Senate Bill 59 aims to amend the residency requirements for the tuition and fee remission program for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System and technical colleges. Currently, veterans and their spouses and children aged 17 to 25 are eligible for full remission of tuition and fees if they meet specific residency criteria, including a five-year residency requirement prior to enrollment. The bill proposes to eliminate this five-year residency requirement for veterans who were not residents of Wisconsin when they entered military service. Instead, it allows these veterans to qualify for tuition remission if they are residents of Wisconsin immediately before registering for classes. Additionally, the spouses and children of such veterans can also qualify for remission under similar conditions.

The bill introduces new language to clarify that nonresident tuition, academic fees, and segregated fees will be covered under the remission program, and it specifies that eligibility for remission does not depend on whether the veteran or their dependents would otherwise qualify as resident students for tuition purposes. The changes aim to broaden access to educational benefits for veterans and their families, making it easier for them to pursue higher education in Wisconsin.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 36.27(3n)(a)1m.a, 36.27, 36.27(3n)(a)1m.b, 36.27(3n)(b)(intro.), 36.27(3n)(bd), 36.27(3n)(bg), 36.27(3n)(bm), 36.27(3n)(c), 36.27(3p)(a)1r.(intro.), 38.24(7)(a)1m.a, 38.24, 38.24(7)(a)1m.b, 38.24(7)(a)1p, 38.24(7)(b)(intro.), 38.24(7)(bd), 38.24(7)(bg), 38.24(7)(bm), 38.24(8)(a)1r.(intro.)