hb3065 intr

H. B. 3065

(By Delegates Smirl, Sobonya,
Howard, Hamilton and Sumner)

[Introduced February 19, 2003 ; referred to the

Committee on Education.]

A BILL to amend and reenact section seven-a, article ten, chapter eighteen-b of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to tuition and fee waivers for residents at least sixty-five years old; providing that the term "course or class" includes courses offered on-line via the internet.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That section seven-a, article ten, chapter eighteen-b of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 10. FEES AND OTHER MONEY COLLECTED AT STATE INSTITUTIONS
OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
§18B-10-7a. Tuition and fee waivers or adjustments for residents at least sixty-five years old.

The board of trustees and the board of directors shall promulgate a joint rule in accordance with article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code that establishes a reduced tuition and fee program for senior citizens. The joint rule shall include at least the following:

(a) The program shall include one option for those who attend undergraduate and graduate courses without receiving credit and one option for individuals who attend undergraduate and graduate courses for credit;

(b) A participant under either option of the program shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The participant is a resident of West Virginia;

(2) The participant is sixty-five years of age or older;

(3) Classroom space is available; and

(4) The instructor of the class consents;

(d) A determination of whether to require participants to pay special fees, including laboratory fees, if the fees are required of all other students;

(e) A determination of whether to require participants to pay for parking;

(f) For participants in the program under the no credit option:

(1) A grade or credit may not be given; and

(2) The total tuition and fees charged for each course or class, excluding laboratory and parking fees, may not exceed fifty dollars: Provided, That after the first day of July, two thousand four, the governing boards may by joint rule change the maximum fee: Provided, however, That for the purposes of this section "course or class" additionally includes on-line courses or classes offered via the internet; and

(g) For participants in the program under the for credit option, tuition and fee rates may not exceed fifty percent of the normal rates charged to state residents by the institution.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide that the term "course or class" includes courses offered on-line via the internet in relation to tuition and fee waivers provided for senior citizens at state institutions of higher education.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.