Senate Bill No. 546

(By Senators Wells, Jenkins, Carmichael, Williams and D. Hall)

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[Introduced February 12, 2014; referred to the Committee on Education; and then to the Committee on Finance.]

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A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18B-10-1d, relating to requiring state institutions of higher education to charge resident tuition rates to resident and nonresident members of the military eligible for educational benefits under 38 U. S. C. §3311.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §18B-10-1d, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 10. FEES AND OTHER MONEY COLLECTED AT STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

§18B-10-1d. In-state tuition eligibility for service members eligible for benefits under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act.

    Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, anyone, regardless of state residency status, meeting the requirements for coverage set forth in 38 U.S.C. §3311 is entitled to the same tuition rate at state institutions of higher education as resident students of those institutions. Regardless of state residency status, students meeting the requirements of 38 U.S.C. §3311 are only entitled to resident tuition rates for four consecutive years from the date of enrollment. Any nonresident students covered under this section are eligible to continue paying resident tuition rates after the initial four-year period immediately upon becoming West Virginia residents. This section applies to both undergraduate and graduate education programs.

    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to offer in-state tuition at state colleges and universities to resident and nonresident members of the military eligible for educational benefits under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.

    This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.