S.B. 16 Enrolled
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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill provides grants to qualifying military veterans who have maximized certain
10 federal benefits.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . creates the Veterans Tuition Gap Program, which provides recipients of federal
14 Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act benefits with additional grants to
15 complete a bachelor's degree at certain institutions of higher education when federal
16 benefits have been maximized;
17 . directs the State Board of Regents to:
18 . develop policies to implement and administer the program, within statutory
19 guidelines; and
20 . distribute the program money to institutions of higher education; and
21 . establishes time limits that qualified military veterans may receive program grants.
22 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
23 This bill appropriates:
24 . to the State Board of Regents - Student Assistance, as an ongoing appropriation:
25 . from the General Fund, $125,000, which is nonlapsing for fiscal year 2014-15;
26 and
27 . to the State Board of Regents - Student Assistance, as a one-time appropriation:
28 . from the General Fund, $75,000, which is nonlapsing for fiscal year 2014-15.
29 Other Special Clauses:
30 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2014.
31 Utah Code Sections Affected:
32 ENACTS:
33 53B-13b-101 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
34 53B-13b-102 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
35 53B-13b-103 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
36 53B-13b-104 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
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38 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
39 Section 1. Section 53B-13b-101 is enacted to read:
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41 53B-13b-101. Title.
42 This chapter is known as the "Veterans Tuition Gap Program Act."
43 Section 2. Section 53B-13b-102 is enacted to read:
44 53B-13b-102. Definitions.
45 As used in this chapter:
46 (1) "Federal program" means the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of
47 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-252.
48 (2) "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means a:
49 (a) credit-granting higher education institution within the state system of higher
50 education; or
51 (b) an institution of higher learning, as defined in the federal program, that is located in
52 the state.
53 (3) "Program" means the Veterans Tuition Gap Program created in this chapter.
54 (4) (a) "Qualifying military veteran" means an individual who:
55 (i) is a resident student under Section 53B-8-102 and rules of the board;
56 (ii) is accepted into an institution and enrolled in a program leading to a bachelor's
57 degree;
58 (iii) has qualified for the federal program;
59 (iv) has maximized the federal benefit under the federal program; and
60 (v) has not completed a bachelor's degree.
61 (b) "Qualifying military veteran" does not include a family member.
62 Section 3. Section 53B-13b-103 is enacted to read:
63 53B-13b-103. Establishment of the Veterans Tuition Gap Program.
64 There is established a Veterans Tuition Gap Program to serve qualifying military
65 veterans with tuition assistance at institutions of higher education when federal benefits under
66 the federal program are no longer available and a qualifying military veteran has not finished a
67 bachelor's degree.
68 Section 4. Section 53B-13b-104 is enacted to read:
69 53B-13b-104. Guidelines for administration of the program.
70 (1) The board shall use the guidelines in this section to develop policies to implement
71 and administer the program.
72 (2) (a) The board shall allocate money appropriated for the program to institutions to
73 provide grants for qualifying military veterans.
74 (b) The board may not use program money for administrative costs or overhead.
75 (c) An institution may not use more than 3% of its program money for administrative
76 costs or overhead.
77 (d) Money returned to the board under Subsection (3)(b) shall be used for future
78 allocations to institutions.
79 (3) (a) An institution shall award a program grant to a qualifying military veteran on an
80 annual basis but distribute the money one quarter or semester at a time, with continuing awards
81 contingent upon the qualifying military veteran maintaining satisfactory academic progress as
82 defined by the institution in published policies or rules.
83 (b) At the conclusion of the academic year, money distributed to an institution that was
84 not awarded to a qualifying military veteran or used for allowed administrative purposes shall
85 be returned to the board.
86 (4) A qualifying military veteran may receive a program grant until the earlier of the
87 following occurs:
88 (a) the qualifying military veteran completes the requirements for a bachelor's degree;
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90 (b) 12 months from the time that the qualifying military veteran receives an initial
91 program grant.
92 (5) A qualifying military veteran who receives a program grant may only use the grant
93 toward tuition at an institution of higher education in the state.
94 (6) The board may accept grants, gifts, bequests, and devises of real and personal
95 property from any source for the purpose of awarding grants to qualifying military veterans in
96 addition to those funded by the state.
97 Section 5. Appropriation.
98 Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
99 the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015, the following sums of money
100 are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
101 previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated. These sums of money are in
102 addition to any amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2015.
103 To State Board of Regents - Student Assistance
104 From General Fund
$125,000
105 From General Fund, one-time
$75,000
106 Schedule of Programs:
107 Veterans Tuition Gap Program $200,000
108 The Legislature intends that:
109 (1) under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, appropriations under this section not
110 lapse at the close of fiscal year 2015; and
111 (2) the use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to the Veterans Tuition Gap Program.
112 Section 6. Effective date.
113 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2014.
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