SB 231

Under this bill, technical college districts must charge resident fees to

individuals to whom active duty uniformed service members transfer certain unused

educational benefits under federal law. Under current state law, technical college

districts must charge resident fees to “covered individuals,” as defined under federal

law, while those individuals are continuously enrolled. Before its amendment in

2016, the federal law defined “covered individual” to include individuals to whom

certain veterans transfer unused benefits. In 2016, the federal law was amended to

define “covered individual” to also include individuals to whom active duty

uniformed service members transfer unused benefits. Although current state law

uses the definition of “covered individual” under federal law, current state law

includes a provision that has the effect of prohibiting technical college districts from

charging resident fees to individuals who are covered individuals based on unused

benefits transferred by active duty uniformed service members. This bill eliminates

that provision and therefore requires technical college districts to charge resident

fees to those individuals.