Senate Bill 640 aims to amend existing laws regarding tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System, technical colleges, and private nonprofit institutions of higher education. The bill proposes to reduce the residency requirement from five years to three years for veterans, their spouses, and children in cases where the veteran was not a resident of Wisconsin at the time of entering military service. This change applies to both the tuition remission program and the grant program administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) for private nonprofit colleges.

Additionally, the bill eliminates the requirement that a veteran must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry into active duty to qualify for the nonresident tuition exemption. This modification is intended to make it easier for veterans to access educational benefits and support, thereby encouraging their enrollment in higher education institutions within the state. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance educational opportunities for veterans and their families by streamlining eligibility criteria for financial assistance.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 36.27(2)(b)4, 36.27, 36.27(3n)(a)1m.a, 36.27(3n)(a)1m.b, 36.27(3n)(bd), 36.27(3p)(a)1r.(intro.), 38.24(7)(a)1m.a, 38.24, 38.24(7)(a)1m.b, 38.24(7)(bd), 38.24(8)(a)1r.(intro.), 39.49(2)(a)2, 39.49