NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 5/1/2015.
      
      
      HOUSE BILL 15-1294
      
      
      BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Lee and Keyser, Esgar, Lebsock, Carver,
      Lontine, Primavera, Ryden, Salazar, Sias, Tate, Thurlow, Tyler, Williams,
      Young, Arndt, Brown, Buckner, Conti, Danielson, DelGrosso, Duran,
      Fields, Garnett, Ginal, Hamner, Kraft-Tharp, McCann, Melton,
      Mitsch Bush, Moreno, Pabon, Pettersen, Priola, Rankin, Rosenthal, Roupe,
      Singer, Wilson, Windholz, Hullinghorst;
      also SENATOR(S) Todd and Hill, Aguilar, Carroll, Cooke, Crowder,
      Donovan, Garcia, Grantham, Guzman, Heath, Holbert, Jahn, Johnston,
      Jones, Kefalas, Kerr, Lambert, Lundberg, Marble, Martinez Humenik,
      Merrifield, Neville T., Newell, Roberts, Scheffel, Scott, Sonnenberg,
      Woods.
      
      
      Concerning alignment of state law regarding in-state tuition
           classification with the federal "Veterans Access, Choice,
           and Accountability Act of 2014".
      
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 23-7-108.6 as
      follows:
      
           23-7-108.6.  Tuition classification for veterans pursuant to
      federal law. (1)  Notwithstanding any provision of this article to
      the contrary, beginning with any courses enrolled as of July 1,
      2015, the governing board of each state institution of higher
      education shall adopt a policy granting in-state tuition status to
      "covered individuals", as defined in section 702 of the "Veterans
      Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014", 38 U.S.C. sec.
      3679, as may be amended, and as determined by the United States
      department of veterans affairs.
      
           (2)  A covered individual must be classified as an in-state
      student for tuition purposes if:
      
           (a)  The covered individual resides in Colorado while
      enrolled in the institution, regardless of the length of time the
      covered individual resided in Colorado prior to enrolling in the
      institution; and
      
           (b)  The covered individual enrolls in courses with
      educational assistance benefits pursuant to chapter 30 or 33 of
      U.S.C. title 38.
      
           (3)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this
      section to the contrary, a student who qualified as a covered
      individual and who has exhausted his or her educational
      assistance benefits pursuant to chapter 30 or 33 of U.S.C. title 38
      must continue to be classified as an in-state student for tuition
      purposes so long as the student continues to reside in Colorado
      and remains continuously enrolled in the same institution.
      
           (4)  Beginning July 1, 2015, upon classification pursuant to
      this section, the covered individual is also eligible to receive a
      stipend from the college opportunity fund pursuant to part 2 of
      article 18 of this title.
      
           (5)  A covered individual that is classified as an in-state
      student solely pursuant to this section shall not be counted as
      a resident student for any other purpose other than tuition
      classification.
      
           SECTION 2.  Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,
      determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
      preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.
      
      
      
      
      ________________________________________________________
      Dickey Lee Hullinghorst                Bill L. Cadman
      SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE                     PRESIDENT OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Marilyn Eddins                      Cindi L. Markwell
      CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE                 SECRETARY OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO