HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3964        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1354

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael J. Moran, (BY REQUEST)

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to veteran tuition.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Tim Wallis

158 Brayton Rd, Boston MA 02135

2/12/2021

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

2/26/2021


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3964        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1354

By Mr. Moran of Boston (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1354) of Tim Wallis  and Michelle M. DuBois relative to the Board of Higher Education creating a centralized system for connecting federal funding benefits for higher education and to further regulate tuition for veterans.  Higher Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to veteran tuition.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 45:  VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Recognizing that traditional degree seeking programs and institutions are not a one size fits all educational policy, the board of higher education shall include institutions that provide vocational training in its scope of administration as higher education.  Vocational training includes training for occupations that meet one or more of the following criteria:

1.Any occupation that requires a license regardless of any classroom instructional requirements.

2.Any occupation that requires an apprenticeship.

3.Any occupation that is primarily organized with union representation.

4.Any occupation that requires either a written or practical assessment under state or federal laws.

5.Any occupation that requires being bonded and/or insured.

SECTION 46:  EASY ACCESS PROVISION

The Board of Higher Education shall be tasked with the creation of a centralized state-wide system for connecting federal funding benefits for individuals with state-wide institutions of higher education.  This includes the planning and funding of programs that allow for the choice and approval of an educational program rather than individual class selection and approval.

The Board of Higher Education shall develop a “one-stop” higher educational access portal.  This should be a publicly available and secure online portal for individuals to be able to access all educational and occupational training resources.

SECTION 47:  VETERAN TUITION POLICY

For the purposes of paying tuition, the Board of Higher education shall consider the following veteran statuses as in-state residents, regardless of actual domicile:

Any individual that has been discharged from a branch of the armed forces with one of the following discharge classifications:

1.Honorable discharged.

2.General discharge under honorable conditions.

3.Other than honorable discharge.

Any dependent that has been transferred GI Bill benefits from a parent that was in the armed forces shall be considered an in-state resident.