1 Postsecondary Educational Assistance; Definitions. Amend RSA 110-B:63-b, III-VI to read as follows:

III. "Educational assistance" means the waiver of the tuition cost of a course at a state-supported postsecondary institution, provided that there is space available in that course.

IV. "New Hampshire national guard" means federally-recognized units of the New Hampshire national guard.

V. *"Space available" means any allocated seating in a course not filled by paying students.

VI.* "Tuition" means the total semester, quarter, or classroom hour cost of instruction to the student as established by the university system board of trustees or the board of trustees of the community college system of New Hampshire.

2 Post Educational Assistance; Educational Assistance Authorized; Minimum Requirements. Amend the introductory paragraph and paragraph I of RSA 110-B:63-c to read as follows:

Members of the New Hampshire national guard may take courses tuition-free on a space available basis in state-supported postsecondary institutions. In order to be eligible to receive educational assistance under this subdivision, a member of the New Hampshire national guard shall:

I. Be an active member of the New Hampshire national guard residing either in-state or out-of-state who has completed advanced individual training or commissioning.

3 Postsecondary Educational Assistance: Eligibility. Amend RSA 110-B:63-d to read as follows:

110-B:63-d Eligibility and Space Availability Determinations.

I. Eligibility for educational assistance provided by this subdivision shall be determined and monitored by the adjutant general, who shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, and procedures deemed by the adjutant general to be necessary to carry out and monitor the educational assistance provided by this subdivision.

II. The chancellor of the university system for the university system and the chancellor of the community college system of New Hampshire for the community college system of New Hampshire shall establish policies for determining when a course has space available.

4 Postsecondary Educational Assistance; In-State Tuition for New Hampshire National Guard Nonresidents. Amend RSA 110-B:63-f to read as follows:

110-B:63-f In-State Tuition for New Hampshire National Guard Nonresidents. Any member of the New Hampshire national guard who is an otherwise eligible out-of-state resident who cannot qualify for educational assistance under this subdivision, due to unavailability of space for members attending tuition free, may take such course at the in-state tuition rate.

5 Tuition Waiver for Children in State Foster Care or Guardianship. Amend RSA 187-A:20-b, I to read as follows:

I. An eligible individual who enrolls full-time in a program leading to a certificate, associate, or bachelor degree at any public postsecondary institution within the state shall not be required to pay tuition or fees for attendance at such institution

6 Tuition Waiver for Children in State Foster Care or Guardianship. Amend RSA 187-A:20-b, III(a) to read as follows:

III.(a) Eligible individuals interested in a tuition waiver shall annually apply on forms provided and within the deadlines established by the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire for their respective institutions. No more than 15 tuition waivers per year shall be granted by the university system of New Hampshire and no more than 15 tuition waivers per year shall be granted by the community college system of New Hampshire. The university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire shall have the authority to develop eligibility criteria for their respective institutions designed to give the children with the greatest financial need first priority in the tuition waiver program. Such eligibility criteria shall also include provisions for continuing eligibility based on continued full-time , enrollment and satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution.

7 Effective Date.

I. Sections 5 and 6 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2020.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 Postsecondary Educational Assistance; Definitions. Amend RSA 110-B:63-b, III-VI to read as follows:

III. "Educational assistance" means the waiver of the tuition cost of a course at a state-supported postsecondary institution.

IV. "New Hampshire national guard" means federally-recognized units of the New Hampshire national guard.

V. "Tuition" means the total semester, quarter, or classroom hour cost of instruction to the student as established by the university system board of trustees or the board of trustees of the community college system of New Hampshire.

2 Post Educational Assistance; Educational Assistance Authorized; Minimum Requirements. Amend the introductory paragraph and paragraph I of RSA 110-B:63-c to read as follows:

Members of the New Hampshire national guard may take courses tuition-free in state-supported postsecondary institutions. The admission of a New Hampshire national guard member shall be in accordance with the state-supported postsecondary institution 's standard student admissions criteria policies and practices. In order to be eligible to receive educational assistance under this subdivision, a member of the New Hampshire national guard shall:

I. Be a sworn in active member of the New Hampshire national guard residing either in-state or out-of-state .

3 Postsecondary Educational Assistance: Eligibility. Amend RSA 110-B:63-d to read as follows:

110-B:63-d Eligibility Determinations.

Eligibility for educational assistance provided by this subdivision shall be determined and monitored by the adjutant general, who shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, and procedures deemed by the adjutant general to be necessary to carry out and monitor the educational assistance provided by this subdivision.

4 Postsecondary Educational Assistance; In-State Tuition for New Hampshire National Guard Nonresidents. Amend RSA 110-B:63-f to read as follows:

110-B:63-f In-State Tuition for New Hampshire National Guard Nonresidents. Any member of the New Hampshire national guard who is an otherwise eligible out-of-state resident who cannot qualify for educational assistance under this subdivision may take such course at the in-state tuition rate.

5 Tuition Waiver for Children in State Foster Care or Guardianship. Amend RSA 187-A:20-b, I to read as follows:

I. An eligible individual who enrolls full-time or part-time, with the approval of the division for children, youth and families, in a program leading to a certificate, associate, or bachelor degree at any public postsecondary institution within the state shall not be required to pay tuition or mandatory fees for attendance at such institution.

6 Tuition Waiver for Children in State Foster Care or Guardianship. Amend RSA 187-A:20-b, III(a) to read as follows:

III.(a) Eligible individuals interested in a tuition waiver shall annually apply on forms provided and within the deadlines established by the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire for their respective institutions. No more than 15 tuition waivers per year shall be granted by the university system of New Hampshire and no more than 15 tuition waivers per year shall be granted by the community college system of New Hampshire. The university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire shall have the authority to develop eligibility criteria for their respective institutions designed to give the children with the greatest financial need first priority in the tuition waiver program. Such eligibility criteria shall also include provisions for continuing eligibility based on continued full-time or part-time, with the approval of the division for children, youth and families , enrollment and satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution.

7 Effective Date.

I. Sections 5 and 6 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2020.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.