UNIVERSITY TUITION FOR VETERANS                                                               H.J.R. N:

                                                                               SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL

                                                                                                         IN COMMITTEE

House Joint Resolution Bill N (as adopted by the House)

Sponsor:  Representative Jim Stamas

House Committee:  Military and Veterans Affairs

Senate Committee:  Appropriations

Date Completed:  5-27-14

CONTENT

House Joint Resolution N would place on the ballot a proposed amendment to Article VIII, Sections 5 and 6 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963. The amendment would require the boards of a public university to consider a student enrolled in that institution a resident of this State for determining his or her tuition rates if the student were a veteran, other than a dishonorably discharged veteran, of the armed forces of the United States.

Pursuant to Article XII, Section 1 of the Constitution, approval of two-thirds of the members elected to and serving in each house of the Legislature is required for the adoption of the House Joint Resolution N. If adopted by the Legislature, the proposal will be submitted to the electors at the next general election.

FISCAL IMPACT

The proposed constitutional amendment would result in an indeterminate loss of tuition revenue depending on the number of veterans who attend each public university and the current policy regarding veterans at the university. The Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan, reports that all Michigan public universities currently have a policy of providing resident tuition rates for veterans; however, each university has its own set of policies and procedures.  

The following table lists FY 2013-14 average tuition and fee rates per credit hour at Michigan public universities for resident and nonresident students.

Michigan Public University FY 2013-14 Average Tuition and Fee Rates
	Resident	Nonresident
Undergraduate	$374.40	$785.30
Masters	$573.08	$944.88
Doctoral	$653.38	$1,086.63

Source:  Higher Education Institutional Data Inventory.

                                                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Bill Bowerman

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.