Tuition Waiver for Dependents of Veterans

Second Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED SENATE BILL 26-067 LLS NO. 26-0270.02 Veronica Parish x2606 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Sullivan, HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Clifford, Senate Committees House Committees Education A BILL FOR AN ACT CONCERNING A TUITION WAIVER FOR DEPENDENTS OF QUALIFIED VETERANS.

Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.) The bill creates a tuition waiver for qualified dependents of disabled veterans to attend state colleges or universities.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.

Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law. Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.

SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 23-7.4-303 as follows:

23-7.4-303. Tuition assistance program for dependents and spouses of qualified veterans - created - administration - funding - rules - definitions.

(1) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES:

(a) "COLORADO APPLICATION FOR STATE FINANCIAL AID" HAS THE MEANING SET FORTH IN SECTION 22-2-127 (1)(a).

(b) "COMMISSION" MEANS THE COLORADO COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION CREATED IN SECTION 23-1-102.

(c) "DEPENDENT" MEANS:

(I) A SPOUSE, SURVIVING SPOUSE, PARTNER IN A CIVIL UNION, OR SURVIVING PARTNER IN A CIVIL UNION; OR

(II) A CHILD, INCLUDING ADOPTED CHILDREN, STEPCHILDREN, AND FOSTER CHILDREN, OR A CHILD WHO WAS CLAIMED AS A DEPENDENT BY A QUALIFIED VETERAN ON THEIR TAX RETURN, UNDER TWENTY-SIX YEARS OLD.

(d) "FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID" HAS THE MEANING SET FORTH IN SECTION 22-2-127 (1)(c).

(e) "QUALIFIED VETERAN" MEANS A VETERAN, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 28-5-100.3, WHO:

(I) WAS KILLED IN ACTION;

(II) DIED IN ACTIVE SERVICE FROM OTHER CAUSES;

(III) IS MISSING IN ACTION;

(IV) IS A PRISONER OF WAR;

(V) DIED AS A RESULT OF A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY INCURRED DURING A WARTIME PERIOD;

(VI) WAS, PRIOR TO DEATH, RATED ONE-HUNDRED-PERCENT PERMANENTLY SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BY EVALUATION OF THE RATING SCHEDULE; OR

(VII) HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO BE UNEMPLOYABLE AS A RESULT OF A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY.

(f) "STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY" HAS THE MEANING SET FORTH IN SECTION 23-2-102.

ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2026, THE COMMISSION SHALL IMPLEMENT A POLICY WHEREBY, EXCEPT AS LIMITED IN THIS SECTION, EACH STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY SHALL WAIVE ALL TUITION COSTS, INCLUDING ANY MANDATORY FEES, DUES, OR OTHER REQUIRED CHARGES, ASSOCIATED WITH ATTENDANCE AT THE INSTITUTION FOR A DEPENDENT OF A QUALIFIED VETERAN UPON RECEIPT OF A CERTIFICATE OF WAIVER ELIGIBILITY DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (5) OF THIS SECTION.

(3) IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE TUITION WAIVER, A DEPENDENT OF A QUALIFIED VETERAN MUST:

(a) BE ACCEPTED BY A STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY;

(b) COMPLETE THE COLORADO APPLICATION FOR STATE FINANCIAL AID OR THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID; AND (c) REMAIN IN SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC STANDING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACADEMIC POLICIES OF THE STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.

(4) THE TUITION WAIVER MUST NOT EXTEND BEYOND SIX YEARS OF THE DATE OF ENROLLMENT.

(5) THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS SHALL ADOPT RULES TO CERTIFY ELIGIBILITY AT THE REQUEST OF A DEPENDENT OF A QUALIFIED VETERAN AND PRODUCE TO THE DEPENDENT OF A QUALIFIED VETERAN A CERTIFICATE OF WAIVER ELIGIBILITY.

DEPENDENT OF A QUALIFIED VETERAN SHALL SUBMIT THE CERTIFICATE OF WAIVER ELIGIBILITY TO THE STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY AT WHICH THE DEPENDANT IS ENROLLED.

SECTION 2.

THE Safety clause. The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.