H.B. 45 Enrolled

1

IN-STATE TUITION FOR MILITARY SERVICEMEMBERS
2 AND VETERANS
3 2014 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Curtis Oda
6 Senate Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson
7 Cosponsors:
8 Rebecca D. Lockhart
9 Brad L. Dee
10 Don L. Ipson
11 Jennifer M. Seelig
12 Tim M. Cosgrove
13 Rebecca Chavez-Houck
14 Joel K. Briscoe
15 Jacob L. Anderegg
16 Jerry B. Anderson
17 Patrice M. Arent
18 Roger E. Barrus
19 Melvin R. Brown
20 Susan Duckworth
21 Rebecca P. Edwards
22 Janice M. FisherRichard A. Greenwood
Keith Grover
Stephen G. Handy
Lynn N. Hemingway
Ken Ivory
Michael S. Kennedy
John Knotwell
Bradley G. Last
Dana L. Layton
David E. Lifferth
John G. Mathis
Mike K. McKell
Ronda Rudd Menlove
Carol Spackman Moss
Merrill F. Nelson
Michael E. NoelLee B. Perry
Jeremy A. Peterson
Val L. Peterson
Dixon M. Pitcher
Marie H. Poulson
Paul Ray
Angela Romero
Dean Sanpei
Keven J. Stratton
R. Curt Webb
John R. Westwood
Mark A. Wheatley
Larry B. Wiley
Brad R. Wilson 23
24 LONG TITLE
25 General Description:
26 This bill amends certain provisions related to in-state tuition for military
27 servicemembers and veterans.
28 Highlighted Provisions:

29 This bill:
30 . defines terms;
31 . clarifies and amends provisions related to the types of evidence that a military
32 servicemember, a veteran, and an immediate family member of a servicemember or
33 veteran must provide to be considered a resident for in-state tuition purposes;
34 . removes the 12-month deadline within which a military veteran must provide
35 evidence of an honorable discharge to be considered a resident for in-state tuition
36 purposes;
37 . establishes a 5-year deadline within which a military veteran's immediate family
38 member must provide evidence of an honorable discharge to be considered a
39 resident for in-state tuition purposes;
40 . clarifies that an institution within the state system of higher education is required to
41 grant resident student status to a military veteran under certain conditions regardless
42 of whether the military veteran served in Utah; and
43 . makes technical and conforming changes.
44 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
45 None
46 Other Special Clauses:
47 None
48 Utah Code Sections Affected:
49 AMENDS:
50 53B-8-102 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 275
51
52 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
53 Section 1. Section 53B-8-102 is amended to read:
54 53B-8-102. Definitions -- Resident student status -- Exceptions.
55 (1) As used in this section[,]:
56 (a) "Immediate family member" means an individual's spouse or child.

57 (b) "Military servicemember" means:
58 (i) an individual who is serving on active duty in the United States Armed Forces
59 within the state of Utah;
60 (ii) an individual who is a member of a reserve component of the United States Armed
61 Forces assigned in Utah; or
62 (iii) an individual who is a member of the Utah National Guard.
63 (c) "Military veteran" means an individual who:
64 (i) has served on active duty:
65 (A) in the United States Armed Forces for at least 180 consecutive days or was a
66 member of a reserve component and has been separated or retired with an honorable or general
67 discharge; or
68 (B) in the National Guard and has been separated or retired with an honorable or
69 general discharge; or
70 (ii) incurred an actual service-related injury or disability in the line of duty regardless
71 of whether that person completed 180 days of active duty.
72 (d) ["parent"] "Parent" means a student's biological or adoptive parent.
73 (2) The meaning of "resident student" is determined by reference to the general law on
74 the subject of domicile, except as provided in this section.
75 (3) (a) Institutions within the state system of higher education may grant resident
76 student status to any student who has come to Utah and established residency for the purpose of
77 attending an institution of higher education, and who, prior to registration as a resident student:
78 (i) has maintained continuous Utah residency status for one full year;
79 (ii) has signed a written declaration that the student has relinquished residency in any
80 other state; and
81 (iii) has submitted objective evidence that the student has taken overt steps to establish
82 permanent residency in Utah and that the student does not maintain a residence elsewhere.
83 (b) Evidence to satisfy the requirements under Subsection (3)(a)(iii) includes:
84 (i) a Utah high school transcript issued in the past year confirming attendance at a Utah

85 high school in the past 12 months;
86 (ii) a Utah voter registration dated a reasonable period prior to application;
87 (iii) a Utah driver license or identification card with an original date of issue or a
88 renewal date several months prior to application;
89 (iv) a Utah vehicle registration dated a reasonable period prior to application;
90 (v) evidence of employment in Utah for a reasonable period prior to application;
91 (vi) proof of payment of Utah resident income taxes for the previous year;
92 (vii) a rental agreement showing the student's name and Utah address for at least 12
93 months prior to application; and
94 (viii) utility bills showing the student's name and Utah address for at least 12 months
95 prior to application.
96 (c) A student who is claimed as a dependent on the tax returns of a person who is not a
97 resident of Utah is not eligible to apply for resident student status.
98 (4) Except as provided in Subsection (8), an institution within the state system of
99 higher education may establish stricter criteria for determining resident student status.
100 (5) If an institution does not have a minimum credit-hour requirement, that institution
101 shall honor the decision of another institution within the state system of higher education to
102 grant a student resident student status, unless:
103 (a) the student obtained resident student status under false pretenses; or
104 (b) the facts existing at the time of the granting of resident student status have changed.
105 (6) Within the limits established in Title 53B, Chapter 8, Tuition Waiver and
106 Scholarships, each institution within the state system of higher education may, regardless of its
107 policy on obtaining resident student status, waive nonresident tuition either in whole or in part,
108 but not other fees.
109 (7) In addition to the waivers of nonresident tuition under Subsection (6), each
110 institution may, as athletic scholarships, grant full waiver of fees and nonresident tuition, up to
111 the maximum number allowed by the appropriate athletic conference as recommended by the
112 president of each institution.

113 (8) Notwithstanding Subsection (3), an institution within the state system of higher
114 education shall grant resident student status for tuition purposes to:
115 [(a) Personnel of the United States Armed Forces assigned to active duty in Utah or
116 members of a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces assigned to Utah, and the
117 immediate members of their families residing with them in this state are entitled to resident
118 student status for tuition purposes.]
119 (a) a military servicemember, if the military servicemember provides:
120 (i) the military servicemember's current United States military identification card; and
121 (ii) a statement from the military servicemember's current commander, or equivalent,
122 stating that the military servicemember is assigned in Utah;
123 (b) a military servicemember's immediate family member, if the military
124 servicemember's immediate family member provides:
125 (i) one of the following:
126 (A) the military servicemember's current United States military identification card; or
127 (B) the immediate family member's current United States military identification card;
128 and
129 (ii) a statement from the military servicemember's current commander, or equivalent,
130 stating that the military servicemember is assigned in Utah;
131 (c) a military veteran, regardless of whether the military veteran served in Utah, if the
132 military veteran provides:
133 (i) evidence of an honorable or general discharge;
134 (ii) a signed written declaration that the military veteran has relinquished residency in
135 any other state and does not maintain a residence elsewhere;
136 (iii) objective evidence that the military veteran has taken overt steps to relinquish
137 residency in any other state and establish residency in Utah, which may include any one of the
138 following:
139 (A) a Utah voter registration card;
140 (B) a Utah driver license or identification card;

141 (C) a Utah vehicle registration;
142 (D) evidence of employment in Utah;
143 (E) a rental agreement showing the military veteran's name and Utah address; or
144 (F) utility bills showing the military veteran's name and Utah address; and
145 (d) a military veteran's immediate family member, regardless of whether the military
146 veteran served in Utah, if the military veteran's immediate family member provides:
147 (i) evidence of the military veteran's honorable or general discharge within the last five
148 years;
149 (ii) a signed written declaration that the military veteran's immediate family member
150 has relinquished residency in any other state and does not maintain a residence elsewhere; and
151 (iii) objective evidence that the military veteran's immediate family member has taken
152 overt steps to relinquish residency in any other state and establish residency in Utah, which
153 may include any one of the items described in Subsection (8)(c)(iii).
154 [(b) Military personnel who had Utah residency immediately prior to their active duty
155 status or reserve assignment and who reestablish residency in Utah upon the termination of
156 active duty status or reserve assignment are entitled to resident student status for themselves
157 and the immediate members of their families residing with them for tuition purposes.]
158 [(c) An institution within the state system of higher education shall grant resident
159 student status for tuition purposes to a child of a United States military person assigned to
160 active duty if the child produces:]
161 [(i) one of the following:]
162 [(A) the military parent's United States active duty military identification card;]
163 [(B) the child's United States active duty military identification and privilege card; or]
164 [(C) a statement from the military parent's current company commander stating that the
165 military parent is on active duty; and]
166 [(ii) the military parent's state of legal residence certificate with Utah listed as the
167 military parent's home of record.]
168 [(d) An institution within the state system of higher education shall grant resident

169 student status for tuition purposes to a military veteran and the military veteran's immediate
170 family members who reside in the state if the military veteran provides:]
171 [(i) evidence of a discharge from the United States Armed Forces, other than a
172 dishonorable discharge, that occurred in the previous 12 months;]
173 [(ii) a signed written declaration that the military veteran has relinquished residency in
174 any other state and does not maintain a residence elsewhere; and]
175 [(iii) objective evidence that the military veteran has taken overt steps to relinquish
176 residency in any other state and establish residency in Utah, which may include evidence of the
177 following:]
178 [(A) a Utah voter registration card;]
179 [(B) a Utah driver license or identification card;]
180 [(C) a Utah vehicle registration;]
181 [(D) evidence of employment in Utah;]
182 [(E) a rental agreement showing name and Utah address; and]
183 [(F) utility bills showing name and Utah address.]
184 (9) (a) Aliens who are present in the United States on visitor, student, or other visas
185 which authorize only temporary presence in this country, do not have the capacity to intend to
186 reside in Utah for an indefinite period and therefore are classified as nonresidents.
187 (b) Aliens who have been granted immigrant or permanent resident status in the United
188 States are classified for purposes of resident student status according to the same criteria
189 applicable to citizens.
190 (10) Any American Indian who is enrolled on the tribal rolls of a tribe whose
191 reservation or trust lands lie partly or wholly within Utah or whose border is at any point
192 contiguous with the border of Utah, and any American Indian who is a member of a federally
193 recognized or known Utah tribe and who has graduated from a high school in Utah, is entitled
194 to resident student status.
195 (11) A Job Corps student is entitled to resident student status if the student:
196 (a) is admitted as a full-time, part-time, or summer school student in a program of

197 study leading to a degree or certificate; and
198 (b) submits verification that the student is a current Job Corps student.
199 [(12) (a) A member of the Utah National Guard is entitled to resident student status if
200 the student:]
201 [(i) is admitted as a full-time, part-time, or summer school student in a program of
202 study leading to a degree or certificate; and]
203 [(ii) submits verification that the student is a member of the Utah National Guard.]
204 [(b) A member of the Utah National Guard who performs active duty service shall be
205 considered to maintain continuous Utah residency under this section.]
206 [(13)] (12) A person is entitled to resident student status and may immediately apply
207 for resident student status if the person:
208 (a) marries a Utah resident eligible to be a resident student under this section; and
209 (b) establishes his or her domicile in Utah as demonstrated by objective evidence as
210 provided in Subsection (3).
211 [(14)] (13) Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(c), a dependent student who has at least
212 one parent who has been domiciled in Utah for at least 12 months prior to the student's
213 application is entitled to resident student status.
214 [(15)] (14) (a) A person who has established domicile in Utah for full-time permanent
215 employment may rebut the presumption of a nonresident classification by providing substantial
216 evidence that the reason for the individual's move to Utah was, in good faith, based on an
217 employer requested transfer to Utah, recruitment by a Utah employer, or a comparable
218 work-related move for full-time permanent employment in Utah.
219 (b) All relevant evidence concerning the motivation for the move shall be considered,
220 including:
221 (i) the person's employment and educational history;
222 (ii) the dates when Utah employment was first considered, offered, and accepted;
223 (iii) when the person moved to Utah;
224 (iv) the dates when the person applied for admission, was admitted, and was enrolled

225 as a postsecondary student;
226 (v) whether the person applied for admission to an institution of higher education
227 sooner than four months from the date of moving to Utah;
228 (vi) evidence that the person is an independent person who is:
229 (A) at least 24 years of age; or
230 (B) not claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax returns; and
231 (vii) any other factors related to abandonment of a former domicile and establishment
232 of a new domicile in Utah for purposes other than to attend an institution of higher education.
233 [(16)] (15) (a) A person who is in residence in Utah to participate in a United States
234 Olympic athlete training program, at a facility in Utah, approved by the governing body for the
235 athlete's Olympic sport, shall be entitled to resident status for tuition purposes.
236 (b) Upon the termination of the athlete's participation in the training program, the
237 athlete shall be subject to the same residency standards applicable to other persons under this
238 section.
239 (c) Time spent domiciled in Utah during the Olympic athlete training program in Utah
240 counts for Utah residency for tuition purposes upon termination of the athlete's participation in
241 a Utah Olympic athlete training program.
242 [(17)] (16) (a) A person who has established domicile in Utah for reasons related to
243 divorce, the death of a spouse, or long-term health care responsibilities for an immediate family
244 member, including the person's spouse, parent, sibling, or child, may rebut the presumption of a
245 nonresident classification by providing substantial evidence that the reason for the individual's
246 move to Utah was, in good faith, based on the long-term health care responsibilities.
247 (b) All relevant evidence concerning the motivation for the move shall be considered,
248 including:
249 (i) the person's employment and educational history;
250 (ii) the dates when the long-term health care responsibilities in Utah were first
251 considered, offered, and accepted;
252 (iii) when the person moved to Utah;

253 (iv) the dates when the person applied for admission, was admitted, and was enrolled
254 as a postsecondary student;
255 (v) whether the person applied for admission to an institution of higher education
256 sooner than four months from the date of moving to Utah;
257 (vi) evidence that the person is an independent person who is:
258 (A) at least 24 years of age; or
259 (B) not claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax returns; and
260 (vii) any other factors related to abandonment of a former domicile and establishment
261 of a new domicile in Utah for purposes other than to attend an institution of higher education.
262 [(18)] (17) The board, after consultation with the institutions, shall make rules not
263 inconsistent with this section:
264 (a) concerning the definition of resident and nonresident students;
265 (b) establishing procedures for classifying and reclassifying students;
266 (c) establishing criteria for determining and judging claims of residency or domicile;
267 (d) establishing appeals procedures; and
268 (e) other matters related to this section.
269 [(19)] (18) A student shall be exempt from paying the nonresident portion of total
270 tuition if the student:
271 (a) is a foreign national legally admitted to the Unites States;
272 (b) attended high school in this state for three or more years; and
273 (c) graduated from a high school in this state or received the equivalent of a high
274 school diploma in this state.