2014 -- S 2396 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE - EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS FOR

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, Walaska, DiPalma, Ciccone, and Raptakis

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 30-30.1-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 30-30.1 entitled

"Educational Benefits for Disabled American Veterans" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     30-30.1-1. Educational benefits for disabled American veterans. -- Any veteran who

is a permanent resident of this state who submits proof sufficient to establish a veterans' rated ten

percent (10%) to one hundred percent (100%) disability by the department of veterans' affairs as a

result of military service shall be entitled to take courses at any public institution of higher

education in the state without the payment of tuition, exclusive of other fees and charges;

Pprovided, however, that any person eligible for financial aid as determined by the institution of

higher education, shall apply for such financial aid. Any financial aid award received by the

applicant shall be applied towards the full amount of tuition that would otherwise have been

charged by the public institution of higher education. Admission into particular courses will be

granted upon a space available basis and shall be at the discretion of the particular institutions to

which application is made as aforesaid. Students using the tuition waivers for courses and

competitive programs shall register at the start of open registration for the applicable semester in

accordance with each institution's registration policies. This will include priority registration

where granted to students with disability status. Use of this waiver for competitive programs does

not supersede any existing academic criteria for admission into those programs.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE - EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS FOR

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS

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     This act would entitle a disabled American veteran who is a permanent resident of this

state, to a waiver for free admission into competitive programs at any public institution of higher

education in the state; provided, that the disabled veteran meets the academic criteria and

registration policies.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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