University officials plead with lawmakers to fund millions in vets’ education mandate

[TexasTowelie]

AUSTIN—University officials urged key lawmakers Tuesday to start sharing the tab for a veterans’ tuition benefits program, known as the Hazlewood Act.

University of Texas System Chancellor Bill McRaven, a former Navy SEAL, told lawmakers that while he supports the exemption for veterans, the program is burdensome to colleges and non-qualifying students. At UT, for example, the exemption has cost the system more than $40 million, he said.

“Clearly we can’t absorb that kind of money,” McRaven said during a Senate Finance Committee hearing. “When the state is not in a position to be able to provide us those funds then invariably it comes back and that tax goes on to other students that are coming in.”

Several state university presidents echoed his remarks.

Read more: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/02/university-officials-plead-with-lawmakers-to-fund-millions-in-vets-education-mandate.html/

[Downwinder]

1. Unfunded mandates are fine when

you are the one making them.

[white cloud]

2. Maybe I am confused on State and federal bills?

The Act provides tuition and fee exemptions from state public universities for military veterans, their spouses and their children. In 2009, lawmakers expanded the program to allow veterans who haven’t exhausted the benefit to transfer their credit hours to a dependent younger than 25.

I believe this was a federal bill (Webb/McCain passed) in summer of 2008? McCain and Bush wanted the bill changed to increase retention of personnel.

NOT STATE HAZELWOOD act?