Veterans tuition waiver program requirements.

2017
STATE OF WYOMING
17LSO-0558
ENGROSSED
2.1

HOUSE BILL

NO.
HB0176

Veterans tuition waiver program requirements.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Walters and Nicholas, B. and Senator(s) Landen and Perkins

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to veterans; specifying additional requirements for eligibility under the veterans tuition waiver program; providing applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section
1
.

W.S. 19
‑
14
‑
106(
b)
, (f) and (g)
is amended to read:

19
‑
14
‑
106
.

Free tuition and fees for education of war orphans and veterans; definitions.

(b)

The state or any political educational subdivision shall provide free tuition, matriculation and
other fees

for up to a total of eight (8) semesters of study
to
all eligible persons who are residents of this state

and who are attending or may attend
any state institutions in elementary, secondary and college grades, business colleges, state vocational training schools or other educational institutions of this state where courses of instruction are provided in subjects which would tend to enable the eligible persons to engage in any useful trade, occupation or profession

the University of Wyoming or a Wyoming community college for
the
purpose of attaining a baccalaureate or associate degree
.

(f)

Any person who is a Vietnam veteran, not presently receiving education benefits under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, as amended, an overseas combat veteran, a combat veteran surviving spouse or a combat veteran dependent shall receive free tuition and fees for up to a total of ten (10) semesters of study at the University of Wyoming or any Wyoming community college
for the purpose of attaining a baccalaureate or associate degree
. The University of Wyoming and all Wyoming community colleges shall cooperate to ensure that a total of not more than ten (10) semesters is provided under this
section to any recipient. No person shall be eligible for the benefits provided under this section for any semester commencing more than eight (8) academic years after the semester in which the person initially receives benefits under this section. The institution in which the student enrolls shall grant exceptions to the requirements of this subsection for military service, religious service or other good cause shown, which exceptions shall be consistent with rules promulgated by the Wyoming department of education for the Hathaway scholarship program under W.S. 21
‑
16
‑
1303(
d).

(g)

In order to qualify for the benefit under this section, a person claiming eligibility as an overseas combat veteran, combat veteran surviving spouse or combat veteran dependent shall enroll at the University of Wyoming or a Wyoming community college

and shall file with the university or college an affidavit under penalty of perjury stating the person has exhausted all educational assistance funding from the United States department of veterans affairs for which the person is eligible
. A combat veteran dependent shall be under twenty
‑
two (22) years of age at
the time of enrollment at the University of Wyoming or a Wyoming community college.

Section 2.

(a)

This act shall only apply to eligible persons applying for free tuition, matriculation and other fees after the effective date of this act.

(b)

Any person receiving free tuition, matriculation and other fees under W.S. 19
‑
14
‑
106 prior to the effective date of this act shall continue to receive these benefits until the person is no longer eligible or the funding is exhausted.

Section
3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2017
.

(END)

1
HB0176