S.B. 44

1

GI BILL TUITION GAP COVERAGE
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Luz Robles
5 House Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the State System of Higher Education Code by creating a tuition
10 waiver.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . requires state institutions of higher education to waive undergraduate tuition for
14 state residents who are recipients of the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill who have
15 maximized the federal benefit and not completed a bachelor's degree;
16 . defines terms;
17 . provides that qualifying military veterans receive the tuition waiver in proportion to
18 an aggregate period of active duty service; and
19 . establishes time limits that a qualified military veteran may receive the tuition
20 waiver.
21 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22 None
23 Other Special Clauses:
24 None
25 Utah Code Sections Affected:
26 ENACTS:
27 53B-8f-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953

28 53B-8f-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
29 53B-8f-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30
31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Section 53B-8f-101 is enacted to read:
33 CHAPTER 8f. GI BILL TUITION WAIVER ACT
34 53B-8f-101. Title.
35 This chapter is known as the "GI Bill Tuition Waiver Act."
36 Section 2. Section 53B-8f-102 is enacted to read:
37 53B-8f-102. Definitions.
38 As used in this chapter:
39 (1) "Federal program" means the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of
40 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-252.
41 (2) "Qualifying military veteran" means an individual who:
42 (a) is a resident student under Section 53B-8-102 and rules of the board;
43 (b) has qualified for the federal program;
44 (c) has maximized the federal benefit under the federal program; and
45 (d) has not completed a bachelor's degree.
46 (3) "State institution of higher education" or "institution" means a credit-granting
47 institution listed in Section 53B-2-101 .
48 (4) (a) "Tuition" means tuition at the rate for residents of the state.
49 (b) "Tuition" does not include fees.
50 Section 3. Section 53B-8f-103 is enacted to read:
51 53B-8f-103. Tuition waivers for qualifying GI Bill veterans -- Limitations.
52 (1) Beginning with the 2012-13 academic year, a state institution of higher education
53 shall waive a percentage of undergraduate tuition, as determined in Subsection (2), for a
54 qualifying military veteran who:
55 (a) is admitted as a full-time, part-time, or summer school student in an undergraduate
56 program of study leading to a bachelor's degree; and
57 (b) submits verification as provided in Subsection (4) that the student is a qualifying
58 military veteran.

59 (2) A qualifying military veteran is eligible for a percentage of tuition to be waived that
60 is equal to the percentage of benefits that the veteran was entitled to under the federal program,
61 based on the veteran's aggregate period of active duty service after September 10, 2001.
62 (3) A qualifying military veteran may receive a tuition waiver until the earlier of the
63 following occurs:
64 (a) the qualifying military veteran completes the requirement for a bachelor's degree; or
65 (b) 12 months from the time when the qualifying military veteran receives the first
66 tuition waiver.
67 (4) (a) A qualifying military veteran seeking a tuition waiver shall request the
68 Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide the verification required by Subsection (1)(b).
69 (b) The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide the verification upon obtaining
70 evidence satisfactory to the department that the student is a qualifying military veteran.
71 (5) The State Board of Regents may request reimbursement from the Legislature for
72 costs incurred in providing the tuition waiver under this section.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-24-12 5:42 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel