IN-DISTRICT TUITION RATES FOR VETERANS

AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES

House Joint Resolution M

Sponsor:  Rep. David Knezek, Jr.

Committee:  Military and Veterans Affairs

Complete to 9-9-13

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION M AS INTRODUCED 2-28-13

House Joint Resolution M would amend Article VIII, Section 7 of the State Constitution of 1963 to require that a community or junior college board consider a student as a resident of that college's district for determining the tuition rate if the student is an active duty member, reserve member, or an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States.  If approved by the Legislature, the resolution would be put before the voters at the next general election (November 2014).

(This means these students, regardless of their place of residence, would not have to pay the more expensive rate charged to out-of-state or out-of-district residents.)

FISCAL IMPACT:

The constitutional amendment proposed in House Joint Resolution M would reduce tuition revenue collected by community colleges from military veterans who would otherwise pay out-of-district or out-of-state tuition. The amount of reduced revenue collections is indeterminate. No data is available to indicate the number of community college students who would be affected by the amendment, or who would newly enroll at community colleges following implementation of the amendment.

As background, the FY 2013-14 Community Colleges budget contains language (Sec. 229) stating legislative intent that community colleges and other interested parties review the issue of in-district tuition for veterans.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Kyle Jen

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.