Bill Text: IN HB1134 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Combat to College Program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-01-10 - First reading: referred to Committee on Education [HB1134 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2013-HB1134-Introduced.html
Citations Affected: IC 21-41-9.
Synopsis: Combat to College Program. Requires state educational
institutions to establish a combat to college program (program).
Requires a state educational institution to: (1) provide a centralized
location for admissions, registration, and financial administration
services for veteran students; (2) provide, for veteran students who are
disabled, reasonable accommodations at a state educational institution's
fitness facility; (3) develop programs to provide academic guidance
specifically for veteran students; (4) develop programs to provide
access to counseling services or resources to veteran students who are
disabled or suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder; and (5)
develop job search programs designed for veteran students. Requires
each state educational institution to designate a program coordinator.
Requires a state educational institution to establish a hiring preference
policy for veteran students. Requires a state educational institution to
provide postsecondary credit for military training if the American
Council of Education recommends that postsecondary credit should be
provided for the military training.
Effective: July 1, 2013.
January 10, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
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A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
military and veterans.
Chapter 9. Combat to College Program
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "armed forces" has the meaning set forth in IC 10-17-12-2.
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "coordinator" refers to a program coordinator designated under section 9 of this chapter.
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "national guard" means a state's:
(1) army national guard; or
(2) air national guard.
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "postsecondary credit" means credit toward:
(1) an associate degree;
(2) a baccalaureate degree; or
(3) a career and technical education certification;
granted by a state educational institution.
Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the combat to college program established under section 7 of this chapter.
Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "veteran student" refers to a student enrolled at a state educational institution who has been or is currently serving as a member of the:
(1) armed forces; or
(2) national guard.
Sec. 7. Each state educational institution shall establish a combat to college program to create a positive educational environment for veteran students to successfully graduate from academic and vocational degree programs while recognizing the skills, training, and experiences associated with military service.
Sec. 8. Each state educational institution shall do the following:
(1) To the extent possible exercising financial prudence, provide a centralized location for admissions, registration for classes, and financial administration services for veteran students.
(2) Provide reasonable accommodations at a state educational institution's fitness facility for veteran students who are disabled.
(3) Develop programs to provide academic and career counseling specifically designed for veteran students.
(4) Develop programs to provide reasonable access to specialized counseling services or resources for veteran students who are disabled or veteran students suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder.
(5) Develop job search assistance programs designed for veteran students during the veteran student's enrollment and for at least two (2) years following the veteran student's graduation from the state educational institution.
Sec. 9. (a) Each state educational institution shall designate a program coordinator.
(b) The duties of the coordinator include the following:
(1) Develop programs to create a positive educational environment for veteran students while the veteran student is enrolled at the state educational institution.
(2) Develop training programs for the state educational institution's personnel relating to:
(A) issues associated with identifying and assisting veteran students with posttraumatic stress disorder;
(B) veteran benefits; and
(C) any issue that the coordinator determines will educate
a state educational institution's faculty or staff of the
special needs of veteran students.
(3) Make recommendations to the commission for higher
education established under IC 21-18-2 concerning ways to
improve the education of veteran students.
(4) Coordinate access to stress management, counseling
programs, and other resources available to a veteran student
at the state educational institution.
(5) Coordinate with the Indiana department of veterans'
affairs established by IC 10-17-1-2 to educate veteran students
about state benefits available to Indiana veterans.
(6) Coordinate with the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs to educate veteran students about federal benefits
available to veterans.
(7) Coordinate with the adjutant general or the adjutant
general's designee to educate veteran students about benefits
and programs available to veteran students who served or are
currently serving in the national guard.
(8) Coordinate activities, seminars, and programs for veteran
students presented by a veterans organization listed in
IC 10-18-8-1.
(9) Coordinate campus activities and social events designed
for veteran students.
(10) Develop programs to assist a veteran student to locate
employment.
(11) Develop internship programs designed specifically for
veteran students.
(12) Develop an Internet web site to provide veteran students
access to veteran resources.
Sec. 10. (a) Except as provided under IC 21-16-2, each state
educational institution shall develop a hiring preference policy for
veteran students for employment by the state educational
institution for positions available for students of the state
educational institution.
(b) For a veteran student to be eligible for a hiring preference,
a veteran student must be at least a half-time student (as defined
in IC 21-16-1-12) and:
(1) must have received an honorable discharge from the
armed forces or national guard; or
(2) must be currently serving in the armed forces or national
guard.
(c) A state educational institution may make reasonable
exemptions from the hiring preference policy described in
subsection (a) for teaching positions or positions that may require
a specialized skill.
Sec. 11. Each state educational institution shall provide
postsecondary credit to a veteran student for the veteran student's
military training while serving in the armed forces or national
guard if the American Council of Education recommends that
postsecondary credit should be provided for that military training.
