THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY BARRAR, BOBACK, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, CUTLER, DENLINGER, FLECK, GABLER, GEIST, GIBBONS, GROVE, HARHART, HESS, HUTCHINSON, KILLION, MURT, O'NEILL, RAPP, SWANGER, VULAKOVICH AND SAINATO, FEBRUARY 14, 2011

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 8, 2012   

AN ACT

Amending the act of December 15, 1982 (P.L.1266, No.287),

entitled, as amended, "An act conferring limited residency

status on military personnel, their dependents and civilian

personnel assigned to an active duty station in

Pennsylvania," further providing for attendance at State-

related and State-owned institutions of higher learning and

community colleges.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 1 of the act of December 15, 1982

(P.L.1266, No.287), entitled "An act conferring limited

residency status on military personnel, their dependents and

civilian personnel assigned to an active duty station in

Pennsylvania," amended June 28, 1996 (P.L.420, No.60) and July

9, 2010 (P.L.453, No.57), is amended to read:

Section 1. (a)  General rule.--The term "resident" or

"residency," or any other term or expression used to designate a

Commonwealth resident student, when used to determine the rate

of tuition to be charged students attending community colleges,

State-related and State-owned institutions of higher learning

shall be construed to mean and include any veterans, their

spouses and dependent children who do not currently reside in

Pennsylvania. The term shall also be construed to mean and

include military personnel [or their dependents], their spouses

and dependent children who are assigned to an active duty

station in Pennsylvania and who reside in Pennsylvania and any

civilian personnel [or their dependents], their spouses and

dependent children employed at a Department of Defense facility

who are transferred to Pennsylvania by the Department of Defense

and who reside in Pennsylvania. [Military]

(a.1)  State-related or State-owned institutions.--Veterans,

their spouses and dependent children, military personnel [and

their dependents], their spouses and dependent children and

civilian personnel [and their dependents], their spouses and

dependent children who are admitted to [a community college or] 

a State-related or State-owned institution shall be charged

resident tuition rates provided that the student is a resident

under this section on the first day of the semester or term of

the [college or] institution.

(a.2)  Community colleges.--Veterans, their spouses and

dependent children, military personnel, their spouses and

dependent children and civilian personnel, their spouses and

dependent children who are admitted to a community college shall

be charged the local sponsor rate provided that the student is a

resident under this section on the first day of the semester or

term of the college.

(a.3)  Distance learning tuition.--A community college,

State-related or State-owned institution of higher learning

[may] shall charge resident tuition rates to any active military

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personnel and their dependents who are taking college courses or

receiving other education services through the Internet or by

other electronic means.

(b)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following

words and phrases shall have the meanings given them in this

subsection:

"Community colleges."  Institutions now or hereafter created

pursuant to Article XIX-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,

No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, or the act of

August 24, 1963 (P.L.1132, No.484), known as the Community

College Act of 1963.

"Local sponsor."  A school district, municipality or county

board of school directors, or any combination of school

districts, municipalities or county boards of school directors,

that participate or propose to participate in the establishment

and operation of a community college.

"Local sponsor rate."  The tuition charged to an individual

who is a resident of a school district or municipality that is a

member of the local sponsor of the community college.

"Member of a local sponsor."  A school district or

municipality that, alone or with other districts and

municipalities, is included in a local sponsor.

"State-owned institutions."  Those institutions which are

part of the State System of Higher Education pursuant to Article

XX-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the

Public School Code of 1949.

"State-related institutions."  The Pennsylvania State

University, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and

Lincoln University and their branch campuses.

"Veteran."  An individual who served in the United States

Armed Forces, including a reserve component or National Guard

and who was discharged or released from service under conditions

other than dishonorable and is eligible to receive benefits

under 38 U.S.C. Ch. 33 (relating to post-9/11 educational

assistance).

Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.