AN ACT

 

1Amending the act of December 15, 1982 (P.L.1266, No.287),
2entitled, as amended, "An act conferring limited residency
3status on military personnel, their dependents and civilian
4personnel assigned to an active duty station in
5Pennsylvania," further providing for attendance at State-
6related and State-owned institutions of higher learning and
7community colleges.

8The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9hereby enacts as follows:

10Section 1. Section 1 of the act of December 15, 1982 
11(P.L.1266, No.287), entitled "An act conferring limited
12residency status on military personnel, their dependents and
13civilian personnel assigned to an active duty station in
14Pennsylvania," amended June 28, 1996 (P.L.420, No.60) and July 
159, 2010 (P.L.453, No.57), is amended to read:

16Section 1. (a) General rule.--The term "resident" or 
17"residency," or any other term or expression used to designate a 
18Commonwealth resident student, when used to determine the rate 

1of tuition to be charged students attending community colleges, 
2State-related and State-owned institutions of higher learning 
3shall be construed to mean and include any veterans, their 
4spouses and dependent children who do not currently reside in 
5Pennsylvania. The term shall also be construed to mean and 
6include military personnel [or their dependents], their spouses 
7and dependent children who are assigned to an active duty 
8station in Pennsylvania and who reside in Pennsylvania and any 
9civilian personnel [or their dependents], their spouses and 
10dependent children employed at a Department of Defense facility 
11who are transferred to Pennsylvania by the Department of Defense 
12and who reside in Pennsylvania. [Military]

13(a.1) State-related or State-owned institutions.--Veterans, 
14their spouses and dependent children, military personnel [and
15their dependents], their spouses and dependent children and
16civilian personnel [and their dependents], their spouses and 
17dependent children who are admitted to [a community college or]
18a State-related or State-owned institution shall be charged
19resident tuition rates provided that the student is a resident
20under this section on the first day of the semester or term of
21the [college or] institution.

22(a.2) Community colleges.--Veterans, their spouses and
23dependent children, military personnel, their spouses and
24dependent children and civilian personnel, their spouses and
25dependent children who are admitted to a community college shall
26be charged the local sponsor rate provided that the student is a
27resident under this section on the first day of the semester or
28term of the college.

29(a.3) Distance learning tuition.--A community college, 
30State-related or State-owned institution of higher learning 

1[may] shall charge resident tuition rates to any active military 
2personnel and their dependents who are taking college courses or 
3receiving other education services through the Internet or by 
4other electronic means.

<-5(a.4) Additional eligibility.--A child, a spouse or a
6surviving spouse who is eligible to receive benefits under 38
7U.S.C. Ch. 35 (relating to survivors' and dependents'
8educational assistance) shall also be charged a resident tuition
9rate or local sponsor rate under the appropriate terms and
10conditions of subsection (a.1), (a.2) or (a.3).

11(b) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
12words and phrases shall have the meanings given them in this
13subsection:

14"Community colleges." Institutions now or hereafter created 
15pursuant to Article XIX-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, 
16No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, or the act of 
17August 24, 1963 (P.L.1132, No.484), known as the Community 
18College Act of 1963.

19"Local sponsor." A school district, municipality or county 
20board of school directors, or any combination of school 
21districts, municipalities or county boards of school directors, 
22that participate or propose to participate in the establishment 
23and operation of a community college.

24"Local sponsor rate." The tuition charged to an individual 
25who is a resident of a school district or municipality that is a 
26member of the local sponsor of the community college.

27"Member of a local sponsor." A school district or 
28municipality that, alone or with other districts and 
29municipalities, is included in a local sponsor.

30"State-owned institutions." Those institutions which are 

1part of the State System of Higher Education pursuant to Article 
2XX-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the 
3Public School Code of 1949.

4"State-related institutions." The Pennsylvania State 
5University, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and 
6Lincoln University and their branch campuses.

7"Veteran." An individual who served in the United States 
8Armed Forces, including a reserve component or National Guard 
9and who was discharged or released from service under conditions 
10other than dishonorable and is eligible to receive benefits 
11under <-38 U.S.C. Ch. 10 U.S.C. Chs. 1606 (relating to educational 
12assistance for members of the selected reserve) and 1607 
13(relating to educational assistance for reserve component 
14members supporting contingency operations and certain other 
15operations) and 38 U.S.C. Chs. 30 (relating to all-volunteer 
16force educational assistance program), 31 (relating to training 
17and rehabilitation for veterans with service-connected 
18disabilities) and 33 (relating to post-9/11 educational 
19assistance).

20Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.