AB702: Bill Text

LRB-4144/1

RPN&RLR:cjs&kjf:rs

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 702

February 5, 2010 - Introduced by Representatives Dexter, Berceau, Vruwink, Molepske Jr., Brooks, Pridemore, Bies, Hebl, Sinicki, Turner, A. Williams, Gunderson, Jorgensen, Zepnick, Grigsby and Clark, cosponsored by Senators Kreitlow, Harsdorf, Lassa, Olsen, Darling, Coggs, Taylor, Schultz, Hansen and Carpenter. Referred to Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs.

AB702,1,3 An Act to repeal 45.20 (2) (b) 1. b.; to amend 45.20 (2) (d) 1. (intro.); and to create 45.20 (2) (d) 1m. of the statutes; relating to: the veterans tuition reimbursement program.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs reimburses eligible veterans for tuition and fees for certain secondary or post-secondary education. The maximum number of credits for which a veteran may receive reimbursement is determined based on the amount of time the veteran served on active duty.

Under current law, a veteran generally must begin studies within ten years after separating from the military to receive tuition and fee reimbursement for the studies. However, current law provides exceptions to this ten-year rule for part-time study. A veteran may receive reimbursement for up to 11 credits for a semester that begins more than ten years after separation if the veteran enrolls in no more than 11 credits that semester; if the veteran enrolls in more than 11 credits that semester, he or she may not receive any reimbursement. Further, for a summer semester, a veteran may receive reimbursement for any number of credits, subject to maximum credit limits. Current law limits reimbursement for studies begun more than ten years after separation to 60 credits.

This bill provides that a veteran may receive reimbursement for tuition and fees for up to 11 credits for a semester that begins more than ten years after separation from the military, even if the veteran enrolls in more than 11 credits that semester.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB702, s. 1 Section 1. 45.20 (2) (b) 1. b. of the statutes is repealed.

AB702, s. 2 Section 2. 45.20 (2) (d) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB702,2,8 45.20 (2) (d) 1. (intro.) A Subject to subd. 1m., a veteran's eligibility for reimbursement under this subsection at any institution of higher education in this state, at a school that is approved under s. 45.03 (11), at a proprietary school that is approved under s. 38.50, at a public or private high school, or at an institution where he or she is receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47 is limited to the following:

AB702, s. 3 Section 3. 45.20 (2) (d) 1m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB702,2,15 45.20 (2) (d) 1m. For courses begun later than 10 years after the veteran's separation from the service, a veteran may not be reimbursed for more than 60 of the credits to which the veteran's eligibility is limited under subd. 1. and may not be reimbursed for more than 11 semester credits or equivalent trimester or quarter credits for any semester or session, other than a summer semester or session, regardless of the number of credits taken during that semester or session.

AB702, s. 4 Section 4. Initial applicability.

AB702,2,18 (1) This act first applies to applications for tuition reimbursement for an academic term that begins after the effective date of this subsection.

AB702,2,19 (End)