Veterans tuition program limits.

ORIGINAL
Senate
ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0036

ENROLLED ACT NO. 66,

SENATE

SIXTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2018 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to veterans and higher education; specifying education that a combat veteran, surviving spouse or dependent may pursue under the free tuition program; limiting costs the program covers; reducing the number of semesters the program covers; specifying 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
(a) by creating a new paragraph (vi),
(b), (d), (f), (j)
and
(k)

is amended to read:

19
‑
14
‑
106
.

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

(a)

As used in this section:

(v
i
)

"
Successive education
" means
the pursuit of

a degree or certificate at a higher level than the student has previously earned using benefits
received
under this section.

(b)

The state or any political educational subdivision shall provide free tuition
, matriculation and other fees
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
the University of Wyoming or a Wyoming community college for the purpose of successive education
,

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.

Funds provided under this section shall not
exceed the University of Wyoming current undergraduate rate per semester, regardless of the education level, degree or certification a student pursues.

(d)

The community college commission shall reimburse the University of Wyoming and each community college for the costs of tuition
and fees
provided under this section. If insufficient funds are appropriated, the reimbursement shall be proportionally reduced based on tuition
and fee
expenses. The commission shall promulgate rules for the implementation of the free tuition
and fees
pursuant to subsections (f) through (k) of this section, including the reimbursement to the university and community colleges.

(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)
eight (8)

semesters of study at the University of Wyoming or any Wyoming community college. The University of Wyoming and all Wyoming community colleges shall cooperate to ensure that a total of not more than
ten (10)
eight (8)

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).

(j)

A person who had qualified for free tuition
and fees
under subsection (f) or (g) of this section, shall be deemed eligible for the free tuition
and fees
at any Wyoming community college or the University of Wyoming up to the maximum number of semesters of study allowed under subsection
(a)
(f)

of this section, if the person transfers to another institution specified in subsection
(a)
(b)

of this section.

(k)

To remain eligible for benefits under this section, by the end of the spring semester completing the student's third or fourth semester of attendance, the student shall have a cumulative grade point average of at least two point zero (2.0) and shall maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least two point zero (2.0) at the end of each subsequent spring semester to continue to receive the free tuition
.
and fees.

Section 2
.

Notwithstanding W.S. 19
‑
14
‑
106 as amended by this act, s
tudents receiving initial benefits
before
the effective date of this act
, shall be eligible for free tuition and fees for up to a total of ten (10) semesters if such benefits are exercised
before
August

31
,
2020.
Students
receiving benefits
subject to this section may continue work in the certificate or degree

based program in which they are currently enrolled regardless of successive education or
University of Wyoming undergraduate rate
requirements.

Section 3.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME
APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act orig
inated in the
Senate
.

Chief Clerk

1