Revises provisions relating to waivers of fees charged to students within the Nevada System of Higher Education. (BDR 34-753)

S.B. 308

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SENATE BILL NO. 308–SENATOR TAYLOR

MARCH 10, 2025
____________

Referred to Committee on Education

SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to waivers of fees
charged to students within the Nevada System of
Higher Education. (BDR 34-753)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: Yes.

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

AN ACT relating to education; revising provisions governing
certain waivers of fees assessed against students enrolled
in a school within the Nevada System of Higher
Education; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law provides for a waiver of registration fees and laboratory fees, and 1
in certain cases, any other mandatory fees, assessed against a student enrolled in a 2
school within the Nevada System of Higher Education who is: (1) a member of the 3
active Nevada National Guard, including a recruit; (2) a child, widow or widower 4
of a person who was killed while performing his or her duties as a member of the 5
Nevada National Guard; (3) a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States 6
who has been awarded the Purple Heart, or a child of such a veteran; (4) the spouse 7
or child of a person who is identified as a prisoner of war or missing in action while 8
performing his or her duties as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; 9
(5) identified as a h omeless or unaccompanied pupil; and (6) a member of a 10
federally recognized Indian tribe or nation, or certified as being a descendant of an 11
enrolled member of an Indian tribe or nation. Existing law provides varying criteria 12
for the programs and courses fo r which an eligible student may use these waivers. 13
(NRS 396.544, 396.5442, 396.5443, 396.5445, 396.5448, 396.5449) Sections 1-6 14
of this bill standardize the types of fees for which such waivers may be granted, and 15
the programs and courses for which such waivers may be used. Specifically, 16
sections 1-6 apply these waivers to the registration fees, laboratory fees and any 17
other mandatory fees for classes taken towards satisfying the requirements of an 18
undergraduate or graduate degree at a school within the Nevada System of Higher 19
Education. 20

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THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. NRS 396.544 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1
396.544 1. The Board of Regents of the University of 2
Nevada may grant a waiver of registration fees , [and] laboratory 3
fees and any other mandatory fees for classes taken towards 4
satisfying the requirements of an undergraduate or graduate 5
degree at a school within the System for any member of the active 6
Nevada National Guard, including, without limitation, a recruit . [, 7
who attends a school within the System as a full -time or part -time 8
student.] 9
2. A member of the active Nevada National Guard who has 10
reenlisted may, in lieu of using the waiver himself or herself and 11
regardless of whether the member was granted a waiver pursua nt to 12
this section before reenlistment: 13
(a) Assign such a waiver to his or her spouse or child for [credits 14
applicable toward the course work required for the award to the 15
spouse or child of an associate’s degree, baccalaureate degree or 16
certificate at any] classes taken towards satisfying the requirements 17
of an undergraduate or graduate degree at a school within the 18
System. 19
(b) Reassign such a waiver to his or her spouse or child, as 20
applicable, if the person to whom the waiver was assigned pursuant 21
to paragraph (a) does not use the waiver to attend a school within 22
the System . [as a full-time or part-time student.] 23
 For each period of reenlistment of a member, the benefit 24
provided pursuant to this subsection may only be used by one 25
eligible person. 26
3. For the purpose of assessing fees and charges against a 27
person to whom a waiver is granted, assigned or reassigned pursuant 28
to subsection 1 or 2, including, without limitation, tuition charges 29
pursuant to NRS 396.540, such a person shall be deemed to be a 30
bona fide resident of this State. 31
4. A person must be a member in good standing of the active 32
Nevada National Guard, including, without limitation, a recruit, at 33
the beginning of and throughout the entire semester for which the 34
waiver is granted. 35
5. A person to whom a waiver is granted, assigned or 36
reassigned pursuant to subsection 1 or 2 must maintain at least a 2.0 37
grade point average, on a 4.0 grading scale, each semester for which 38
the waiver is granted, assigned or reassigned, or the equivalen t of a 39
2.0 grade point average if a different grading scale is used. 40
6. The Board of Regents may request the Adjutant General to 41
verify the membership in the active Nevada National Guard of a 42

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person who is seeking or has been granted a waiver of registra tion 1
fees , [and] laboratory fees and other mandatory fees pursuant to 2
subsection 1. 3
7. The Adjutant General shall: 4
(a) Upon receiving a request from the Board of Regents 5
pursuant to subsection 6, notify the Board of Regents in writing 6
concerning the status and dates of membership of a person who is 7
seeking or has been granted a waiver of registration fees , [and] 8
laboratory fees and other mandatory fees pursuant to subsection 1. 9
(b) Maintain a record of any waiver that has been granted, 10
assigned or reassigned pursuant to subsection 1 or 2 and the person 11
to whom the waiver was assigned or reassigned. 12
(c) Before the beginning of each semester, certify in writing to 13
the Board of Regents that a waiver has been properly assigned or 14
reassigned to the perso n seeking to use the waiver . [to attend a 15
school within the System.] 16
8. If a waiver is granted pursuant to subsection 1 for a recruit 17
and the recruit does not enter full-time National Guard duty within 1 18
year after enlisting, the recruit shall reimburs e the Board of Regents 19
for all registration fees , [and] laboratory fees and other mandatory 20
fees waived on behalf of the recruit if the recruit’s failure to enter 21
full-time National Guard duty is attributable to his or her own 22
conduct. 23
9. As used in this section: 24
(a) “Full-time National Guard duty” has the meaning ascribed to 25
it in 32 U.S.C. § 101(19). 26
(b) “Recruit” means a person who has enlisted in the Nevada 27
National Guard but has not begun his or her required military duty. 28
(c) “Spouse” includes a domestic partner as set forth in 29
NRS 122A.200. 30
Sec. 2. NRS 396.5442 is hereby amended to read as follows: 31
396.5442 1. The Board of Regents may grant a waiver of 32
registration fees , [and] laboratory fees and any other mandatory 33
fees for classes taken towards satisfying the requirements of an 34
undergraduate or graduate degree at a school within the System 35
for a child, widow or widower of a person who was killed while 36
performing his or her duties as a member of the Nevada National 37
Guard. For the purpose of assessing fees and charges against a 38
person to whom such a waiver is granted, including, without 39
limitation, tuition charges pursuant to NRS 396.540, the person shall 40
be deemed to be a bona fide resident of this State. 41
2. A person is eligible for a waiver pursuant to subsection 1 if 42
the person maintains at least a 2.0 grade point average, on a 4.0 43
grading scale, each semester or the equivalent of a 2.0 grade point 44
average if a different scale is used. 45

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3. A child may use a waiver granted pursuant to this section for 1
10 years after the child attains the age of 18 years or, if the child 2
enrolls in the System before the age of 18 years, for 10 years after 3
the date of such enrollment. A widow or widower may use a waiver 4
granted pursuant to this section for 10 years after the date of the 5
death of the member. 6
4. The Board of Regents may request the Adjutant General to 7
verify that a person is the child, widow or widower of a person who 8
was killed while performing his or her duties as a member of the 9
Nevada National Guard. The Adjutant General shall, upon receiving 10
such a request, notify the Board of Regents in writing concerning 11
the status of that person. 12
Sec. 3. NRS 396.5443 is hereby amended to read as follows: 13
396.5443 1. The Board of Regents shall grant a waiver of the 14
payment of registration fees, laboratory fees and any other 15
mandatory fees [assessed each semester against ] for classes taken 16
towards satisfying the requirem ents of an undergraduate or 17
graduate degree at a school within the System for a student who is: 18
(a) A veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who has 19
been awarded the Purple Heart; or 20
(b) The child of such a veteran, if: 21
(1) The veteran is a b ona fide resident of this State, or was a 22
bona fide resident of this State at the time of his or her death; and 23
(2) The child of the veteran graduated from a high school 24
located in this State. 25
2. The amount of the waiver must be equal to: 26
(a) If the s tudent is entitled to receive any federal educational 27
benefits for a semester, t he balance of registration fees, laboratory 28
fees and any other mandatory fees assessed against the student that 29
remain unpaid after the student’s account has been credited with the 30
full amount of the federal educational benefits to which the student 31
is entitled for that semester; or 32
(b) If the student is not entitled to receive any federal 33
educational benefits for a semester, the full amount of the 34
registration fees, laboratory fees and any other mandatory fees 35
assessed against the student for that semester. 36
3. [The waiver must be granted to a student who enrolls in any 37
program offered by a school within the System, including, without 38
limitation, a trade or vocational program, a graduate program or a 39
professional program. 40
4.] For the purpose of assessing fees and charges against a 41
student to whom a waiver is granted pursuant to this section, 42
including, without limitation, tuition charges pursuant to NRS 43
396.540, such a student shall be deemed to be a bona fide resident of 44
this State. 45

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[5.] 4. The Board of Regents may grant more favorable waivers 1
of registration fees, laboratory fees and any other mandatory fees for 2
classes taken towards satisfying the requirements of an 3
undergraduate or graduate degree for veterans of the Armed 4
Forces of the United States who have been awarded the Purple Heart 5
or the child of such a veteran than the waiver provided pursuant to 6
this section if required for the receipt of federal money. 7
[6.] 5. A child of a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United 8
States who has been awarded the Purple Heart may use a waiver 9
granted pursuant to this section for 10 years after the child attains 18 10
years of age, or, if the child enrolls in the System before attaining 18 11
years of age, for 10 years after the date of such enrollment. 12
Sec. 4. NRS 396.5445 is hereby amended to read as follows: 13
396.5445 1. The Board of Regents may grant a waiver of 14
registration fees , [and] laboratory fees and any other mandatory 15
fees for classes taken towards satisfying the requirements of an 16
undergraduate or graduate degree at a school within the System 17
for a spouse or child of a perso n who is identified as a prisoner of 18
war or missing in action while performing his or her duties as a 19
member of the Armed Forces of the United States. For the purpose 20
of assessing fees and charges against a person to whom such a 21
waiver is granted, includin g, without limitation, tuition charges 22
pursuant to NRS 396.540, the person shall be deemed to be a bona 23
fide resident of this State. 24
2. A person is eligible for a waiver pursuant to subsection 1 if 25
the person maintains at least a 2.0 grade point average, on a 4.0 26
grading scale, each semester or the equivalent of a 2.0 grade point 27
average if a different scale is used. 28
3. A spouse may use a waiver granted pursuant to this section 29
for 10 years after the date on which the member of the Armed 30
Forces was iden tified as a prisoner of war or missing in action. A 31
child may use a waiver granted pursuant to this section for 10 years 32
after the child attains the age of 18 years or, if the child enrolls in 33
the System before the age of 18 years, for 10 years after the d ate of 34
such enrollment. 35
4. The Board of Regents may request such documentation as it 36
deems necessary to verify that a person is the spouse or child of a 37
member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is identified 38
as a prisoner of war or missing in action while performing his or her 39
duties as a member of the Armed Forces. 40
Sec. 5. NRS 396.5448 is hereby amended to read as follows: 41
396.5448 1. The Board of Regents may grant a waiver of 42
registration fees , [and] laboratory fees and any other mandatory 43
fees for classes taken towards satisfying the requirements of an 44
undergraduate or graduate degree at a school within the System 45

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for a person who is identified as a homeless or unaccompanied 1
pupil. For the purpose of assessing fees and charges against a person 2
to whom such a waiver is granted, including, without limitation, 3
tuition charges pursuant to NRS 396.540, the person shall be 4
deemed to be a bona fide resident of this State. 5
2. A person is eligible for a waiv er pursuant to subsection 1 if 6
the person maintains at least a 2.0 grade point average, on a 4.0 7
grading scale, each semester or the equivalent of a 2.0 grade point 8
average if a different scale is used. 9
3. A person may use a waiver granted pursuant to su bsection 1 10
for 10 years after the person attains the age of 18 years or, if the 11
person enrolls in the System before the age of 18 years, for 10 years 12
after the date of such enrollment. 13
4. The Board of Regents may request documentation from a 14
person reque sting a waiver pursuant to subsection 1 as it deems 15
necessary to verify that such a person was a homeless or 16
unaccompanied pupil. 17
5. As used in this section: 18
(a) “Homeless pupil” has the meaning ascribed to the term 19
“homeless children and youths” in 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2). 20
(b) “Unaccompanied pupil” has the meaning ascribed to the 21
term “unaccompanied youth” in 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(6). 22
Sec. 6. NRS 396.5449 is hereby amended to read as follows: 23
396.5449 1. The Board of Regents shall grant a waiver of the 24
payment of registration fees, laboratory fees and any other 25
mandatory fees [assessed each semester against ] for classes taken 26
towards satisfying the requirements of an undergraduate or 27
graduate degree at a school within the System for a student who: 28
(a) Is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe or nation 29
or certified by the enrollment department of such a tribe or nation or 30
by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as being a descendant of an enrolled 31
member of a tribe or nation, regardless of membership status; 32
(b) Is eligible for enrollment in a school within the System ; [, 33
including, without limitation, enrollment in a dual credit course 34
through a program for dual credit;] 35
(c) Is: 36
(1) A bona fide resident of this St ate, as defined in 37
NRS 396.540; 38
(2) A member or descendant of an enrolled member of an 39
Indian tribe or nation, all or part of which is located within the 40
boundaries of this State; or 41
(3) Currently a resident on qualified tribal land, whether his 42
or h er actual residence was located within or outside of the 43
boundaries of this State, and has been such a resident for not less 44
than 1 year; 45

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(d) Has maintained at least a 2.0 grade point average, on a 4.0 1
scale, each semester or the equivalent of a 2.0 grade point average if 2
a different scale is used; and 3
(e) Has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid 4
provided for by 20 U.S.C. § 1090 . [unless the student is or will be 5
enrolled exclusively in one or more dual credit courses through a 6
program for dual credit.] 7
2. [The amount of the waiver must be equal to the full amount 8
of the registration fees, laboratory fees and any other mandatory fees 9
assessed against the student for that semester. 10
3. The waiver must be granted to a student who enroll s in any 11
course or program, whether for a degree or not, offered by a school 12
within the System, including, without limitation, a trade or 13
vocational program, a graduate program, a professional program or 14
a dual credit course through a program for dual cred it, offered 15
during any academic period, including courses offered during the 16
summer and between terms or semesters. 17
4.] For the purpose of assessing fees and charges against a 18
person to whom such a waiver is granted, including, without 19
limitation, tuitio n charges pursuant to NRS 396.540, the person 20
shall be deemed to be a bona fide resident of this State. 21
[5.] 3. The Board of Regents may request documentation 22
confirming that the student is a member or descendant of a member 23
of a federally recognized Indian tribe or nation. 24
[6.] 4. As used in this section [: 25
(a) “Program for dual credit” means a program through which a 26
pupil enrolled in high school, including, without limitation, a pupil 27
enrolled in grade 9, 10, 11 or 12 in a charter school or a pupil 28
enrolled in a program designed to meet the requirements of an adult 29
standard diploma, may enroll in a dual credit course offered by a 30
school within the System. 31
(b) “Qualified] , “qualified tribal land” means any real property: 32
[(1)] (a) For which legal title is vested in, or held in trust for 33
the benefit of, an Indian tribe or an individual Native American, and 34
which is subject to restrictions against alienation pursuant to federal 35
law; and 36
[(2)] (b) Over which a federally recognized Indian tribe or 37
nation, all or part of which is located within the boundaries of this 38
State, exercises governmental power. 39
Sec. 7. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2025. 40

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