HCS SCS SB 75 -- COLLEGE TUITION FOR COMBAT VETERANS

SPONSOR:  Coleman (Day)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Veterans by a vote of 9 to 0.

This substitute requires all higher education institutions which
receive state funds to limit the amount charged for tuition to
combat veterans for undergraduate studies to 25% of the current
credit hour rate or $100 per credit hour, whichever is less.  To
qualify, a veteran must have been a Missouri resident prior to
his or her service, must have served in a combat area after
September 11, 2001, and must maintain at least a 2.5 grade point
average on a 4.0 scale.

Eligibility for the reduced tuition will expire 10 years from the
date of the veteran's discharge.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that many veterans returning from
Iraq and Afghanistan are having trouble paying for their
education.  The bill makes state schools sacrifice a little
tuition for those who sacrificed a lot more.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Coleman; and Bob and Sam
Weber.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that the program needs
to be administered by the Department of Higher Education and be
subject to appropriations.  If the program is administered by the
department, it will need more employees.

Testifying on the bill were the University of Missouri;
University of Central Missouri; and Department of Higher
Education.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am