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Senate draft expands National Guard tuition benefit to multiple degrees, caps total at twice UVM in‑state tuition
Summary
Legislative Council said the Senate version would allow Guard members to receive multiple undergraduate or graduate degrees and credentials as long as total program payments do not exceed an amount equal to twice the full‑time in‑state tuition at the University of Vermont.
Legislative Council told the House Education Committee on May 14 that the Senate draft of H.480 significantly expands the National Guard Tuition Benefit Program by broadening eligible credentials and raising the program cap.
Beth St. James said current law allowed an individual to receive more than one undergraduate certificate so long as the cost did not exceed full‑time in‑state tuition at the University of Vermont (UVM). The Senate draft would permit multiple undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and other credentials recognized by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) ‘‘provided the total cost does not exceed an amount equal to twice the full‑time in‑state tuition of UVM for an undergraduate bachelor's degree.’’
Representative Bridal asked whether concerns about payments to for‑profit institutions had been addressed; St. James said program definitions in Title 16 and VSAC rules govern eligible institutions and that she did not recall testimony requesting additional appropriations to cover the expansion. Committee members noted the program has an appropriation and that questions about fiscal impact should be directed to VSAC and the Guard, who were scheduled to testify.
St. James also said the Senate draft clarifies earlier session‑law pilot language that had allowed some out‑of‑state enrollments when programs were not available in Vermont.
No immediate fiscal estimate or change to the program appropriation was presented at the briefing; committee members planned to question VSAC and Guard representatives in subsequent testimony.
