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 <-Veteran Students 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

1of the uniformed services;

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

4(4) resides in this Commonwealth while enrolled at the
5public institution of higher education.

6"Public institution of higher education." <-A community 
7college, a State-related institution or a member institution of 
8the State System of Higher Education. <-One of the following:

9(1) A community college under Article XIX-A of the act 
10of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School 
11Code of 1949.

12(2) A State-related institution, to include The
13Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh,
14Temple University and Lincoln University and their branch
15campuses.

16(3) A member institution of the State System of Higher
17Education under Article XX-A of the Public School Code of
181949.

19"Veteran." An individual who:

20(1) has served in the United States Armed Forces,
21including a reserve component and National Guard; and

22(2) was discharged or released from such service under
23conditions other than dishonorable.

24"Veteran student." An individual who:

25(1) is a veteran;

26(2) has been admitted to a public institution of higher
27education; and

28(3) resides in this Commonwealth while enrolled in the
29public institution of higher education.

30Section 3. Course scheduling preference.

1(a) General rule.--Within <-90 180 days of the effective date
2of this section, a public institution of higher education shall
3provide <-matriculating student veterans with the same veteran 
4students with preference in course scheduling <-as the preferences 
5provided for upper classmen and other students that receive 
6priority scheduling at the public institution of higher 
7education. <-pursuant to guidelines developed by the Department of 
8Education under subsection (b).

9(b) Guidelines.--Within 90 days of the effective date of
10this section, the Department of Education, in consultation with
11public institutions of higher education, shall develop
12guidelines under which public institutions of higher education
13shall provide preference in course scheduling to veteran
14students.

15(b) (c) Existing policies.--If, <-on within 180 days of the
16effective date of this section, a public institution of higher
17education has established and implemented a policy <-relating to 
18preference in course scheduling that includes veterans and the 
19policy complies with this act, the public institution of higher 
20education shall not be required to establish and implement a new 
21policy under the provision of this act. <-under which veteran 
22students are provided with preference in course scheduling, the 
23public institution of higher education shall be considered to be 
24in compliance with subsection (a).

25Section 4. Effective date.

26This act shall take effect immediately.