Wyoming panel advances bill to fund University loan program for veterans’ mental health providers

The Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Committee on Oct. 12 advanced Senate File 30, which would create a University of Wyoming-administered loan program to increase the number of mental health providers serving veterans. Major General Greg Porter, the state Adjutant General, introduced the measure and said it aims to “get some additional mental health providers across the state to specifically get after veterans mental health.”

The bill, as described by Lieutenant Colonel Karen Hinkle, senior legal counsel for the Wyoming National Guard, would create Wyoming Statute 21-16-2001 and allow the University of Wyoming to award loans to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are veterans and enrolled in a University of Wyoming master’s program in social work or counseling or a doctoral psychology program. Hinkle said the loans would cover “cost of attendance” as determined by the university and that other federal grants or funding sources would be credited against the loan amount.

Under the bill’s terms, loan repayment could be satisfied by providing mental health care to veterans, with recipients required to spend at least 25% of their working hours delivering mental health services to veterans in Wyoming to qualify for nonmonetary repayment. Hinkle detailed repayment triggers and deferments: repayment timelines begin 45 days after termination of enrollment in certain cases and within 285 days after program completion if a recipient fails to maintain employment providing veteran care; repayment may be deferred for active duty or National Guard service. The statute as drafted would sunset on June 30, 2035.

Representatives of the University of Wyoming raised implementation and funding concerns. A university representative, identified in the record as Mr. Smith, said the program is more generous than existing tuition-only incentive programs because it covers full cost of attendance and is not limited to Wyoming residents. He warned that the bill’s appropriation language “effectively” would reduce UW’s block grant by $250,000 and requested the committee consider funding the program through the general fund instead of directing university block grant dollars. "This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose," Smith noted, and said that language together with the bill’s crediting of repayments to the school foundation program account could shift university funds away from trustee-controlled priorities.

Committee members debated eligibility criteria tied to military discharges. Senators asked whether the bill’s reference to veterans discharged “under conditions other than dishonorable” would include those with other-than-honorable characterizations. Hinkle and Major General Porter explained the range of separation characterizations and that the current draft would exclude only those with dishonorable discharges adjudicated by court-martial. Some senators sought a higher eligibility floor to exclude other-than-honorable separations; an amendment to expand the exclusion failed. Lawmakers also proposed and adopted amendments that altered the bill’s funding mechanics: a proposed amendment removing the appropriation language and leaving funding decisions to the general fund passed, and a later conforming amendment directed that any unspent monies be deposited to the general fund rather than the school foundation program account.

Public testimony included veterans and county residents supporting the measure. Bill Winnie of Sublette County, a 30-year Navy veteran, said the measure would complement peer programs and provide advanced-degree clinicians who could address suicide risk and substance-use issues among veterans.

After debate and amendments, the committee approved the bill on a voice vote of the committee with a subsequent roll call showing Senators Anderson, Brennan, Cooper, Kohl and Chairman Pappas voting aye. Senator Anderson volunteered to carry the bill to the floor.