2015 -- H 5889

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LC001777

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- TUITION FOR COVERED

INDIVIDUALS UNDER A POST 9/11 GI BILL AND MONTGOMERY GI BILL

     Introduced By: Representatives Abney, Canario, Gallison, Ruggiero, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: March 13, 2015

     Referred To: House Finance

     (Human Services)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. The General Laws are hereby amended by adding thereto the following

title:

TITLE 30.3

TUITION FOR COVERED INDIVIDUALS UNDER A POST 9/11 GI BILL AND

MONTGOMERY GI BILL

     30.30.3-1. In-state tuition eligibility -- (a) A person who is a covered individual as

described in subsection (b) of this section is entitled to pay tuition and fees at an institution of

higher education at the rates provided for Rhode Island residents without regard to the length of

time the person has resided in this state if the person files with the institution at which the person

intends to register a letter of intent to establish residence in this state and resides in this state

while enrolled in the institution.

     (b) A covered individual is a person who: (1) Is eligible for benefits under the federal

Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (38 U.S.C. § 3301, et seq.) or any other

federal law authorizing educational benefits for veterans; (2) Is the spouse of a person described

by subdivision (1); or (3) Is a child of a person described by subdivision (1) who is twenty-five

(25) years of age or younger on the first day of the semester or other academic term for which the

person is registering, except that the Rhode Island board of education by rule shall prescribe

procedures by which a person who suffered from a severe illness or other debilitating condition

that affected the person's ability to use the benefit provided by this section before reaching that

age may be granted additional time to use the benefit corresponding to the time the person was

unable to use the benefit because of the illness or condition.

     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 -- TUITION FOR COVERED

INDIVIDUALS UNDER A POST 9/11 GI BILL AND MONTGOMERY GI BILL

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     This act would allow all qualifying veterans, their spouses, and their children under

twenty-five (25) years old to pay resident tuition and fees at state colleges upon filing of a letter

of intent to establish residence and reside in the state while enrolled in that college.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001777

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