Transcript 2009 Legislative Session

Hazlewood Exemption
and
Program Update
December 2009
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Purpose
To encourage Texas veterans and family
members to pursue a higher education by
providing an exemption from payment of tuition
and most fees to eligible Texas veterans and
their (eligible) dependent children and spouses.
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Hazlewood Basics
• Provides exemptions from tuition and fees
(no deposit and student service fees) for
150 SCH; unlimited contact (clock) hours.
• Courses at public institutions that receive
formula funding (distance learning course
may qualify); school’s board may choose
to allow exemption for other courses (non
formula-funded; such as: continuing ed).
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Hazlewood Basics Continued
• For qualified veterans who:
– served at least 181 days active military service (excluding
training);
– honorable discharge/separation or general discharge under
honorable conditions.
• For children and spouses of TX members of military :
– Killed in the line of duty or died as a result of
injuries/illness related to service;
– 100% unemployable due to service-related disabilities
• To use the benefit, vets or dependents complete the
appropriate application; submit to institution.
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New Eligibility Requirements for
Veterans
Veterans must meet one of three requirements at
time of entry into service:
– Resident of TX;
– Designated TX as Home of Record on DD214;
OR,
– Entered the service in the state of Texas.
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Eligibility Requirements for a
Veteran’s Child or Spouse
Eligible dependent (child or spouse) of a member
of U.S. Armed Services or Texas Nat’l Guard or
Texas Air Nat’l Guard:
– Who were killed or missing in action;
– Who died while in service;
– Whose death is documented to be servicerelated; or
– Who are rated at 100% unemployable due to
service-related disability.
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Supporting Documentation
Appropriate Hazlewood application
Plus:
a. DD214 for the veteran, or
b. DD1300 for surviving dependent; or,
c. a Rating Decision Letter for the dependent of
a qualified disabled vet.
d. Ed Benefits letter (CH 33)
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Documenting Unemployability
Documentation available through VA Regional
Office in Waco.
To issue a letter, VA requires a signed request
from the veteran. Website: www.va.gov
This request can be faxed to their office at:
FAX: 1-254-299-9734
Phone: 1-800-827-1000
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Types of Applications
 HE-V App packet for Veterans who have never
used the Exemption
 HE-D App packet for eligible Dependent
Children and Spouses who have never used the
Exemption
 HE-P App packet for Previous Exemption
Recipients (Veterans, Children, and Spouse)
Note: All Applications must be submitted to the institution’s Veterans’
Education Office or Financial Aid Office
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Legacy Act
Allows veteran to assign unused hours to a child.
Eligible child must be:
–
Biological, step-child, or adopted child, or
claimed as “dependent” child on federal
income tax return (preceding or current
year).
–
Resident of Texas
–
25 years or younger, unless granted
extension due to debilitating illness or
condition
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Legacy Act Continued
Example:
• An eligible veteran who has never used Hazlewood has
150 SCH (School Credit Hours) to use or transfer to an
eligible child.
• An eligible veteran who has used 50 Hazlewood hours
would have the balance of 100 SCH to use or transfer to
an eligible child.
Note: If a veteran is (technically) not eligible for HW due to
receiving CH33, he/she may still transfer up to 150 hours
(or the amount that is unused)
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Legacy Applications
 HE-V must be on file at institution (proves vet’s
eligibility)
 TUHH App Packet for the Transfer of Unused
Hours to Eligible Child
 HE-T App Packet for a Child who has received
Transferred Hours
Note: All Applications must be submitted to the institution’s
Veterans’ Education Office or Financial Aid Office
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Database Login
For schools (via CB main website):
https://www1.thecb.state.tx.us/apps/HSH/
For students (via Hazlewood Fact Sheet):
https://www1.thecb.state.tx.us/Apps/HSH/students/
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Hazlewood Tracking of 150 SCH
• Schools report Hazlewood hours through the
CBM001 (enrollment) reports each semester;
code students as Hazlewood recipients.
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Hazlewood on the Web
• www.collegeforalltexans.com
• Home /Get All the Facts /Paying For College
/Types of Financial Aid / Exemptions for Texas
Veterans (Hazlewood Exemption)
• Home/ Make A Plan/ For Military and Veterans
/Exemptions for Texas Veterans
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81ST LEGISLATURE
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Hazlewood Changes SB93
– At time of entry into service, member must:
– Be resident of TX, or
– Designate TX as Home of Record, or
– Have Place of Entry Texas
(replaces requirement to be “citizens of TX”)
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Changes SB93 continued
• Expands eligibility to spouses…
• of veterans killed in line of duty, MIA or
100% unemployable due to service-related
disability; and
• of National Guard Members killed in service
of the state or US or 100% unemployable
due to service-related disability.
• Spouses must be residents of Texas when
using the exemption.
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Changes SB93 continued
• Establishes “Legacy” program:
• Allows vet to assign unused hours to a child;
• If first child does not use all hours, balance can be
assigned to another child;
• Child must be:
– stepchild, biological,or adopted child or claimed
as dependent (previous or current year);
– less than 26 (hardship extensions possible);
and
– meet FA satisfactory academic progress
(except for minimum hour per term
requirement).
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Changes SB93 continued
• Stacking with federal benefits
– To allow stacking, federal benefits that can be
used ONLY for paying tuition and fees may
not exceed Hazlewood exemption value.
Limits issue to Title 38, Chapter 33 benefits.
– Federal benefits for various costs including
tuition and fees are not relevant.
– Combination Federal benefits for tuition and
fees and Hazlewood may not exceed tuition
and fee charges for the term.
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New Fee Charges SB847
• Extraordinary Cost Programs (54.203 (g))
– All public 2-year institutions may charge
Hazlewood-students a fee for courses with
extraordinary costs
– Extraordinary costs = tuition and fee costs
that exceed the average charges; ex- flight
training
– Previously, only community/jr. colleges were
permitted to charge students for the fees
associated with high-cost programs.
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New Waiver & Exemption
SB 297
• Combat exemption from tuition only:
– For dependent children (including
stepchildren) of US Armed Forces members
deployed on active duty for the purpose of
engaging in a combative military operation
outside the United State.
– Child must be a resident of Texas or entitled
to pay the resident tuition rate.
– Effective with charges for fall 2009.
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New Waiver & Exemption
.
SB 297 continued
• Waiver of nonresident tuition:
– Member must be eligible for federal veterans
benefits
– Applies to member, spouse and children
(including stepchildren)
– Provide school letter of intent to make TX home,
and reside in TX while attending college
– Child must be <=25, unless granted a hardship
waiver due to severe illness or debilitating
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condition
For More Information
On the web:
www.Collegeforalltexans.com ,
Select “Contact”
By Email:
[email protected]
By Phone:
Inside Austin 512-427-6340
Outside Austin 1-800-242-3062, option 3, 1
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