Requiring that regents universities and community colleges waive a percentage of the tuition and mandatory fees for children of veterans with service-connected disabilities

This bill requires that regents universities and community colleges waive a percentage of the tuition and mandatory fees for children of veterans with service-connected disabilities. The bill provides that, in order to qualify for the waiver of a percentage of the tuition and mandatory fees, the child of the veteran must satisfy all of the following criteria: is the biological child of the veteran or the adopted child of the veteran; is registered with the United States selective service system, if required; is not currently confined in a jail, prison, or correctional facility; is not currently in default on any federal student loans; is not currently repaying any federal student loans; is not currently disqualified from receiving federal student aid due to a criminal conviction; is classified as a resident for purposes of tuition and mandatory fees and is a United States citizen or a noncitizen who is eligible for federal student aid; applies to the regents university or community college for admission prior to the child’s 33rd birthday; and maintains satisfactory academic performance, if the child received a tuition and mandatory fee waiver previously. The bill also provides that, in order to qualify for the waiver of a percentage of the tuition and mandatory fees, the veteran must satisfy all of the following criteria: was a resident of this state at the time of enlistment in the United States armed services or resided in this state for at least five years prior to the date the student applied to the regents university or community college for admission, served in the United States armed services during a conflict or war or performed duty equally hazardous that was recognized by the award of a service or campaign medal of the United States, suffered a service-connected death or a permanent service-connected disability, and was discharged under honorable conditions. The bill establishes that the tuition and mandatory fee waiver shall equal the veteran’s permanent service-connected disability rating percentage, as certified by the United States department of veterans affairs. The bill provides that in the case of a veteran whose death was officially certified as service-connected by the United States department of veterans affairs, the tuition and mandatory fee waiver shall equal 100 percent. The bill provides that the tuition and mandatory fee waiver applies to tuition and mandatory fees for residents for not more than 120 credits combined at a regents university or community college. The bill also provides that the tuition and mandatory fee waiver is only available to the child of a veteran for a maximum of eight academic years. The bill establishes that tuition and mandatory fees for prior years of enrollment shall not be waived under the bill’s provisions. The bill requires the Iowa department of veterans affairs to determine the eligibility of any applicant for a tuition and mandatory fee waiver under the bill’s provisions.3.2(3), which would relieve a political subdivision from complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, political subdivisions are required to comply with any state mandate included in the bill.