HLS 15RS-117 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 175
BY REPRESENTATIVE LORUSSO
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
STUDENT/TUITION: Provides a tuition exemption for certain former members of the
armed forces
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 17:1688, relative to tuition exemptions at public postsecondary education
3 institutions; to provide a tuition exemption for former members of the armed forces;
4 to provide for eligibility; to provide for limitations; to provide for monitoring; and
5 to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:1688 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง1688. Tuition exemption; members of the armed forces; eligibility; limitations;
9 monitoring
10 A. A former member of the armed forces of the United States who is a
11 Louisiana resident and who enrolls in a state public postsecondary education
12 institution shall be exempt from tuition charges imposed at such institution, as
13 provided in Subsection B of this Section, if he meets all of the following criteria:
14 (1) He was a resident of Louisiana during his entire tour of active duty.
15 (2) He has received an honorable discharge.
16 (3) His Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits have been exhausted or transferred to his
17 children.
18 (4) He is not eligible for the tuition exemption provided in R.S. 29:36.1.
19 B. The tuition exemption shall be provided as follows:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-117 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 175
1 (1) For active duty service of twelve to twenty-four months, the tuition
2 exemption shall be granted for ninety credit hours.
3 (2) For active duty service of twenty-four to thirty-six months, the tuition
4 exemption shall be granted for one hundred twenty credit hours.
5 (3) For active duty service of thirty-six months or more, the tuition
6 exemption shall be granted for one hundred fifty credit hours.
7 C. The tuition exemption may be used to pursue an undergraduate or a
8 graduate degree but shall not be used to pursue a professional degree. The tuition
9 exemption may not be transferred to another person.
10 D. The state Department of Veterans Affairs shall monitor the eligibility
11 status of students who are granted the tuition exemption as provided in this Section.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 175 Original 2015 Regular Session Lorusso
Abstract: Provides a tuition exemption for certain former members of the armed forces.
Proposed law provides a tuition exemption at a state public postsecondary education
institution for a former member of the armed forces who is a La. resident and meets
additional criteria as specified in proposed law. Limits the tuition exemption for use to
pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree and prohibits it for being used to pursue a
professional degree. Prohibits the tuition exemption from being transferred to another
person. Requires the state Dept. of Veterans Affairs to monitor the eligibility status of
students who are granted the tuition exemption. Provides for the tuition exemption to apply
as follows:
(1)For active duty service of 12-24 months, the tuition exemption shall be granted for
90 credit hours.
(2)For active duty service of 24-36 months, the tuition exemption shall be granted for
120 credit hours.
(3)For active duty service of 36 months or more, the tuition exemption shall be granted
for 150 credit hours.
(Adds R.S. 17:1688)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.