AN ACT to provide for partial waiver of tuition fees for all members of the national guard in any postsecondary educational program; and to provide an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.) This Act may be cited and shall be known as the "North Dakota National Guard Tuition Waiver Act".
SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND PURPOSE.) The purpose of this Act is to recognize the vital role of the national guard in the state. While the national guard is subject to federal control during periods of national emergency, it is organized, trained, and equipped to perform military functions and to aid civil authorities in the protection of life and property while it is subject to the control of the state.
The purpose of this Act is to encourage voluntary membership in the guard, improve the educational level of its members, and thereby benefit the state as a whole.
SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS.) As used in this Act, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires:
- "School" means any university, college, vocational school, technical school, or postsecondary educational institution.
- "State-controlled school" means any school which is controlled, financially supported, and operated by the state, a school district, or any other political subdivision.
- "Tuition" means the normal registration fee. It does not include graduation, activity, or incidental fees, book rental, laboratory, service, supply, union building, hospital and medical insurance fees, or any fees established for the operation and maintenance of buildings, the income of which is pledged for the payment of interest and principal on bonds issued by the governing board of any school.
SECTION 4. WAIVER OF TUITION FEES - TERM OF WAIVER.) Any member of the national guard who shall enroll in any state-controlled school shall, subject to the limitations of available funds appropriated in section 9 of this Act and subject to national guard regulations which may be promulgated by the adjutant general, be entitled to the waiver of seventy-five percent of the tuition fees of the school. The waiver shall be valid only so long as the member of the national guard maintains satisfactory performance with the guard and pursues a course of study in a manner which satisfies the normal requirements of the school.
SECTION 5. LIMITATIONS.) The waiver of tuition fees shall not be available to any member of the national guard who shall have less than one year of service obligation to the nation guard remaining at the beginning of each semester or academic term for which a waiver of tuition fees is requested.
SECTION 6. APPLICATION FOR WAIVER.) It shall be the responsibility of the individual member of the national guard to obtain a certificate from the adjutant general or the adjutant general's designee attesting to satisfactory guard performance and to present the certificate to the school in order to obtain a waiver of tuition fees. The certification shall be accomplished at the time of enrollment for each semester or academic term for which a waiver of tuition fees is requested.
SECTION 7. REIMBURSEMENT OF TUITION FEE WAIVED.) The adjutant general shall reimburse the appropriate school for two-thirds of all tuition fees waived under the provision of this Act.
SECTION 8. REGULATIONS.) The adjutant general may adopt, amend, and rescind any national guard regulations pursuant to chapter 28-31 deemed necessary to implement and administer this Act.
SECTION 9. APPROPRIATION.) There is hereby appropriated out of any moneys in the Vietnam veterans adjusted compensation fund, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $250,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to the adjutant general for the purpose of reimbursing appropriate schools for any tuition fees waived under this Act for the biennium beginning July 1, 1977, and ending June 30, 1979.