1     
VETERANS TUITION GAP PROGRAM ACT AMENDMENTS

2     
2017 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Luz Escamilla

5     
House Sponsor: Paul Ray

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends access to the Veterans Tuition Gap Program.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     amends the federal programs to which the Veterans Tuition Gap Program (the
13     program) relates;
14          ▸     amends the institutions of higher education in which a qualifying veteran using the
15     program must be enrolled;
16          ▸     removes the requirement that a qualifying veteran using the program qualify for a
17     federal program; and
18          ▸     makes technical changes.
19     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20          None
21     Other Special Clauses:
22          None
23     Utah Code Sections Affected:
24     AMENDS:
25          53B-13b-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 141
26          53B-13b-103, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 87
27     

28     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29          Section 1. Section 53B-13b-102 is amended to read:
30          53B-13b-102. Definitions.
31          As used in this chapter:
32          (1) "Federal program" means [the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of
33     2008, Pub. L. No. 110-252.] a veterans educational assistance program established in:
34          (a) United States Code, Title 10, Chapter 1606, Educational Assistance for Members of
35     the Selected Reserve;
36          (b) United States Code, Title 38, Chapter 30, All-Volunteer Force Educational
37     Assistance Program;
38          (c) United States Code, Title 38, Chapter 31, Training and Rehabilitation for Veterans
39     with Service-Connected Disabilities;
40          (d) United States Code, Title 38, Chapter 32, Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational
41     Assistance; or
42          (e) United States Code, Title 38, Chapter 33, Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.
43          (2) "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means [a]:
44          [(a) credit-granting higher education institution within the state system of higher
45     education; or]
46          [(b) an institution of higher learning, as defined in the federal program, that is located in
47     the state.]
48          (a) an institution of higher education listed in Subsection 53B-2-101(1); or
49          (b) a private, nonprofit, postsecondary institution located in Utah that is accredited by a
50     recognized accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education.
51          (3) "Program" means the Veterans Tuition Gap Program created in this chapter.
52          (4) (a) "Qualifying military veteran" means a veteran, as defined in Section 68-3-12.5,
53     who:
54          (i) is a resident student under Section 53B-8-102 and rules of the board;
55          (ii) is accepted into an institution and enrolled in a program leading to a bachelor's
56     degree;
57          [(iii) has qualified for the federal program;]
58          [(iv)] (iii) (A) has [maximized] exhausted the federal benefit under [the] a federal
59     program; or
60          (B) demonstrates that the veteran no longer qualifies to receive federal benefits under
61     any federal program; and
62          [(v)] (iv) has not completed a bachelor's degree.
63          (b) "Qualifying military veteran" does not include a family member.
64          Section 2. Section 53B-13b-103 is amended to read:
65          53B-13b-103. Establishment of the Veterans Tuition Gap Program.
66          There is established a Veterans Tuition Gap Program to serve qualifying military
67     veterans with tuition assistance at institutions of higher education when:
68          (1) federal benefits under the federal program [are no longer] have been exhausted or
69     are not available; and
70          (2) a qualifying military veteran has not finished a bachelor's degree and is in the final
71     year of a bachelor's degree program.