By David A. Diaz - Legislative Media
Thousands of U.S. military families who come the Lone Star State will no longer have to pay the more expensive out-of-state tuition and fees to attend any of Texas public colleges and universities and any student whose parent is deployed into a combat zone will pay no tuition and fees while the parent serves in harms way according to Rep. Ismael Kino Flores D-Palmview.
These new provisions which go into effect on September 1 in time for the fall 2009 semester are contained in Senate Bill 297 by Sen. Leticia Van de Putte D-San Antonio.
SB 297 was carried in the House by five major sponsors including Flores.
During the past few weeks Gov. Rick Perry has been conduction ceremonial bill-signing ceremonies for SB 297 to help draw attention to a wide range of veterans legislation approved last spring by state lawmakers.
In June Perry signed into law a measure that contained language drafted by Flores which will give up to a 100 percent exemption from all home property taxes for Texas veterans
who are disabled as a result of physical and mental wounds suffered as a direct result of their U.S. military service.
On November 3 Texans will participate in a statewide election regarding Proposition 8 another measure passed last spring by Flores which is designed to speed up the states involvement in bringing a Veterans Administration Hospital to South Texas.
Details about those disabled veterans tax breaks and the Valley VA Hospital constitutional amendment are available by contacting Flores at his legislative office located at 121 East Tom Landry in Mission or by calling him at (956) 584-8999.
SB 297 is the latest round in a series of major laws authored or sponsored by Flores last spring that will help many of Texas estimated 1.7 million veterans. Currently military veterans and their spouses and dependent children (including step-children) who are not Texas residents must pay non-resident tuition at Texas colleges and universities.
Under Education Code sec. 54.052 to establish status as a Texas resident a person must have established and maintained a residence in Texas continuously for one year before a semesters final enrollment date.
Senate Bill 297 does away with a burdensome residency restriction that has been putting the dream of a higher education degree out of reach for thousands of our fellow American citizens said Flores a U.S. Army veteran and graduate from the University of Texas-Pan American. SB 297 opens the way for military families to move into and stay in Texas and will also help boost enrollment in our public colleges and universities.
In 2008 the difference between resident and non-resident tuition at a public institution for 30 semester credit hours for the school year was $8100 while at community colleges the average difference was $2100 according to a bill analysis of SB 297.
Free tuition fees for children of combat troops
Flores who was also part of a 10-member legislative committee which helped forged the final version of SB 297 said he strongly supported an amendment to the bill first adopted in the House which eliminates the cost of tuition and fees paid by a student during a semester or semesters when a parent is serving overseas in a combat zone.
That amendment which was eventually adopted by the legislature makes the following requirement of state government:
The governing board of an institution of higher education shall exempt from the payment of resident tuition at the institution a dependent child including a stepchild of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is a resident of this state or is entitled to pay resident tuition under this subchapter for any semester or other academic term during which the member of the armed forces is deployed on active duty for the purpose of engaging in a combative military operation outside the United States.
Van de Putte Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations portrayed SB 297 as right and just.
This legislation will make it easier for our proud service members and their families to pursue their dreams of a higher education and demonstrates the commitment of this state to them and their families Van de Putte said contending this is not something we give they have earned it.
Perry who was in Corpus Christi last week for a ceremonial bill-signing ceremony also praised the legislation authored by Van de Putte and sponsored by Flores.
Military service places unique demands on the men and women in uniform and their families and as home to the second most active military duty families in the nation Texas owes it to them to support their families and welcome them honorably when they return" Perry said.
Legislative analysis
According to the legislative analysis by the House Research Organization which is the research arm of the House of Representatives:
The new law will allow veterans who were not Texas residents but who qualified for the federal
Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008 more commonly known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other federal veterans education assistance as well as their spouses and children or step-children under the age of 25 to pay in-state tuition at Texas colleges and universities without regard to the length of time the person had resided in the state.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11 2001 or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill became effective for training on August 1 2009. The amount of support that an individual may qualify for depends on where they live and what type of degree they are pursuing. For a summary of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits see the benefit comparison chart.
The person would have to register officially an intent to establish Texas residency and would have to live in Texas while attending the college or university.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board would be required to establish a policy for a qualifying child under the age of 25 who suffered from a severe illness or other condition that prevented the use of this benefit before the age of 25.
Supporters of SB 297
Flores noted that SB 297 drew considerable support during House and Senate committee hearings including testimony in favor of the measure.
Among the many reasons for the legislation were the following positions:
- Rising college tuition costs often prevent some veterans who want to move to Texas from doing so. By offering in-state tuition rates at Texas colleges and universities SB 297 will provide a welcome mat" to these veterans and their families in thanks for their service to our country;
- Asking that they sign a letter of intent to establish Texas residency would help ensure that the Texas economy benefited from a more skilled workforce;
- Increasing the number of veterans attending college in Texas also would benefit other students because veterans bring a unique perspective and life experience to the classroom;
- Texas colleges would not really be taking on the cost of the difference between resident and non-resident tuition because those who would take advantage of this opportunity likely would not otherwise have enrolled; and
- Also under the Post-9/11 GI Bill the federal government provides funding to higher education institutions to help with tuition and fees for veterans covered by the law.
Legislative Media reports on major legislation that affects South Texans. Kathryn Freeman contributed to this article. For more on this and related stories and photographs please log on to
www.EdinburgPolitics.com
