Citations Affected: IC 21-41-9.
Synopsis: Veteran education programs. Requires each state
educational institution 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 reasonable
fitness facility accommodations 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 access to counseling services or resources to veteran students
who are disabled or suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder; and
(5) develop job search assistance 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 favoring 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 and Career
Development.
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
military and veterans.
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 concerning
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 have served
or are serving in the national guard.
(8) Coordinate activities, seminars, and programs for veteran
students presented by veterans organizations listed in
IC 10-18-8-1.
(9) Coordinate campus activities and social events designed
for veteran students.
(10) Develop programs to assist veteran students to find
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 in IC 21-16-2, each state
educational institution shall develop a hiring preference policy
favoring veteran students for employment by the state educational
institution for positions available to students of the state
educational institution.
(b) For a veteran student to be eligible for a hiring preference
under a policy developed under subsection (a), 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 serving in the armed forces or national guard.
(c) A state educational institution may make reasonable
exemptions from a hiring preference policy developed under
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.