The original instrument was prepared by Cheryl Serrett. The following digest, which
does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was prepared by Michael Bell.
DIGEST
SB 115 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Boudreaux
Present law (R.S. 29:288) provides for spouses and children of certain veterans who were killed in
action, died during active service, died as a result of a service-connected disability, who are missing
in action, or who are prisoners of war to receive a tuition and fee waiver at public postsecondary
institutions.
Proposed law allows the waiver to be granted to the spouses and children of deceased veterans who,
prior to death, were rated ninety to one hundred percent disabled or determined to be unemployable
as a result of a service-connected disability.
Present law limits the waiver to veterans who had resided in Louisiana for at least 12 months prior
to entrance into the service.
Proposed law also allows the tuition and fee waiver to be granted to spouses or children of certain
veterans who had been residents of Louisiana for at least 24 months prior to death.
Present law further allows children of certain living disabled veterans to receive a tuition and fee
waiver.
Proposed law makes technical amendments relative to placement of provisions in present law.
Present law (R.S. 17:1686) provides for a tuition waiver for certain children of deceased veterans
who died as a result of injuries sustained in the course of duty.
Proposed law prohibits postsecondary education institutions from providing tuition waivers to
students under both provisions of law.
Proposed law requires the Louisiana Workforce Commission to consult with the department of
veterans affairs to create and distribute a veteran's benefits and services poster.
Proposed law provides for the poster to include information regarding, at a minimum, the following
services available to veterans:
(1)Contact and website information for the department of veterans affairs and its
services offered to veterans.
(2) Contact information for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Crisis
Line. (3)Mental health and substance abuse prevention resources.
(4) Veteran homelessness prevention resources.
(5) Veteran disability compensation and pension claims filing assistance.
(6) Educational, workforce, and training resources.
(7) Louisiana state property and military retiree pay tax exemptions available t o
veterans.
(8) State veteran home and cemetery benefits.
Proposed law requires every employer in the state with more than 50 full-time equivalent employees
to display the poster in a conspicuous place accessible to employees in the workplace.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 29:288; adds R.S. 17:1686(D))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the original bill
1. Provides for the creation and distribution of a veteran's benefits and services poster.
2. Requires every employer in the state with more than fifty full-time equivalent
employees to display the poster in a conspicuous place accessible to employees in the
workplace.