An Act To Allow All Veterans To Be Eligible for In-state Tuition Rates

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this legislation provides greater affordability to veterans for attendance at Maine's postsecondary educational institutions; and

Whereas,  veterans may need to make their decisions about which postsecondary educational institution to attend prior to the end of the 90-day period; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §10010,  as amended by PL 2013, c. 311, §2, is further amended to read:

§ 10010. Veterans

Regardless of the state of residence, a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who is enrolled in an undergraduate program of education at any campus of the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System or the Maine Maritime Academy is eligible for in-state tuition rates. If the veteran is using the benefits under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 , that veteran must receive a waiver from the tuition that remains after the application of all payments from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, including payments under the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program in the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, and the application of other nonrepayable resources for which the veteran may be eligible. The amount of the tuition waiver received by a veteran under this section may not exceed an amount that lowers the tuition to less than the in-state tuition charged by the institution. This section applies to all veterans enrolled at any campus of the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System or Maine Maritime Academy in an undergraduate program of education. A nonresident student entitled to a waiver under this section must be considered eligible for in-state tuition.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

Current law allows veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States who use so-called G.I. Bill benefits for tuition at any campus of the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System or the Maine Maritime Academy to be eligible for in-state tuition rates, regardless of their state of residency. This bill extends that eligibility for in-state tuition rates to all veterans, regardless of their state of residency and regardless of whether they use G.I. Bill benefits to pay tuition.