SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB654 SFLR Page 1 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SENATE FLOOR VERSION February 27, 2023 SENATE BILL NO. 654 By: Rosino of the Senate and Burns of the House [ postsecondary education - tuition waivers - eligibility - rules - codification - effective date – emergency ] BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new sect ion of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3234 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numb ering, reads as follows: A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Captain Steven L. Farley Goldstar Families A ct”. B. The surviving spouse and ch ildren of a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces who was killed in action or killed in the performance of his or her duty after September 11, 20 01, shall be eligible for a waiver of: 1. Undergraduate resident tuition at institutions with in The Oklahoma State System of H igher Education. A student shall be eligible for a tuition waiver for up to five (5) years or completion SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB654 SFLR Page 2 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree, wh ichever comes first; or 2. Resident tuition for a postsecondary pr ogram at a technology center school operating under the State Board of Career and Technology Education. Students shall be eligible for a tuition waiver for up to five (5) years or completi on of a certificate, whichever comes first. C. To be eligible for a tuition waiver, a student shall: 1. Be a resident of this state; and 2. Have secured admission to and enrolled in a n institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education or a postsecondary program at a technology center school operating under the State Board of Career and Technology Education. D. To retain eligibility for a tuition waiver , the student shall maintain good academic standing and satisfactory progress according to standards of the Oklahoma State Regen ts for Higher Education or the State Board of Career and Technology Education . E. A student seeking a tuition waiver pur suant to this section who is eligible for federal education benefits shall exhaust all available federal benefits. Any amount of tuiti on owed after federal benefits are exhausted shall be waived by the institution of higher education or the technology center school. SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB654 SFLR Page 3 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 F. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the State Board of Career a nd Technology Education shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023. SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof thi s act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON FINANCE February 27, 2023 - DO PASS