First Substitute S.B. 96

Senator David H. Steele proposes to substitute the following bill:

1 TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICE MEMBERS
2 1999 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: David H. Steele
5 AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR
6 ACTIVE RESERVE COMPONENT MEMBERS ATTENDING POSTSECONDARY
7 INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING APPLIED TECHNOLOGY CENTERS; PROVIDING FOR A
8 TUITION ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE; APPROPRIATING $150,000; AND PROVIDING AN
9 EFFECTIVE DATE.
10 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
11 ENACTS:
12 53B-8d-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
13 53B-8d-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
14 53B-8d-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
15 53B-8d-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
16 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
17 Section 1. Section 53B-8d-101 is enacted to read:
18 CHAPTER 8d. SERVICE MEMBER'S EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT
19 53B-8d-101. Title.
20 This chapter is known as the "Service Member's Educational Assistance Act."
21 Section 2. Section 53B-8d-102 is enacted to read:
22 53B-8d-102. Definition.
23 As used in this chapter, "service member" means an individual who is a citizen of the state
24 and a member of a Utah-based Reserve Component Unit.
25 Section 3. Section 53B-8d-103 is enacted to read:

26 53B-8d-103. Tuition assistance for service members -- Use and allocation.
27 (1) Tuition assistance may be provided to service members for study at public institutions
28 of higher education and Applied Technology Centers within the state, subject to the following
29 requirements:
30 (a) The service member must, at the time the member receives the tuition assistance:
31 (i) be an active member of a Utah-based Reserve Component Unit; and
32 (ii) have more than one year remaining on their military term of service.
33 (b) The assistance shall be for tuition only and may not be more than the resident tuition
34 for the actual course of postsecondary study engaged in by the individual.
35 (2) Tuition assistance shall be awarded for each academic year.
36 (3) Service members shall apply to the senior commander for Utah of their respective
37 reserve components for assistance for each year during which the individual is an active service
38 member.
39 (4) The Tuition Assistance Committee created under Section 53B-8d-104 shall establish
40 regulations, procedures, forms, and reports necessary to administer the allocation of assistance and
41 payment of funds under this section.
42 Section 4. Section 53B-8d-104 is enacted to read:
43 53B-8d-104. Tuition Assistance Committee -- Composition -- Meetings.
44 (1) There is created a Tuition Assistance Committee to review applications for and award
45 tuition assistance to service members.
46 (2) The committee shall consist of the senior Utah commander of the following reserve
47 components, or the commander's designee:
48 (a) the Army Reserve;
49 (b) the Air Force Reserve;
50 (c) the Navy Reserve; and
51 (d) the Marine Corps Reserve.
52 (3) The committee members shall select the chair.
53 (4) The committee shall meet at least once each year at the call of the chair.
54 (5) In awarding assistance, the committee shall consider the recruitment and retention
55 needs of the Reserve Components.
56 (6) Tuition assistance is to be paid by the committee directly to the institutions involved

57 from the funds appropriated.
58 Section 5. Appropriation.
59 Except as provided in H.B. 4, Appropriations Coordination Act, there is appropriated from
60 the General Fund for fiscal year 1999-2000, $150,000 to the Tuition Assistance Committee
61 established under Section 53B-8d-104 to be used for the postsecondary education tuition assistance
62 program authorized under Title 53B, Chapter 8d, Service Member's Educational Assistance Act.
63 Section 6. Effective date.
64 This act takes effect on July 1, 1999.