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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to tuition waivers; providing a short

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title; amending s. 1009.26, F.S.; requiring state

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universities and community colleges to waive a percentage

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of the in-state tuition rate for veterans who meet

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specified criteria; providing a percentage cap on the

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number of required credit hours for which a tuition waiver

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may be received; providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Veterans' Tuition

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Assistance Act."

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     Section 2.  Subsection (11) is added to section 1009.26,

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Florida Statutes, to read:

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     1009.26  Fee waivers.--

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     (11) A state university or community college shall waive 50

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percent of the in-state tuition rate for a person who:

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     (a) Is a wartime veteran as defined in s. 1.01(14);

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     (b) Received an honorable discharge;

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     (c) Is enrolled as a full-time, part-time, or summer-school

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student in any vocational or career education course or

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undergraduate program that terminates in a degree or certificate;

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     (d) Is a resident of this state at the time he or she

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applies for the waiver and was a resident of this state for 1

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year prior to such application; and

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     (e) Submits to the state university or the community

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college the DD-214 form issued at the time of separation from

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service or military orders or other documentation issued

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regarding return from active duty as defined in s. 250.01.

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Such a waiver applies to 110 percent of the number of required

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credit hours of the degree or certificate program for which the

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student is enrolled.

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     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.