S. 944 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 944 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2013 Mr. Sanders (for himself and Mr. Burr) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to require courses of education provided by public institutions of higher education that are approved for purposes of the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program and Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to charge veterans tuition and fees at the in-State tuition rate, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans' Educational Transition Act of 2013. 2. Approval of courses of education provided by public institutions of higher education for purposes of All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program and Post-9/11 Educational Assistance conditional on in-State tuition rate for veterans (a) In general Section 3679 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and subject to paragraphs (3) through (5), the Secretary shall disapprove a course of education provided by a public institution of higher education to a covered individual pursuing a course of education with educational assistance under chapter 30 or 33 of this title while living in the State in which the public institution of higher education is located if the institution charges tuition and fees for that course for the covered individual at a rate that is higher than the rate the institution charges for tuition and fees for that course for residents of the State in which the institution is located, regardless of the covered individual’s State of residence. (2) For purposes of this subsection, a covered individual is any individual as follows: (A) A veteran who was discharged or released from a period of not fewer than 180 days of service in the active military, naval, or air service less than two years before the date of enrollment in the course concerned. (B) An individual who is entitled to assistance under section 3311(b)(9) or 3319 of this title by virtue of such individual's relationship to a veteran described in subparagraph (A). (3) It shall not be grounds to disapprove a course of education under paragraph (1) if a public institution of higher education requires a covered individual pursuing a course of education at the institution to demonstrate an intent to establish residency in the State in which the institution is located in order to be charged tuition and fees for that course at a rate that is equal to or less than the rate the institution charges for tuition and fees for that course for residents of the State. (4) The Secretary may waive such requirements of paragraph (1) as the Secretary considers appropriate. (5) Disapproval under paragraph (1) shall apply only with respect to educational assistance under chapters 30 and 33 of this title. . (b) Effective date Subsection (c) of section 3679 of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this section) shall apply with respect to educational assistance provided for pursuit of programs of education during academic terms that begin after July 1, 2015.