H.B. 124 Enrolled

1

IN-STATE TUITION FOR VETERANS
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Curtis Oda
5 Senate Sponsor: Scott K. Jenkins
6 Cosponsors:
7 Patrice M. Arent
8 Stewart Barlow
9 Melvin R. Brown
10 David G. Butterfield
11 Rebecca Chavez-Houck
12 Tim M. Cosgrove
13 Bradley M. Daw
14 Brian Doughty
15 Susan Duckworth
16 Rebecca P. Edwards
17 Janice M. Fisher
18 Craig A. Frank
19 Gage Froerer
20 Brad J. GalvezFrancis D. Gibson
Richard A. Greenwood
Keith Grover
Stephen G. Handy
Lynn N. Hemingway
Neal B. Hendrickson
Gregory H. Hughes
Eric K. Hutchings
Ken Ivory
David Litvack
John G. Mathis
Ronda Rudd Menlove
Carol Spackman Moss
Merlynn T. Newbold
Michael E. NoelLee B. Perry
Jeremy A. Peterson
Marie H. Poulson
Paul Ray
Stephen E. Sandstrom
Dean Sanpei
Kenneth W. Sumsion
Christine F. Watkins
Mark A. Wheatley
Ryan D. Wilcox
Larry B. Wiley
Brad R. Wilson
Bill Wright 21
22 LONG TITLE
23 General Description:
24 This bill allows certain military personnel to pay resident tuition at public higher
25 education institutions under certain conditions.
26 Highlighted Provisions:
27 This bill:
28 . provides that reserve members of the United States Armed Forces assigned to Utah

29 are considered residents for tuition purposes;
30 . provides that a veteran of the United States Armed Forces pays resident tuition at a
31 public higher education institution if the veteran:
32 . has been honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces within the
33 previous 12 months; and
34 . has taken steps to relinquish residency in other states and establish residency in
35 Utah; and
36 . makes technical changes.
37 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
38 None
39 Other Special Clauses:
40 None
41 Utah Code Sections Affected:
42 AMENDS:
43 53B-8-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 313
44
45 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
46 Section 1. Section 53B-8-102 is amended to read:
47 53B-8-102. Definition of resident student -- Exceptions.
48 (1) As used in this section, "parent" means a student's biological or adoptive parent.
49 (2) The meaning of "resident student" is determined by reference to the general law on
50 the subject of domicile, except as provided in this section.
51 (3) (a) Institutions within the state system of higher education may grant resident
52 student status to any student who has come to Utah and established residency for the purpose of
53 attending an institution of higher education, and who, prior to registration as a resident student:
54 (i) has maintained continuous Utah residency status for one full year;
55 (ii) has signed a written declaration that the student has relinquished residency in any
56 other state; and

57 (iii) has submitted objective evidence that the student has taken overt steps to establish
58 permanent residency in Utah and that the student does not maintain a residence elsewhere.
59 (b) Evidence to satisfy the requirements under Subsection (3)(a)(iii) includes:
60 (i) a Utah high school transcript issued in the past year confirming attendance at a Utah
61 high school in the past 12 months;
62 (ii) a Utah voter registration dated a reasonable period prior to application;
63 (iii) a Utah driver license or identification card with an original date of issue or a
64 renewal date several months prior to application;
65 (iv) a Utah vehicle registration dated a reasonable period prior to application;
66 (v) evidence of employment in Utah for a reasonable period prior to application;
67 (vi) proof of payment of Utah resident income taxes for the previous year;
68 (vii) a rental agreement showing the student's name and Utah address for at least 12
69 months prior to application; and
70 (viii) utility bills showing the student's name and Utah address for at least 12 months
71 prior to application.
72 (c) A student who is claimed as a dependent on the tax returns of a person who is not a
73 resident of Utah is not eligible to apply for resident student status.
74 (4) Except as provided i n Subsection (8)[(c)], an institution within the state system of
75 higher education may establish stricter criteria for determining resident student status.
76 (5) If an institution does not have a minimum credit-hour requirement, that institution
77 shall honor the decision of another institution within the state system of higher education to
78 grant a student resident student status, unless:
79 (a) the student obtained resident student status under false pretenses; or
80 (b) the facts existing at the time of the granting of resident student status have changed.
81 (6) Within the limits established in Title 53B, Chapter 8, Tuition Waiver and
82 Scholarships, each institution within the state system of higher education may, regardless of its
83 policy on obtaining resident student status, waive nonresident tuition either in whole or in part,
84 but not other fees.

85 (7) In addition to the waivers of nonresident tuition under Subsection (6), each
86 institution may, as athletic scholarships, grant full waiver of fees and nonresident tuition, up to
87 the maximum number allowed by the appropriate athletic conference as recommended by the
88 president of each institution.
89 (8) Notwithstanding Subsection (3):
90 [(8)] (a) [(i)] Personnel of the United States Armed Forces assigned to active duty in
91 Utah or members of a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces assigned to Utah,
92 and the immediate members of their families residing with them in this state are entitled to
93 resident student status for tuition purposes.
94 [(ii) Except as provided in Subsection (8)(b), upon the termination of active duty
95 status, the military personnel and their family members are governed by the standards
96 applicable to nonmilitary persons.]
97 (b) Military personnel who had Utah residency immediately prior to their active duty
98 status or reserve assignment and who reestablish residency in Utah upon the termination of
99 active duty status or reserve assignment are entitled to resident student status for themselves
100 and the immediate members of their families residing with them for tuition purposes.
101 (c) [Notwithstanding Subsection (3), an] An institution within the state system of
102 higher education shall grant resident student status for tuition purposes to a child of a United
103 States military person assigned to active duty if the child produces:
104 (i) one of the following:
105 (A) the military parent's United States active duty military identification card;
106 (B) the child's United States active duty military identification and privilege card; or
107 (C) a statement from the military parent's current company commander stating that the
108 military parent is on active duty; and
109 (ii) the military parent's state of legal residence certificate with Utah listed as the
110 military parent's home of record.
111 (d) An institution within the state system of higher education shall grant resident
112 student status for tuition purposes to a military veteran and the military veteran's immediate

113 family members who reside in the state if the military veteran provides:
114 (i) evidence of a discharge from the United States Armed Forces, other than a
115 dishonorable discharge, that occurred in the previous 12 months;
116 (ii) a signed written declaration that the military veteran has relinquished residency in
117 any other state and does not maintain a residence elsewhere; and
118 (iii) objective evidence that the military veteran has taken overt steps to relinquish
119 residency in any other state and establish residency in Utah, which may include evidence of the
120 following:
121 (A) a Utah voter registration card;
122 (B) a Utah driver license or identification card;
123 (C) a Utah vehicle registration;
124 (D) evidence of employment in Utah;
125 (E) a rental agreement showing name and Utah address; and
126 (F) utility bills showing name and Utah address.
127 (9) (a) Aliens who are present in the United States on visitor, student, or other visas
128 which authorize only temporary presence in this country, do not have the capacity to intend to
129 reside in Utah for an indefinite period and therefore are classified as nonresidents.
130 (b) Aliens who have been granted immigrant or permanent resident status in the United
131 States are classified for purposes of resident student status according to the same criteria
132 applicable to citizens.
133 (10) Any American Indian who is enrolled on the tribal rolls of a tribe whose
134 reservation or trust lands lie partly or wholly within Utah or whose border is at any point
135 contiguous with the border of Utah, and any American Indian who is a member of a federally
136 recognized or known Utah tribe and who has graduated from a high school in Utah, is entitled
137 to resident student status.
138 (11) A Job Corps student is entitled to resident student status if the student:
139 (a) is admitted as a full-time, part-time, or summer school student in a program of
140 study leading to a degree or certificate; and

141 (b) submits verification that the student is a current Job Corps student.
142 (12) (a) A member of the Utah National Guard is entitled to resident student status if
143 the student:
144 (i) is admitted as a full-time, part-time, or summer school student in a program of study
145 leading to a degree or certificate; and
146 (ii) submits verification that the student is a member of the Utah National Guard.
147 (b) A member of the Utah National Guard who performs active duty service shall be
148 considered to maintain continuous Utah residency under this section.
149 (13) A person is entitled to resident student status and may immediately apply for
150 resident student status if the person:
151 (a) marries a Utah resident eligible to be a resident student under this section; and
152 (b) establishes his or her domicile in Utah as demonstrated by objective evidence as
153 provided in Subsection (3).
154 (14) Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(c), a dependent student who has at least one
155 parent who has been domiciled in Utah for at least 12 months prior to the student's application
156 is entitled to resident student status.
157 (15) (a) A person who has established domicile in Utah for full-time permanent
158 employment may rebut the presumption of a nonresident classification by providing substantial
159 evidence that the reason for the individual's move to Utah was, in good faith, based on an
160 employer requested transfer to Utah, recruitment by a Utah employer, or a comparable
161 work-related move for full-time permanent employment in Utah.
162 (b) All relevant evidence concerning the motivation for the move shall be considered,
163 including:
164 (i) the person's employment and educational history;
165 (ii) the dates when Utah employment was first considered, offered, and accepted;
166 (iii) when the person moved to Utah;
167 (iv) the dates when the person applied for admission, was admitted, and was enrolled
168 as a postsecondary student;

169 (v) whether the person applied for admission to an institution of higher education
170 sooner than four months from the date of moving to Utah;
171 (vi) evidence that the person is an independent person who is:
172 (A) at least 24 years of age; or
173 (B) not claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax returns; and
174 (vii) any other factors related to abandonment of a former domicile and establishment
175 of a new domicile in Utah for purposes other than to attend an institution of higher education.
176 (16) (a) A person who is in residence in Utah to participate in a United States Olympic
177 athlete training program, at a facility in Utah, approved by the governing body for the athlete's
178 Olympic sport, shall be entitled to resident status for tuition purposes.
179 (b) Upon the termination of the athlete's participation in the training program, the
180 athlete shall be subject to the same residency standards applicable to other persons under this
181 section.
182 (c) Time spent domiciled in Utah during the Olympic athlete training program in Utah
183 counts for Utah residency for tuition purposes upon termination of the athlete's participation in
184 a Utah Olympic athlete training program.
185 (17) (a) A person who has established domicile in Utah for reasons related to divorce,
186 the death of a spouse, or long-term health care responsibilities for an immediate family
187 member, including the person's spouse, parent, sibling, or child, may rebut the presumption of a
188 nonresident classification by providing substantial evidence that the reason for the individual's
189 move to Utah was, in good faith, based on the long-term health care responsibilities.
190 (b) All relevant evidence concerning the motivation for the move shall be considered,
191 including:
192 (i) the person's employment and educational history;
193 (ii) the dates when the long-term health care responsibilities in Utah were first
194 considered, offered, and accepted;
195 (iii) when the person moved to Utah;
196 (iv) the dates when the person applied for admission, was admitted, and was enrolled

197 as a postsecondary student;
198 (v) whether the person applied for admission to an institution of higher education
199 sooner than four months from the date of moving to Utah;
200 (vi) evidence that the person is an independent person who is:
201 (A) at least 24 years of age; or
202 (B) not claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax returns; and
203 (vii) any other factors related to abandonment of a former domicile and establishment
204 of a new domicile in Utah for purposes other than to attend an institution of higher education.
205 (18) The board, after consultation with the institutions, shall make rules not
206 inconsistent with this section:
207 (a) concerning the definition of resident and nonresident students;
208 (b) establishing procedures for classifying and reclassifying students;
209 (c) establishing criteria for determining and judging claims of residency or domicile;
210 (d) establishing appeals procedures; and
211 (e) other matters related to this section.
212 (19) A student shall be exempt from paying the nonresident portion of total tuition if
213 the student:
214 (a) is a foreign national legally admitted to the Unites States;
215 (b) attended high school in this state for three or more years; and
216 (c) graduated from a high school in this state or received the equivalent of a high
217 school diploma in this state.