Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

Wisconsin Senate Bill SB744 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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1		-	Date of enactment: March 14, 2024
2		-	2023 Senate Bill 744 Date of publication*: March 15, 2024
3		-	2023 WISCONSIN ACT 117
4		-	AN ACT to renumber and amend 321.40 (4); to amend 20.465 (2) (a), 71.93 (1) (a) 6., 321.40 (1) (d), 321.40 (2)
5		-	(e), 321.40 (2) (f), 321.40 (3) (a), 321.40 (3) (b) 1., 321.40 (3) (c) and 321.40 (5) (d); and to create 321.40 (4) (a)
6		-	2., 3. and 4. and (b) and 321.40 (6) of the statutes; relating to: the tuition grant program for national guard members
7		-	administered by the Department of Military Affairs.
8		-	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in
9		-	senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
10		-	SECTION 1. 20.465 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended
11		-	to read:
12		-	20.465 (2) (a) Tuition grants. A sum sufficient for the
13		-	payment of tuition grants to members of the Wisconsin
14		-	national guard under s. 321.40 (4) (3).
15		-	SECTION 2. 71.93 (1) (a) 6. of the statutes is amended
16		-	to read:
17		-	71.93 (1) (a) 6. An amount owed to the department
18		-	of military affairs under s. 321.40 (5) (4).
19		-	SECTION 3. 321.40 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended
20		-	to read:
21		-	321.40 (1) (d) “Tuition grant” means any tuition cost
22		-	reimbursement payment made by the department under
23		-	sub. (4) (3).
24		-	SECTION 4. 321.40 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended
25		-	to read:
26		-	321.40 (2) (e) Failing to achieve a minimum grade
27		-	point average of 2.0 for the semester for which a satisfac-
28		-	tory academic progress in a qualifying school when the
	1	+	LRB-5046/1
	2	+	ARG:emw
	3	+	2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
	4	+	2023 SENATE BILL 744
	5	+	December 8, 2023 - Introduced by Senators TESTIN, HESSELBEIN, CABRAL-GUEVARA,
	6	+	CARPENTER, JAMES, MARKLEIN, NASS and SPREITZER, cosponsored by
	7	+	Representatives DUCHOW, JOERS, ALLEN, C. ANDERSON, BARE, BRANDTJEN,
	8	+	CONLEY, CONSIDINE, DITTRICH, EDMING, EMERSON, GOEBEN, GOYKE, GUSTAFSON,
	9	+	JACOBSON, S. JOHNSON, MADISON, MAGNAFICI, MAXEY, MICHALSKI, MURPHY,
	10	+	MURSAU, O'CONNOR, ORTIZ-VELEZ, PALMERI, RATCLIFF, SHANKLAND, SINICKI,
	11	+	SUBECK and TITTL. Referred to Committee on Labor, Regulatory Reform,
	12	+	Veterans and Military Affairs.
	13	+	AN ACT to renumber and amend 321.40 (4); to amend 20.465 (2) (a), 71.93 (1)
	14	+	(a) 6., 321.40 (1) (d), 321.40 (2) (e), 321.40 (2) (f), 321.40 (3) (a), 321.40 (3) (b) 1.,
	15	+	321.40 (3) (c) and 321.40 (5) (d); and to create 321.40 (4) (a) 2., 3. and 4. and
	16	+	(b) and 321.40 (6) of the statutes; relating to: the tuition grant program for
	17	+	national guard members administered by the Department of Military Affairs.
	18	+	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
	19	+	This bill makes changes to the tuition grant program administered by the
	20	+	Department of Military Affairs relating to eligibility and timing of higher education
	21	+	grants paid to national guard members and to administration of the program.
	22	+	Under current law, DMA awards tuition grants to national guard members to
	23	+	reimburse them for higher education tuition costs if certain eligibility criteria are
	24	+	satisfied. The amount of the tuition grant payment is equal to 100 percent of the
	25	+	actual tuition charged by the guard member's school or 100 percent of the maximum
	26	+	resident undergraduate tuition charged by the University of Wisconsin-Madison for
	27	+	a comparable number of credits, whichever amount is less. Among the eligibility
	28	+	criteria, a national guard member may not receive a tuition reimbursement grant if,
	29	+	at the time of completion of the semester to be reimbursed, the guard member fails
	30	+	to achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.0, fails to be an actively drilling guard
	31	+	member, or fails to be a guard member in good standing. DMA must require a
	32	+	national guard member to repay the amount of a tuition grant if the national guard
	33	+	member is separated from the national guard for misconduct, including being absent
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	39	+	ARG:emw
	40	+	SENATE BILL 744
	41	+	without leave for more than nine unit training assemblies. If an eligible student's
	42	+	school has certified to DMA that the student has achieved at least a 2.0 GPA for the
	43	+	semester for which reimbursement is sought, DMA must pay the tuition grant
	44	+	amount to the student within 30 days after receiving this certification.
	45	+	The bill allows an enrolled student who is an eligible national guard member
	46	+	to apply for a tuition grant prior to completion of the semester. The national guard
	47	+	member is not eligible for payment of the tuition grant if, at the time of application
	48	+	for the grant, the guard member is not achieving satisfactory academic progress in
	49	+	his or her school, is not an actively drilling guard member, or is not a guard member
	50	+	in good standing. If an eligible guard member's school has certified to DMA that he
	51	+	or she is achieving satisfactory academic progress, DMA must pay the tuition grant
	52	+	amount to the student's school on the student's behalf, rather than directly to the
	53	+	student, within 30 days after receiving this certification. The bill also requires DMA
	54	+	to require a national guard member to repay a tuition grant if, at the end of the term
	55	+	for which the tuition grant is paid, the national guard member has failed to achieve
	56	+	satisfactory academic progress, failed to be an actively drilling guard member, or
	57	+	failed to be a guard member in good standing. A school must notify DMA if the
	58	+	national guard member who received the tuition grant failed to achieve satisfactory
	59	+	academic progress at the end of the term. If a national guard member is required to
	60	+	repay a tuition grant for any reason, DMA may require the guard member's school
	61	+	to recover from the guard member the amount of the tuition grant and remit it to
	62	+	DMA.
	63	+	The bill also requires DMA to consult and coordinate with higher education
	64	+	institutions in establishing a process for distributing tuition grants that maximizes
	65	+	administrative efficiency for these schools in applying tuition grants to student
	66	+	accounts and provides tuition grants to students in an expeditious manner.
	67	+	For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
	68	+	an appendix to this bill.
	69	+	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
	70	+	enact as follows:
	71	+	SECTION 1. 20.465 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
	72	+	20.465 (2) (a) Tuition grants. A sum sufficient for the payment of tuition grants
	73	+	to members of the Wisconsin national guard under s. 321.40 (4) (3).
	74	+	SECTION 2. 71.93 (1) (a) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:
	75	+	71.93 (1) (a) 6. An amount owed to the department of military affairs under s.
	76	+	321.40 (5) (4).
	77	+	SECTION 3. 321.40 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
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	85	+	LRB-5046/1
	86	+	ARG:emw
	87	+	SECTION 3
	88	+	SENATE BILL 744
	89	+	321.40 (1) (d) “Tuition grant" means any tuition cost reimbursement payment
	90	+	made by the department under sub. (4) (3).
	91	+	SECTION 4. 321.40 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
	92	+	321.40 (2) (e) Failing to achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for the
	93	+	semester for which a satisfactory academic progress in a qualifying school when the
29	94		tuition grant is applied for.
30		-	SECTION 5. 321.40 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended
31		-	to read:
32		-	321.40 (2) (f) Failing to be an actively drilling guard
33		-	member upon the date of the satisfactory completion of
34		-	a full−time or part−time course in a qualifying school
	95	+	SECTION 5. 321.40 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
	96	+	321.40 (2) (f) Failing to be an actively drilling guard member upon the date of
	97	+	the satisfactory completion of a full-time or part-time course in a qualifying school
35	98		when the tuition grant is applied for.
36		-	SECTION 6. 321.40 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended
37		-	to read:
38		-	321.40 (3) (a) Any eligible guard member upon satis-
39		-	factory completion of enrolled in a full−time or part−time
40		-	course in a qualifying school may apply for a tuition grant
41		-	equal to 100 percent of the actual tuition charged by the
42		-	school or 100 percent of the maximum resident under-
43		-	graduate tuition charged by the University of Wisconsin−
44		-	Madison for a comparable number of credits, whichever
45		-	amount is less. In calculating the maximum resident
46		-	undergraduate tuition charged by the University of Wis-
47		-	consin−Madison for purposes of this paragraph, the
48		-	department shall include in the calculation all additional
49		-	tuition established or approved by the Board of Regents
50		-	of the University of Wisconsin System under s. 36.27 (1)
51		-	(a) for undergraduate students at the University of Wis-
52		-	consin−Madison and for students enrolled in a particular
53		-	undergraduate academic program at the University of
54		-	Wisconsin−Madison if the eligible guard member is
55		-	enrolled in the same or equivalent program.
56		-	* Section 991.11, WISCONSIN STATUTES: Effective date of acts. “Every act and every portion of an act enacted by the legislature over the governor’s
57		-	partial veto which does not expressly prescribe the time when it takes effect shall take effect on the day after its date of publication.” − 2 −2023 Wisconsin Act 117 2023 Senate Bill 744
58		-	SECTION 7. 321.40 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is
	99	+	SECTION 6. 321.40 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
	100	+	321.40 (3) (a) Any eligible guard member upon satisfactory completion of
	101	+	enrolled in a full-time or part-time course in a qualifying school may apply for a
	102	+	tuition grant equal to 100 percent of the actual tuition charged by the school or 100
	103	+	percent of the maximum resident undergraduate tuition charged by the University
	104	+	of Wisconsin-Madison for a comparable number of credits, whichever amount is less.
	105	+	In calculating the maximum resident undergraduate tuition charged by the
	106	+	University of Wisconsin-Madison for purposes of this paragraph, the department
	107	+	shall include in the calculation all additional tuition established or approved by the
	108	+	Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System under s. 36.27 (1) (a) for
	109	+	undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and for students
	110	+	enrolled in a particular undergraduate academic program at the University of
	111	+	Wisconsin-Madison if the eligible guard member is enrolled in the same or
	112	+	equivalent program.
	113	+	SECTION 7. 321.40 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
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	139	+	ARG:emw
	140	+	SECTION 7 SENATE BILL 744
	141	+	321.40 (3) (b) 1. Be submitted to the department for approval of payment no
	142	+	earlier than 90 days prior to the start of the course and no later than 90 days after
	143	+	the completion date of the course; and
	144	+	SECTION 8. 321.40 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
	145	+	321.40 (3) (c) Except as provided under par. (d), upon determination that the
	146	+	applicant is eligible to receive the payment, the department shall make payment of
	147	+	the tuition grant to, on behalf of the applicant, to the qualifying school in which the
	148	+	applicant is enrolled in the amount determined under par. (a). Notwithstanding par.
	149	+	(b) 2., the department shall rely on a qualifying school's certification in determining
	150	+	that an applicant is eligible under sub. (2) (e) to receive the payment and the
	151	+	department shall make the payment not later than 30 days after the department
	152	+	receives the certification.
	153	+	SECTION 9. 321.40 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 321.40 (4) (a) (intro.) and
59	154		amended to read:
60		-	321.40 (3) (b) 1. Be submitted to the department for
61		-	approval of payment no earlier than 90 days prior to the
62		-	start of the course and no later than 90 days after the com-
63		-	pletion date of the course; and
64		-	SECTION 8. 321.40 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended
65		-	to read:
66		-	321.40 (3) (c) Except as provided under par. (d), upon
67		-	determination that the applicant is eligible to receive the
68		-	payment, the department shall make payment of the
69		-	tuition grant to, on behalf of the applicant, to the qualify-
70		-	ing school in which the applicant is enrolled in the
71		-	amount determined under par. (a). Notwithstanding par.
72		-	(b) 2., the department shall rely on a qualifying school’s
73		-	certification in determining that an applicant is eligible
74		-	under sub. (2) (e) to receive the payment and the depart-
75		-	ment shall make the payment not later than 30 days after
76		-	the department receives the certification.
77		-	SECTION 9. 321.40 (4) of the statutes is renumbered
78		-	321.40 (4) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:
79		-	321.40 (4) (a) (intro.) The department shall require
80		-	a national guard member who has received a tuition grant
81		-	under this section to repay the amount of the tuition grant
82		-	to the department if the national any of the following
83		-	applies:
84		-	1. The guard member is separated from the national
85		-	guard for misconduct, as defined in the rules and regula-
86		-	tions of the national guard, including being absent with-
87		-	out leave for more than 9 unit training assemblies.
88		-	(c) The department may elect to collect the amount
89		-	owed under this subsection through the tax intercept pro-
90		-	gram under s. 71.93.
91		-	SECTION 10. 321.40 (4) (a) 2., 3. and 4. and (b) of the
92		-	statutes are created to read:
93		-	321.40 (4) (a) 2. The guard member is not a member
94		-	in good standing in the national guard at the end of the
95		-	term for which the tuition grant is paid.
96		-	3. The guard member has failed to be an actively
97		-	drilling guard member at the end of the term for which the
98		-	tuition grant is paid.
99		-	4. The guard member has failed to achieve satisfac-
100		-	tory academic progress at the end of the term for which
	155	+	321.40 (4) (a) (intro.) The department shall require a national guard member
	156	+	who has received a tuition grant under this section to repay the amount of the tuition
	157	+	grant to the department if the national any of the following applies:
	158	+	1. The guard member is separated from the national guard for misconduct, as
	159	+	defined in the rules and regulations of the national guard, including being absent
	160	+	without leave for more than 9 unit training assemblies.
	161	+	(c) The department may elect to collect the amount owed under this subsection
	162	+	through the tax intercept program under s. 71.93.
	163	+	SECTION 10. 321.40 (4) (a) 2., 3. and 4. and (b) of the statutes are created to read:
	164	+	321.40 (4) (a) 2. The guard member is not a member in good standing in the
	165	+	national guard at the end of the term for which the tuition grant is paid.
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	192	+	ARG:emw
	193	+	SECTION 10
	194	+	SENATE BILL 744
	195	+	3. The guard member has failed to be an actively drilling guard member at the
	196	+	end of the term for which the tuition grant is paid.
	197	+	4. The guard member has failed to achieve satisfactory academic progress at
	198	+	the end of the term for which the tuition grant is paid.
	199	+	(b) 1. A qualifying school that receives payment of a tuition grant on behalf of
	200	+	a guard member under sub. (3) (c) shall notify the department if the guard member
	201	+	has failed to achieve satisfactory academic progress at the end of the term for which
101	202		the tuition grant is paid.
102		-	(b) 1. A qualifying school that receives payment of
103		-	a tuition grant on behalf of a guard member under sub. (3)
104		-	(c) shall notify the department if the guard member has
105		-	failed to achieve satisfactory academic progress at the
106		-	end of the term for which the tuition grant is paid.
107		-	2. If a guard member is required to repay a tuition
108		-	grant for any of the reasons specified in par. (a), the
109		-	department may require the qualifying school that
110		-	received the tuition grant on behalf of the guard member
111		-	to recover from the guard member the amount of the
112		-	tuition grant and remit it to the department. A qualifying
113		-	school may take any reasonable action to secure repay-
114		-	ment of the amount of a tuition grant under this subdivi-
115		-	sion, including placing a hold on course registration or on
116		-	the awarding of a degree or certificate, undertaking col-
117		-	lection efforts, or initiating legal action.
118		-	SECTION 11. 321.40 (5) (d) of the statutes is amended
119		-	to read:
120		-	321.40 (5) (d) No guard member may receive a
121		-	tuition grant under this section unless he or she is a mem-
122		-	ber in good standing in the national guard at the time of
	203	+	2. If a guard member is required to repay a tuition grant for any of the reasons
	204	+	specified in par. (a), the department may require the qualifying school that received
	205	+	the tuition grant on behalf of the guard member to recover from the guard member
	206	+	the amount of the tuition grant and remit it to the department. A qualifying school
	207	+	may take any reasonable action to secure repayment of the amount of a tuition grant
	208	+	under this subdivision, including placing a hold on course registration or on the
	209	+	awarding of a degree or certificate, undertaking collection efforts, or initiating legal
	210	+	action.
	211	+	SECTION 11. 321.40 (5) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
	212	+	321.40 (5) (d) No guard member may receive a tuition grant under this section
	213	+	unless he or she is a member in good standing in the national guard at the time of
123	214		completion of the course application for the tuition grant.
124		-	SECTION 12. 321.40 (6) of the statutes is created to
125		-	read:
126		-	321.40 (6) COORDINATION WITH QUALIFYING SCHOOLS.
127		-	The department shall consult and coordinate with quali-
128		-	fying schools in establishing a process for distributing
129		-	tuition grants that accomplishes all of the following:
130		-	(a) Maximizes administrative efficiency for qualify-
131		-	ing schools in applying tuition grants to student accounts.
132		-	(b) Provides tuition grants to students in an expedi-
133		-	tious manner that minimizes students’ need to incur debt
134		-	while waiting for the grants to fund in their student
135		-	accounts.
	215	+	SECTION 12. 321.40 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
	216	+	321.40 (6) COORDINATION WITH QUALIFYING SCHOOLS. The department shall
	217	+	consult and coordinate with qualifying schools in establishing a process for
	218	+	distributing tuition grants that accomplishes all of the following:
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	243	+	ARG:emw
	244	+	SECTION 12 SENATE BILL 744
	245	+	(a) Maximizes administrative efficiency for qualifying schools in applying
	246	+	tuition grants to student accounts.
	247	+	(b) Provides tuition grants to students in an expeditious manner that
	248	+	minimizes students' need to incur debt while waiting for the grants to fund in their
	249	+	student accounts.
136	250		SECTION 13.0Initial applicability.
137		-	(1) This act first applies to applications for tuition
138		-	grants for an academic term that begins after the effective
139		-	date of this subsection.
	251	+	(1) This act first applies to applications for tuition grants for an academic term
	252	+	that begins after the effective date of this subsection.
	253	+	(END)
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