General Assembly is not in session, of the 461
Finance Advisory Committee. Any balance of receipts above 462
expenditures shall remain in said fund, except such sums as may be 463
required for deposit into a debt service fund or the General Fund for 464
further payment by the Treasurer of debt service on general obligation 465
bonds of the state issued for purposes of The University of Connecticut 466
Health Center. 467
(d) Commencing December 1, 1981, and thereafter not later than sixty 468
days after the close of each quarter, the board of trustees shall submit to 469
the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 470
cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state 471
agencies, the Office of Higher Education and the Office of Policy and 472
Management a report on the actual expenditures of The University of 473
Connecticut Operating Fund and The University of Connecticut Health 474
Center Operating Fund containing such relevant information as the 475
Office of Policy and Management may require in the form prescribed by 476
the board of regents in accordance with subsection (a) of section 10a-8. 477
(e) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition fees for 478
any undergraduate or graduate degree program at The University of 479
Connecticut (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed 480
forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have 481
been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 482
1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to The University 483
of Connecticut and is a resident of the state at the time such child is 484
accepted for admission to said institution, (2) subject to the provisions 485
of [subsection] subsections (f) and (g) of this section, for any veteran [, 486
as defined in section 27-103,] who performed service in time of war, [as 487
defined in section 27 -103, except that for purposes of this subsection, 488
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"service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a 489
military service academy, which veteran ] has been accepted for 490
admission to said institution and is domiciled in this state at the time 491
such veteran is accepted for admission to said institution, or for the child 492
of any such veteran . Said board shall also waive for any such veteran , 493
or for the child of such veteran, the payment of any extension fees under 494
section 10a-26 for educational extension programs, (3) for any resident 495
of the state sixty -two years of age or older who has been accepted for 496
admission to said institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in 497
a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration 498
period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students 499
other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this 500
subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll 501
and there is space available in such course after accommodating all such 502
students, (4) for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air 503
National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or 504
such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the 505
guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to said institution 506
on a full -time or part -time basis in an undergraduate or graduate 507
degree-granting program. Said board shall also waive for any such 508
member the payment of any extension fees under section 10a -26 for 509
educational extension programs, (5) for any dependent child of a (A) 510
police officer, as defined in section 7 -294a, or supernumerary or 511
auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7 -323j, or 512
member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) 513
state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (6) 514
for any resident of the state who is the dependent child or surviving 515
spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (7) 516
for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a 517
multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and 518
Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (8) for any resident of the state 519
who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was 520
killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed 521
forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was 522
a resident of this state. If any person who receives a tuition waiver in 523
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accordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives 524
educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be 525
reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. Veterans 526
and members of the National Guard described in subdivision (4) of this 527
subsection shall be given the same status as students not receiving 528
tuition waivers in registering for courses at The University of 529
Connecticut. [Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a -30, as] As 530
used in this subsection and subsection (g) of this section , "domiciled in 531
this state" , notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a -30, includes 532
domicile for less than one year and "veteran" and "service in time of war" 533
have the same meanings as provided in section 27 -103, except "service 534
in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military 535
service academy. 536
(f) (1) If any veteran described in subsection (e) of this section has 537
applied for federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans 538
Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the board of trustees shall waive the 539
payment of tuition and extension fees at The University of Connecticut 540
for such veteran in accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection. If 541
any such veteran certifies to said board that such veteran's application 542
for such federal educational assistance has been denied or withdrawn, 543
said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition and extension 544
fees in accordance with subsection [(d)] (e) of this section. 545
(2) (A) For purposes of this subdivision, "veteran tuition benefit" 546
means the portion of federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 547
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to be paid to The 548
University of Connecticut on behalf of a veteran that represents 549
payment for tuition and extension fees. Such portion shall be calculated 550
by multiplying (i) the total amount of such federal educational 551
assistance to be paid to The University of Connecticut on behalf of such 552
veteran by (ii) an amount obtained by dividing (I) the sum of the actual 553
tuition and extension fees charged by The University of Connecticut to 554
such veteran by (II) the sum of the actual tuition, extension fees and 555
other fees charged by The University of Connecticut to such veteran. 556
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(B) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition and 557
extension fees in excess of the veteran tuition benefit at The University 558
of Connecticut for such veteran. 559
(g) In accordance with subsection (e) of this section, the Board of 560
Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall waive the payment of 561
tuition and extension fees for not more than one child of a veteran, 562
provided (1) such child has been accepted for admission to The 563
University of Connecticut, (2) such veteran and child are domiciled in 564
this state at the time such child is accepted for admission to said 565
university, and (3) neither such veteran nor such child has ever received 566
a prior waiver of tuition and extension fees pursuant to this section or 567
section 10a-77, as amended by this act, or 10a-99, as amended by this act. 568
A qualifying child of a veteran may receive a waiver pursuant to this 569
subsection on the basis of one parent who is a veteran, provided another 570
child in a family may receive such waiver on the basis of another parent 571
who is a veteran. 572
[(g)] (h) Said board of trustees shall set aside from its anticipated 573
tuition revenue, an amount not less than that required by the board of 574
governors' tuition policy established under subdivision (3) of subsection 575
(a) of section 10a-6. Such funds shall be used to provide tuition waivers, 576
tuition remissions, grants for educational expenses and student 577
employment for any undergraduate, graduate or professional student 578
who is enrolled as a full or part -time matriculated student in a degree -579
granting program, or enrolled in a precollege remedial program, and 580
who demonstrates substantial financial need. Said board may also set 581
aside from its anticipated tuition revenue an additional amount equal to 582
one per cent of such tuition revenue for financial assistance for students 583
who would not otherwise be eligible for financial assistance but who do 584
have a financial need as determined by the university in accordance 585
with this subsection. In determining such financial need, the university 586
shall exclude the value of equity in the principal residence of the 587
student's parents or legal guardians, or in the student's principal 588
residence if the student is not considered to be a dependent of his 589
parents or legal guardians and shall assess the earnings of a dependent 590
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student at the rate of thirty per cent. 591
[(h)] (i) The University of Connecticut Operating Fund shall be 592
reimbursed for the total amount [by which] of tuition and extension fee 593
waivers granted under subsection (e) of this section [exceed two and 594
one-half per cent of tuition and extension fee revenue ] through an 595
annual state appropriation. The board of trustees shall request such an 596
appropriation and such appropriation shall be based upon an estimate 597
of tuition and extension fee revenue loss using tuition and extension fee 598
rates in effect for the fiscal year in which such appropriation will apply. 599
[(i)] (j) Said board of trustees shall grant remission or waiver of tuition 600
for graduate assistants at the university. Assistantship payments to 601
graduate assistants shall not be considered salaries and wages under the 602
provisions of section 3 -119, and shall be paid according to a schedule 603
prescribed by the university and approved by the State Comptroller. 604
[(j)] (k) Said board of trustees may provide health care coverage for 605
graduate assistants, postdoctoral trainees, graduate fellows and 606
graduate student interns identified in subdivision (8) of section 3-123aaa 607
by enrolling such individuals in a partnership plan as defined in section 608
3-123aaa. All premiums and expenses resulting from the participation 609
of such individuals in the partnership plan shall be paid by the 610
university. No such premiums or expenses shall be charged to the 611
General Fund. 612
[(k)] (l) Said board of trustees shall allow any student who is a 613
member of the armed forces called to active duty during any semester 614
to enroll in any course for which such student had remitted tuition but 615
which was not completed due to active duty status. Such course 616
reenrollment shall be offered to any qualifying student for a period not 617
exceeding four years after the date of release from active duty without 618
additional tuition, student fee or related charge, except if such student 619
has been fully reimbursed for the tuition, fees and charges for the course 620
that was not completed. 621
[(l)] (m) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall 622
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not assess or charge a graduation fee to any student enrolled in The 623
University of Connecticut for the purpose of graduating from such 624
university. 625
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2026 10a-77
Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 10a-99
Sec. 3 July 1, 2026 10a-105
HED Joint Favorable Subst. C/R APP