Amendment ID: S2558-2

Amendment 2

In-state tuition continuity for military-connected college students

Messrs. Velis, Timilty and Tarr move that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting before section 1 the following 2 sections:-

“SECTION A1. The first paragraph of section 9 of chapter 15A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out clause (t), as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following clause:-

(t) issue regulations defining resident of the commonwealth and proof of the same for the purpose of admission and tuition expenses of public institutions of higher education and prepare uniform proofs of residence to be used by all public institutions; provided, however, that insofar as the Massachusetts Maritime Academy is designated a regional maritime academy by the United States Maritime Administration, residents of the states comprising the designated region and attending the Massachusetts Maritime Academy shall be considered Massachusetts residents for the purposes of admission and tuition; provided further, that a person who is: (i) a member of the armed forces of the United States and stationed in the commonwealth on active duty pursuant to military orders; (ii) the spouse of a person who is a member of the armed forces of the United States and stationed in the commonwealth pursuant to military orders; or (iii) an unemancipated person whose parent or guardian is a member of the armed forces of the United States and stationed in the commonwealth pursuant to military orders, shall be considered Massachusetts residents for the purposes of admission and tuition.

SECTION A2. Said chapter 15A is hereby further amended by inserting after section 19½ the following section:-

Section 19¾. A person who is a member of the armed forces of the United States and stationed in the commonwealth pursuant to military orders shall be entitled to classification as an in-state student. Such a person shall not lose classification as an in-state student due to being transferred on military orders, being honorably discharged or retiring while the person is residing in the commonwealth after their acceptance for matriculation at a constituent unit of the state system of higher education in a course of study leading to an associate, bachelor or post-graduate degree.

The spouse of a person who is a member of the armed forces of the United States and stationed in the commonwealth pursuant to military orders shall be entitled to classification as an in-state student. Such a spouse shall not lose classification as an in-state student due to the member being transferred on military orders, being honorably discharged, retiring or dying while the spouse is residing in the commonwealth after the spouse’s acceptance for matriculation at a constituent unit of the state system of higher education in a course of study leading to an associate, bachelor or post-graduate degree.

An unemancipated person whose parent or guardian is a member of the armed forces of the United States and stationed in the commonwealth pursuant to military orders shall be entitled to classification as an in-state student. Such a person shall not lose classification as an in-state student due to their parent or guardian being transferred on military orders, being honorably discharged, retiring or dying while the person is in continuous attendance toward the degree for which the person is currently enrolled; or (ii) the person is residing in the commonwealth after their acceptance for matriculation at a constituent unit of the state system of higher education in a course of study leading to an associate, bachelor or post-graduate degree.”.