Hazlewood Exemption and Program Update

1. Hazlewood Exemption andProgramUpdate December 2009

2. 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.

3. 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).

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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 service-related; or • Who are rated at 100% unemployable due to service-related disability.

7. Supporting Documentation • Appropriate Hazlewood application • Plus: • DD214 for the veteran, or • DD1300 for surviving dependent; or, • a Rating Decision Letter for the dependent of a qualified disabled vet. • Ed Benefits letter (CH 33)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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)

12. Legacy Applications • HE-V must be on file at institution (proves vet’s eligibility) • TUHHApp Packet for the Transfer of Unused Hours to Eligible Child • HE-TApp 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

13. 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/

14. Hazlewood Tracking of 150 SCH • Schools report Hazlewood hours through the CBM001 (enrollment) reports each semester; code students as Hazlewood recipients.

15. 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

20. 81st Legislature

21. 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”)

22. 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.

23. 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).

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. . 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 condition

28. For More Information On the web: www.Collegeforalltexans.com , Select “Contact” By Email: grantinfo@thecb.state.tx.us By Phone: Inside Austin 512-427-6340 Outside Austin 1-800-242-3062, option 3, 1