AN ACT CONCERNING FEES PAID BY MEMBERS OF THE CONNECTICUT NATIONAL GUARD AT COMMUNITY-TECHNICAL COLLEGES, THE CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT.

AN ACT CONCERNING FEES PAID BY MEMBERS OF THE CONNECTICUT NATIONAL GUARD AT COMMUNITY-TECHNICAL COLLEGES, THE CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT.

This bill expands the Connecticut National Guard tuition waiver program at UConn, the Connecticut State universities (CSUS), and the community-technical colleges (CTC).

The bill also requires veterans who apply for tuition waivers and guard members who apply for tuition or extension fee waivers to certify to the pertinent college board that they have applied for federal benefits, including benefits under the 2008 Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (see BACKGROUND). The college must reduce the waiver by the amount of federal benefits granted.

The bill also makes conforming changes with regard to state reimbursement of extension fee waivers.

Under current law, the state's public colleges must waive tuition for eligible guard members enrolled or accepted for admission in full- or part-time undergraduate or degree-granting programs (including graduate programs, in the case of UConn and the CSUS). The bill requires the colleges also to waive extension fees for extension and summer session programs for eligible guard members.

To be eligible for a waiver under the bill, as under the law, a guard member must be (1) enrolled or accepted for admission in an eligible program and (2) certified by the adjutant general or his designee to be in good standing with the guard. But the bill limits the extension and summer session fee waivers to Connecticut residents.

Under current law, the college boards must set aside from their anticipated tuition revenue an amount to be used to provide tuition waivers and for other programs mandated by law. The bill requires the CTCs (but not the other colleges) to use the set-aside funds for extension fee waivers as well.

Under current law, the state must reimburse the colleges for the amount by which tuition fee waivers exceed two and one-half percent of tuition revenue, in the case of the CTCs, and five percent, in the case of UConn and CSUS. The bill applies the reimbursement requirement to extension fee waivers as well.

Veterans, including guard members called to federal active duty, generally qualify for benefits under this federal act if they have served at least 90 days of active duty (unless released earlier for specified reasons), with at least some active duty service on or after September 10, 2001.

The amount of benefits depends on certain factors, including the veteran's enrollment (e. g. , part- or full-time) and service status.

In general, veterans are eligible for up to 36 months of assistance (four academic years), including tuition and other benefits (e. g. , housing, books, and supplies).

Private colleges and universities can voluntarily participate in the program. The federal government will pay up to 50% of the cost greater than the most expensive public program.

Veterans who receive educational benefits under this act may not receive concurrent assistance under other similar programs.

Yea

Nay

(03/05/2009)

Yea

Nay

(03/17/2009)