(a) For purposes of this section, a public institution of higher education includes public two-year and four-year institutions of higher education and postsecondary technical colleges, community colleges, and junior colleges located in the state.
(b) A public institution of higher education may waive undergraduate tuition and fees for each veteran who is the recipient of the Purple Heart and who satisfies all of the following:
(1) Is enrolled as a full-time, part-time, or summer school student in an undergraduate program that culminates in a degree or certificate.
(2) Is currently, and was at the time of the military action that resulted in the awarding of the Purple Heart, a resident of this state.
(3) Submits to the public institution of higher education the DD-214 form issued at the time of separation from service as documentation that he or she has received the Purple Heart.
(c) The waiver provided to the recipient of a Purple Heart may be applicable for up to 125 percent of the number of required credit hours of the degree or certificate program for which the veteran is enrolled. Nothing in this section shall be construed to lower, or make an exception to, the admission and retention standards or requirements of a public institution of higher education affected by this section. Any veteran, in order to obtain and retain the educational benefits of this section, shall satisfy all scholastic and other requirements for entrance into and continuing enrollment in the applicable public institution of higher education.
(d) The benefits provided by this section shall be in addition to all other benefits provided by law and shall only be available to an eligible veteran after he or she has utilized all other educational benefits, excluding any benefit that is partially funded by the veteran, such as those benefits provided in the federal Montgomery GI Bill, also known as Chapter 30.
Last modified: May 3, 2021