H.B. 260

1

TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICE
2 MEMBERS
3 2000 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Blake D. Chard
6 AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR
7 ACTIVE RESERVE COMPONENT MEMBERS ATTENDING POSTSECONDARY
8 INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING APPLIED TECHNOLOGY CENTERS; PROVIDING FOR A
9 TUITION ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE; PROVIDING A $150,000 APPROPRIATION; AND
10 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
11 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
12 ENACTS:
13 53B-8d-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
14 53B-8d-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
15 53B-8d-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
16 53B-8d-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
17 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
18 Section 1. Section 53B-8d-101 is enacted to read:
19 CHAPTER 8d. SERVICE MEMBER'S EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT
20 53B-8d-101. Title.
21 This chapter is known as the "Service Member's Educational Assistance Act."
22 Section 2. Section 53B-8d-102 is enacted to read:
23 53B-8d-102. Definition.
24 As used in this chapter, "service member" means an individual who is a citizen of the state
25 and a member of a Utah-based Reserve Component Unit.
26 Section 3. Section 53B-8d-103 is enacted to read:
27 53B-8d-103. Tuition assistance for service members -- Use and allocation.

28 (1) Tuition assistance may be provided to service members for study at institutions within
29 the state system of higher education and Applied Technology Centers within the state, subject to
30 the following requirements:
31 (a) The service member must, at the time the member receives the tuition assistance:
32 (i) be an active member of a Utah-based Reserve Component Unit; and
33 (ii) have more than one year remaining on his or her military term of service.
34 (b) The assistance shall be for tuition only and may not be more than the resident tuition
35 for the actual course of postsecondary study engaged in by the individual.
36 (2) Tuition assistance shall be awarded for each academic year.
37 (3) Service members shall apply to the senior commander for Utah of their respective
38 reserve components for assistance for each year during which the individual is an active service
39 member.
40 (4) The Tuition Assistance Committee created under Section 53B-8d-104 shall establish
41 regulations, procedures, forms, and reports necessary to administer the allocation of assistance and
42 payment of funds under this section.
43 Section 4. Section 53B-8d-104 is enacted to read:
44 53B-8d-104. Tuition Assistance Committee -- Composition -- Meetings.
45 (1) There is created a Tuition Assistance Committee to review applications for and award
46 tuition assistance to service members.
47 (2) The committee shall consist of the senior Utah commander of the following reserve
48 components, or the commander's designee:
49 (a) the Army Reserve;
50 (b) the Air Force Reserve;
51 (c) the Navy Reserve; and
52 (d) the Marine Corps Reserve.
53 (3) The committee members shall select the chair.
54 (4) The committee shall meet at least once each year at the call of the chair.
55 (5) In awarding assistance, the committee shall consider the recruitment and retention
56 needs of the Reserve Components.
57 (6) h [ Tuition ] THE COMMITTEE SHALL DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF REGENTS TO PAY
57a TUITION h assistance h [ is to be paid by the committee ] h directly to the institutions involved
58 from the funds appropriated by the Legislature for the program.
58a h (7) THE BOARD SHALL PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
58b THE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. h

59 Section 5. Appropriation.
60 There is appropriated from the General Fund for fiscal year 2000-01, $150,000 to the
61 h [ Tuition Assistance Committee established under Section 53B-8d-104 ] STATE BOARD OF
61a REGENTS h to be used for the
62 postsecondary education tuition assistance program authorized under Title 53B, Chapter 8d,
63 Service Member's Educational Assistance Act.
64 Section 6. Effective date.
65 This act takes effect on July 1, 2000.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-25-00 8:04 AM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel