1Providing for matriculating veteran students to receive a course
2scheduling preference at public institutions of higher
3education.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Short title.

7This act shall be known and may be cited as the Higher
8Education Course Scheduling Preference for Matriculating Student
9Veterans Act.

10Section 2. Definitions.

11The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13context clearly indicates otherwise:

14"Matriculating veteran student." An individual who:

15(1) is a veteran;

16(2) has received an honorable discharge from any branch
17of the uniformed services;

1(3) has been admitted to a public institution of higher
2education; and

3(4) resides in this Commonwealth while enrolled at the
4public institution of higher education.

5"Public institution of higher education." A community
6college, a State-related institution or a member institution of
7the State System of Higher Education.

8Section 3. Course scheduling preference.

9(a) General rule.--Within 90 days of the effective date of
10this section, a public institution of higher education shall
11provide matriculating student veterans with the same preference
12in course scheduling as the preferences provided for upper
13classmen and other students that receive priority scheduling at
14the public institution of higher education.

15(b) Existing policies.--If, on the effective date of this
16section, a public institution of higher education has
17established and implemented a policy relating to preference in
18course scheduling that includes veterans and the policy complies
19with this act, the public institution of higher education shall
20not be required to establish and implement a new policy under
21the provision of this act.

22Section 4. Effective date.

23This act shall take effect immediately.