HCS HB 1078 -- TUITION GRANTS

SPONSOR:  Jackson (Cunningham, 145)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Veterans
by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute allows the spouse and children of a soldier who
is killed in action after September 11, 2001, or who becomes 80%
disabled as the result of an injury sustained in combat action
after September 11, 2001, to receive an educational grant for
tuition at a public or private college or university in Missouri.
The Coordinating Board of Higher Education can award up to 25
grants annually.  If the waiting list of eligible survivors
exceeds 50, the board can ask the General Assembly to increase
the number of grants it is authorized to award.  The tuition
grant cannot exceed what is charged a resident by the University
of Missouri-Columbia.  The veteran must have been a Missouri
resident at the time of death or injury in order for his or her
survivors to receive this grant.  In addition to the full cost of
tuition, the grant includes $2,000 per semester for room and
board and the actual cost of books up to $500 per semester.

Children are eligible to receive the scholarship until age 25.
Spouses are eligible until age 45.  No eligible student will
receive a grant for more than 100% of tuition when combined with
similar funds given to the student.

The provisions of the substitute will expire six years from the
effective date.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Effect on General Revenue Fund of an
income of $0 to a cost of $270,275 in FY 2007, an income of $0 to
a cost of $283,800 in FY 2008, and an income of $0 to a cost of
$298,000 in FY 2009.  No impact on Other State Funds in FY 2007,
FY 2008, and FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will allow any
surviving spouse or child of a veteran killed or injured in
action after September 11, 2001, to receive a scholarship to any
college or university in Missouri.  The family of a deceased
veteran receives very little monetary compensation and the state
has an obligation to help them.  Currently, 25 Missourians have
been killed in action since September 11, 2001.  A very limited
number of people will be eligible for this assistance, so the
cost shouldn't be prohibitive.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Cunningham (145);
Marine Corps League, Department of Missouri; Military Officers
Association of America, State Council; Missouri Association of
Veterans Organizations; American Legion, Department of Missouri;
Missouri National Guard Association; Missouri Veterans
Commission; and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States,
Missouri Department.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Alice Hurley, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:42 am