Missouri bill eyes tuition help for dependents of servicemembers killed in active duty
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A central Missouri senator is proposing legislation this session to support children, stepchildren and spouses of disabled veterans and servicemembers killed in active duty through a new college tuition assistance program.
A first reading was held Wednesday for legislation sponsored by Sen. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) which seeks to create the "Missouri Disabled Veterans' Dependents Tuition Waiver" program to provide college tuition waivers for children, stepchildren, and spouses of certain veterans.
Waivers would available for eligible dependents of members of the Armed Forces who died on active duty, died of a service-connected disability, died after discharge from the military as a result of injury or illness, is rated as permanently and totally disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or is classified as missing in action or a prisoner of war.
Senate Bill No. 1048 covers any state college or university or public community college receiving appropriations from the state for operating expenses, with tuition awards going as high as what the University of Missouri-Columbia charges a Missouri resident, which is $15,548 to $19,516 for 12 to 18 credit hours. The bill does not specifically list coverage for housing and dining fees.
A tuition waiver would be valid for one degree, diploma, or certificate from a community college and one baccalaureate degree from a state college or university. The legislation, which
Children and stepchildren of veterans must be under 26 years old to qualify, unless the dependent serves on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States, in which case the eligibility period can be extended by five years to the person's 31st birthday.
The Missouri Veterans Commission would work with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to implement the provisions of the act, including establishing the application process and certifying future applicants.
The bill does not specify how much in state funding would be appropriated each year for waivers.
Any student who receives a waiver would also be ineligible for any other state-funded veteran-dependent tuition grant, waiver, or scholarship, such as the Wartime Veteran's Survivors Grant Program or the Survivors of Vietnam Veterans Scholarship Program.
