2021 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 27
BY SENATORS FOIL, ABRAHAM, BARROW, BERNARD, BOUIE, CARTER,
CATHEY, CLOUD, CONNICK, CORTEZ, FIELDS, HARRIS,
HENSGENS, HEWITT, JACKSON, MCMATH, MILLIGAN, FRED
MILLS, ROBERT MILLS, MORRIS, PEACOCK, POPE, PRICE,
REESE, SMITH, TALBOT AND WOMACK
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3138.5(A), (B)(1), the introductory paragraph of (B)(2),
3 (B)(2)(a), and (D)(4), and 3165.2(A), (B), (C)(1)(b), and (E), relative to
4 postsecondary education; to expand the eligibility for designation as military and
5 veteran friendly campus to all postsecondary education institutions in Louisiana; to
6 provide for the transfer of academic and workforce credits earned by military
7 members and their spouses to Louisiana's public postsecondary education
8 institutions; and to provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 17:3138.5(A), (B)(1), the introductory paragraph of (B)(2), (B)(2)(a),
11 and (D)(4), and 3165.2(A), (B), (C)(1)(b), and (E) are hereby amended and reenacted to read
12 as follows:
13 §3138.5. Military and veteran friendly campus; designation; process; eligibility;
14 applications
15 A.(1) The legislature finds that military veterans need comprehensive,
16 statewide support to aid them in transition from military service to enrollment in
17 public postsecondary education institutions. This support should encourage such the
18 enrollment of veterans and address issues that may deter their participation in public
19 postsecondary education. These issues include but are not limited to affordability, lack of
20 awareness by postsecondary faculty and staff of veterans' culture, the need for orientation
21 and mentoring programs designed specifically for veterans, and the facilitation of credit
22 completion by veterans as efficiently and quickly as possible.
23 (2) The purpose of this Section is to provide formal recognition by the
ACT No. 429
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1 governor of state public postsecondary education institutions in Louisiana that
2 successfully create a supportive environment for military veterans.
3 B.(1) The Board of Regents shall establish a process for a public
4 postsecondary education institution to be designated as a "Governor's Military and
5 Veteran Friendly Campus" beginning with the Fall 2015 semester.
6 (2) To be eligible to receive the designation as specified in Paragraph (1) of
7 this Subsection, an institution shall, at a minimum, meet all of the following
8 criteria:
9 (a)(i)Adopt For public postsecondary education institutions, adopt and
10 fully implement the military articulation and transfer process as provided in R.S.
11 17:3165.2.
12 (ii) For nonpublic postsecondary education institutions, adopt and fully
13 implement a military friendly articulation and transfer process that aligns with
14 nationally recognized standards for evaluating educational experiences in the
15 United States Armed Forces.
16 * * *
17 D. * * *
18 (4) After receiving the initial designation by the governor, an institution
19 annually shall submit a renewal application to the Board of Regents in accordance
20 with the time lines established by the board. Each renewal application shall include
21 a report that, at a minimum, contains all of the following information from the
22 previous year as it relates to veterans:
23 (a) The number granted application fee waivers.
24 (b) The number who attended the specialized orientation program and a
25 description of the orientation program.
26 (c) The number who participated in the priority class registration.
27 (d) The number who benefitted from the military articulation and transfer
28 process as provided in R.S. 17:3165.2 Subparagraph (B)(2)(a) of this Section, the
29 number of credits hours accepted through the transfer process, and a list of the
30 courses credited through the transfer process.
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1 (e) The completion rates of veterans, their spouses, and their children.
2 (f) Other military friendly information identified by the Board of
3 Regents.
4 * * *
5 §3165.2. College credit for military service; spouses of veterans
6 A.(1) Each articulation and transfer agreement developed and implemented
7 in accordance with this Chapter shall maximize the number of academic or
8 workforce education credits awarded to veterans of the United States Armed Forces
9 for their military education, training, or experience and provide for their seamless
10 transfer from military service to enrollment in any Louisiana public
11 postsecondary education institution and from one public postsecondary education
12 institution to another.
13 (2) The council shall use the "Guide to the Evaluation of Educational
14 Experiences in the Armed Services" and the standards of the American Council on
15 Education nationally recognized standards for evaluating educational
16 experiences in the United States Armed Forces to govern the award of academic
17 or workforce credit for military education, training, or experience.
18 B. Each public postsecondary education institution shall assist veterans of the
19 United States Armed Forces and their spouses in pursuing their educational goals by
20 providing expedited transcript analysis, prior learning assessment, portfolio analysis,
21 advising, and testing. At Upon the disclosure of military status on the application
22 for enrollment or at the request of an entering student who is a veteran or the
23 spouse of a veteran, each public postsecondary education institution shall evaluate
24 any transcript of prior earned postsecondary academic or workforce credit and
25 accept the transfer of any credit earned from a regionally accredited postsecondary
26 institution, or military education, training, or experience provided that the credit
27 aligns with the course and program requirements of the receiving institution.
28 C.(1) The Statewide Articulation and Transfer Council shall coordinate and
29 oversee the development of a military articulation and transfer process that shall be
30 adhered to by all public postsecondary education institutions and that shall:
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1 * * *
2 (b) Provide for the transfer of academic and workforce credit hours earned
3 by a veteran or the spouse of a veteran from a postsecondary education institution
4 that offers academic coursework to military personnel and their spouses, provided
5 such institution is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting body and the
6 credit to be transferred is aligned with the course and program requirements of the
7 receiving institution.
8 * * *
9 E.(1) The Statewide Articulation and Transfer Council shall meet not later
10 than September 15, 2015, to begin the process of implementing the provisions of this
11 Section.
12 (2) The provisions of this Section shall be fully implemented not later than
13 the beginning of the Spring semester of the 2015-2016 academic year. For the
14 purposes of this Section, "veteran" shall have the meaning as provided in R.S.
15 13:5364.
16 * * *
17 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
18 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
19 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
20 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
21 effective on the day following such approval.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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