ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session
	Senate: ED DP 8-0-0-0 | 3rd Read 28-0-2-0

---

SB 1115: in-state student status; veterans

Sponsor: Senator Borrelli, LD  5

Committee on Education

Overview

An emergency measure providing immediate in-state student status to an eligible person using educational assistance for veterans and service members under specified federal programs.

History

Federal law establishes the following educational benefits and programs:

1) The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30) provides educational benefits to honorably discharged veterans and service members who have at least two years of active duty (38 U.S.C. § 3011);

2) The Veteran Readiness and Employment Program (Chapter 31) provides assistance to veterans who have an eligible service-connected disability (38 U.S.C. Ch. 31);

3) The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) provides education benefits for school or job training for veterans who served on active duty after September 10, 2001 (38 U.S.C. § 3311); and

4) VA education benefits for dependents and survivors (Chapter 35) provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents and spouses of disabled or deceased veterans (38 U.S.C. Ch. 35).

A recent federal law removed the requirement that, to be a covered individual, a service member be discharged less than three years before the date of enrollment in a course. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs must disapprove education programs for individuals receiving Chapter 30 or Chapter 33 benefits if in-state tuition and fees are not offered to all covered individuals (38 U.S.C. § 3679).

Under state law, a person is not classified as an in-state student unless the person is domiciled in Arizona for one year. However, there are exemptions to this requirement. For example, an eligible person using Chapter 30 or 33 benefits is classified as an in-state student if the person enrolls within three years after the veteran's discharge from active duty of at least 90 days of service or remains continuously enrolled beyond the three-year period following the veteran's discharge (A.R.S. § 15-1802).

Provisions

1. Grants immediate in-state student status to an eligible person who:

a) Uses Chapter 31 or Chapter 35 educational assistance; and

b) Enrolls in an in-state public university or community college after the veteran's discharge from active duty service of at least 90 days. (Sec. 1)

2. Deletes the requirement that, to be classified as an in-state student, an eligible person using Chapter 30, 31, 33 or 35 benefits:

a) Enrolls in an in-state public university or community college within three years after the veteran's discharge from active duty service; or

b) Remains continuously enrolled beyond the three-year period following the veteran's discharge. (Sec. 1)

3. Contains an emergency clause. (Sec. 2)

4. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

                        SB 1115

Initials CH       Page 0 Education

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------