Vermont H 68: An act relating to expanding the National Guard Tuition Benefit Program

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.68
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VT LEG #378469 v.1
H.68 1
Introduced by Representatives Hango of Berkshire, Birong of Vergennes, 2
Bartley of Fairfax, Boyden of Cambridge, Branagan of Georgia, 3
Christie of Hartford, Coffin of Cavendish, Demar of Enosburgh, 4
Galfetti of Barre Town, Goslant of Northfield, Gregoire of 5
Fairfield, Higley of Lowell, Kascenska of Burke, Keyser of 6
Rutland City, Laroche of Franklin, Luneau of St. Albans City, 7
McFaun of Barre Town, Morgan, L. of Milton, Morgan, M. of 8
Milton, North of Ferrisburgh, Noyes of Wolcott, Page of 9
Newport City, Pinsonault of Dorset, Southworth of Walden, 10
Stone of Burlington, and Tagliavia of Corinth 11
Referred to Committee on 12
Date: 13
Subject: Education; grants, scholarships, education loan programs; National 14
Guard Tuition Benefit Program 15
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to extend the 16
Vermont National Guard Tuition Benefit Program to a member seeking a 17
graduate degree or a second baccalaureate degree, provided the member 18
satisfies eligibility criteria. 19
An act relating to expanding the National Guard Tuition Benefit Program 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.68
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VT LEG #378469 v.1
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 1
Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 2857 is amended to read: 2
§ 2857. VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD TUITION BENEFIT PROGRAM 3
(a) Program creation. The Vermont National Guard Tuition Benefit 4
Program (Program) is created, under which a member of the Vermont National 5
Guard (member) who meets the eligibility requirements in subsection (c) of 6
this section is entitled to the following tuition benefit for up to full-time 7
attendance: 8
(1) For courses at any Vermont State College institution or the 9
University of Vermont and State Agricultural College (UVM), the benefit shall 10
be the in-state residence tuition rate for the relevant institution. 11
(2) For courses at any eligible Vermont private postsecondary 12
institution, the benefit shall be the in-state tuition rate charged by UVM. 13
(3) For courses at an eligible training institution offering nondegree, 14
certificate training, or continuing education programs, the benefit shall be the 15
lower of the institution’s standard tuition or the in-state tuition rate charged by 16
UVM. 17
(4) For courses at a non-Vermont approved postsecondary education 18
institution approved for federal Title IV funding where the degree program is 19
not available in Vermont, the benefit shall be the in-state tuition rate charged 20
by UVM. 21

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VT LEG #378469 v.1
(b) Tuition benefit. 1
(1) The tuition benefit provided under the Program shall be paid on 2
behalf of the member by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation 3
(VSAC), subject to the appropriation of funds by the General Assembly 4
specifically for this purpose. An eligible Vermont postsecondary institution 5
that accepts or receives the tuition benefit on behalf of a member shall charge 6
the member the tuition rate for an in-state student. The amount of tuition for a 7
member who attends an educational institution under the Program on less than 8
a full-time basis shall be reduced to reflect the member’s course load in a 9
manner determined by VSAC under subdivision (f)(1) of this section. 10
(2) The tuition benefit shall be conditioned upon the member’s 11
executing a promissory note obligating the member to repay the member’s 12
tuition benefit, in whole or in part, if the member fails to complete the period 13
of Vermont National Guard service required in subsection (d) of this section, 14
or if the member’s benefit is terminated pursuant to subdivision (e)(1) of this 15
section. If the member is pursuing a graduate degree under the Program, the 16
member shall agree in the promissory note to, upon receipt of the graduate 17
degree and until the individual’s service commitment under subsection (d) of 18
this section is satisfied, be employed full time in Vermont or, if unemployed, 19
be actively seeking full-time employment in Vermont. 20

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VT LEG #378469 v.1
(c) Eligibility. 1
(1) To be eligible for the Program, an individual, whether a resident or 2
nonresident, shall satisfy all of the following requirements: 3
(A) be an active member of the Vermont National Guard; 4
(B) have successfully completed basic training; 5
(C) be enrolled at UVM, a Vermont State College, or any other 6
college or university located in Vermont in a program that leads to an 7
undergraduate certificate or, a baccalaureate degree, or a graduate degree, or at 8
an eligible training institution in a program that leads to a certificate or other 9
credential recognized by VSAC; 10
(D) have not previously earned an undergraduate bachelor’s degree 11
that was funded under the Program or any other State funding source 12
designated exclusively for members of the Vermont National Guard; 13
(E) conti