Connecticut House Bill HB07062

Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/31/19
• Refer: 1/31/19

Caption

An Act Concerning Tuition Waivers At Public Institutions Of Higher Education For Family Members Of Veterans And Gold Star Family Members.

Impact

If enacted, HB 07062 would impact the state’s laws related to education affordability by enabling more families of veterans to benefit from financial assistance in the form of tuition waivers. Specifically, provisions would allow dependents of veterans who have not utilized their full entitlement of waivers to receive an allocation based on their veteran parent's eligibility. Moreover, surviving spouses and parents of individuals killed in action would also qualify for tuition waivers, thus broadening the supportive measures available to military families.

Summary

House Bill 07062 focuses on amending the existing laws surrounding tuition waivers at public institutions of higher education in the state. The bill seeks to expand eligibility for tuition waivers to include the dependent children of veterans as well as Gold Star family members — those who have lost a family member in active military service. The underlying purpose of this legislation is to honor the sacrifices made by service members and their families by improving access to higher education for their children.

Contention

This bill may witness debates surrounding the extent of financial obligations placed on state institutions and the adequacy of funding related to the proposed waivers. While proponents argue that supporting educational opportunities for military families is a justified cause, some may raise concerns regarding the potential financial burden on state-funded educational institutions and whether it could affect other funding priorities.