The bill amends the Code of West Virginia by adding a new section, 18B-10-7e, which establishes tuition and fee waivers for military veterans, their spouses, and dependents at state institutions of higher education. It defines key terms such as "eligible veteran," "eligible spouse," and "eligible dependent," specifying that an eligible veteran must have a disability rating of at least 50% from the Veterans Administration. The bill mandates that state institutions provide waivers for tuition and mandatory fees under certain conditions, including acceptance into an associate or bachelor's program and the application for other forms of financial assistance, excluding student loans.

To qualify for the waiver, applicants must exhaust all other financial aid sources dedicated to tuition and fees before utilizing the waiver. Additionally, the renewal of the waiver is contingent upon maintaining a minimum grade point average of 2.5. This legislation aims to support service-connected disabled veterans and their families in accessing higher education by alleviating financial burdens associated with tuition and fees.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18B-10-7e
Committee Substitute: 18B-10-7e