SLS 15RS-558 REENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 247
BY SENATOR JOHN SMITH
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
VETERANS. Provides for in-state tuition and fee rates for veterans and qualified
dependents enrolling in public postsecondary educational institutions. (1/1/16)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:2137(F) and to repeal R.S. 17:2137(E), relative to tuition and fees for
3 veterans of the armed forces; to require that veterans and eligible dependents be
4 classified as residents for purposes of tuition and fees imposed by public institutions
5 of postsecondary education; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:2137(F) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง2137. Tuition fees for members of the armed forces and dependents and for certain
9 individuals who have served in the armed forces; resident
10 classification
11 * * *
12 F. Any "covered individual" as defined in 38 U.S.C. 3679, as amended
13 by the federal Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, shall be
14 classified as a resident for tuition purposes and shall qualify for resident tuition
15 and fees at every Louisiana public institution of postsecondary education, as
16 allowed by federal and state law, including the Constitution of Louisiana.
17 Section 2. R.S. 17:2137(E) is hereby repealed.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 247
SLS 15RS-558 REENGROSSED
1 Section 3. This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2016; if vetoed by the
2 governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on
3 January 1, 2016, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.
The original instrument was prepared by Jeanne Johnston. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by Laura Gail Sullivan.
DIGEST
SB 247 Reengrossed 2015 Regular Session John Smith
Present law, provides that members of the armed forces stationed in La. on active duty and
their dependents shall be entitled to resident classification for tuition amount purposes at
public postsecondary education institutions, without regard to length of time of residency
in the state.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that a student who is enrolled in or is applying for enrollment in a La.
public college or university, who resides in La. during such enrollment, who has served in
the U.S. Armed Forces as defined by federal law (10 U.S.C. 101(a)(4)), and who meets
certain other eligibility requirements, is entitled to resident classification for tuition amount
purposes, without regard to length of time of residency in the state. Further provides that
present law does not apply to tuition charged to a veteran eligible for benefits under the
Yellow Ribbon Program (Title 38 U.S.C., Chapter 33).
Present law further specifies that in addition to its other provisions, the student must meet
at least one of the following conditions:
(1)Has served on active duty for a continuous period of no less than two years, and
received an Honorable Discharge within one year of enrolling in a La. public college
or university.
(2)Is currently serving in a Reserve Component of the U.S. Armed Forces.
(3)Has been assigned a service-connected disability by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans
Affairs.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Proposed law provides that any "covered individual" as defined in 38 U.S.C. 3679, as
amended by the federal Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, shall be
classified as a resident for tuition purposes and shall qualify for resident tuition and fees at
every Louisiana public institution of postsecondary education, as allowed by federal and
state law, including the Constitution of Louisiana.
Effective Jan. 1, 2016.
(Adds R.S. 17:2137(F); repeals R.S. 17:2137(E))
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 247
SLS 15RS-558 REENGROSSED
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
original bill
1. Modifies language to more closely align with provisions of federal law.
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal
Affairs to the engrossed bill
1. Changes the effective date to Jan. 1, 2016.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.