ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 486	By:	Simpson, Marlatt, Ivester, Standridge, Fields and Shortey of the Senate

			and

		Ownbey of the House

[ higher education - 9/11 G.I. Bill - education benefits - certain military children - eligibility - codification - effective date - 		emergency ]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3248 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma 9/11 G.I. Bill".
SECTION 2.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3248.1 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  A one hundred percent (100%) disabled veteran of any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Air Force, the United States Coast Guard or the Oklahoma National Guard, whose injuries were sustained while on active duty and in the performance of his or her duties and his or her spouse and children shall be entitled to attend any state-supported technology center school operating under the State Board of Career and Technology Education or any institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education without payment of tuition or fees.  To be eligible, the injury resulting in a disability shall have occurred after September 11, 2001.
B.  To be eligible for the benefits provided by subsection A of this section, a student seeking waiver of tuition and fees shall:
1.  Provide the state-supported technology center school or institution of higher education in which he or she enrolls proof of disability status from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; and
2.  In the case of a child of a disabled veteran, enroll in the state-supported technology center school or institution of higher education prior to reaching the age of twenty-one (21).
C.  The surviving spouse and children of a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Air Force, the United States Coast Guard or the Oklahoma National Guard who was killed in action or killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to attend any state-supported technology center school operating under the State Board of Career and Technology Education or any institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education without payment of tuition or fees.  To be eligible, the death of the service member shall have occurred after September 11, 2001.
D.  To be eligible for the benefits provided by subsection C of this section, a student seeking waiver of tuition and fees shall:
1.  Provide the state-supported technology center school or institution of higher education in which he or she enrolls proof that Oklahoma was the home of record for the military member; and
2.  In the case of a child of a military member killed in action or the line of duty, enroll in the state-supported technology center school or institution of higher education prior to reaching the age of twenty-one (21).
E.  For purposes of this section, "home of record" means the place where one was living when the person enlisted or was commissioned into the military or reenlisted in the military.
SECTION 3.     AMENDATORY     Section 1, Chapter 290, O.S.L. 2012 (70 O.S. Supp. 2012, Section 3247), is amended to read as follows:
Section 3247.  A.  A student shall be eligible for in-state status regardless of the residency of the student if the student is the dependent child of a:
1.  Person currently serving as a member of the active uniformed military services of the United States on full-time active duty status of more than thirty (30) days and for whom Oklahoma is the home of record; or
2.  Person currently serving as a member of the military reserve on active duty orders of more than thirty (30) days and for whom Oklahoma is the home of record.
B.  A student shall be eligible for in-state status regardless of the residency of the student if the student is eligible for benefits pursuant to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Post 9/11 G.I. Bill.
C.  To be eligible for resident tuition as provided for in subsection subsections A and B of this section and to maintain eligibility, the student shall:
1.  Satisfy admission and retention standards as determined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for the appropriate type of institution;
2.  Have secured admission to and enrolled in a full-time or part-time program of study at an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education;
3.  Be enrolled in a program of study leading to an associate or a baccalaureate degree; and
4.  Be continuously enrolled in a program of study at an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.
C. D.  A student who meets the requirements of this section shall continue to be classified as in-state status for as long as they remain continuously enrolled in a program of study at an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.
D. E.  A student who meets the requirements of this section shall continue to be classified as in-state status even after the person who was serving on active duty has been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable as long as the student remains continuously enrolled in a program of study at an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.
E. F.  For purposes of this section, "home of record" means the place where one was living when the person enlisted or was commissioned into the military or reenlisted in the military.
SECTION 4.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2013.
SECTION 5.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
Passed the Senate the 4th day of March, 2013.

	
	Presiding Officer of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2013.

	
	Presiding Officer of the House
	of Representatives