HB 5544 Summary

• Expands tuition and student fee waivers for veterans with service in time of war at regional community-technical colleges and Connecticut State University System, applying to those with honorable discharge and state domicile of less than one year.

• Modifies Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act provisions to waive tuition and student fees for amounts exceeding federal educational benefits received by veterans.

• Changes governance structure by replacing "Board of Trustees" language with "Board of Regents for Higher Education" across community-technical colleges, state universities, and University of Connecticut.

• Requires state reimbursement for tuition and student fee waivers exceeding 5% of revenue for community colleges and 2.5% for state universities and UConn through annual appropriations.

• Effective July 1, 2021 for all provisions affecting sections 10a-77, 10a-99, 10a-105, and 31-11ss regarding higher education tuition waivers.