MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2015 Regular Session

To: Universities and Colleges; Appropriations

By: Representative Mettetal

House Bill 578

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-103-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE PROVISIONS OF LAW THAT AUTHORIZE IN-STATE TUITION FOR NONRESIDENT STUDENTS WHO ARE UNITED STATES VETERANS; TO AUTHORIZE IN-STATE TUITION FOR PERSONS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VETERANS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER TITLE 38 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 37-103-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     37-103-25.  (1)  The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the boards of trustees of the community colleges and junior colleges are authorized to prescribe the amount of tuition and fees to be paid by students attending the several state-supported institutions of higher learning and community colleges and junior colleges of the State of Mississippi.

     (2)  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and subsections (3) and (4) of this section, the total tuition to be paid by residents of other states shall not be less than the average cost per student from appropriated funds.  However, the tuition to be paid by a resident of another state shall be equal to the tuition amount established under subsection (1) of this section if:

 * * *  (a)  The nonresident student was born in the State of Mississippi but subsequently relocated and resided outside the state as a minor under the care of the minor's father or mother, or both;

          ( * * *ba)  The nonresident student is either a veteran * * * who served in the Armed Forces of the United States, as defined by Title 38 of the United States Code, or a person entitled to education benefits under Title 38 of the United States Code.  This paragraph (a) shall be administered and interpreted in the manner necessary to obtain or retain approval of courses of education by the Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;

 * * *  (c)  The nonresident student is domiciled in Mississippi no later than six (6) months after the nonresident student's separation from service, as evidenced by a Report of Separation from Military Service or other military discharge document, for the purpose of enrolling in a state institution of higher learning or a community or junior college;

          ( * * *db)  The nonresident student is an evacuee of an area affected by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita.  This waiver shall be applicable to the 2005-2006 school year only; or

          ( * * *ec)  The nonresident student's out-of-state tuition was waived according to subsection (3) or (4) of this section.

(3)  The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning may, in its discretion, consider and grant requests to approve institution specific policies permitting the waiver of out-of-state tuition when such an official request is made by the president or chancellor of the institution and when such request is determined by the board to be fiscally responsible and in accordance with the educational mission of the requesting institution.

     (4)  The board of trustees of any community college or junior college may develop and implement a policy for waiving out-of-state tuition for the college if the policy is determined by the board to be in accordance with the educational mission of the college and if a local industry or business or a state agency agrees to reimburse the college for the entire amount of the out-of-state tuition that will be waived under the policy.  State funds shall be allocated and spent only on students who reside within the State of Mississippi.  However, associate degree nursing students who reside outside the State of Mississippi may be counted for pay purposes.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

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