House sends Burns bill to Senate; measure would provide in-state tuition for students in deployed military families

HARRISBURG, May 24 – A bill authored by state Rep. Frank Burns that would require Pennsylvania’s public colleges and universities to offer continued in-state tuition rates to students in military families who are deployed or reassigned out of state received unanimous House support today.

“Military families can’t control the dynamics of their lives when engaged in serving our nation,” Burns said. “Students shouldn’t be penalized for their families having to answer the call of duty. My bill would make sure they aren’t.”

As amended, the bill would guarantee in-state tuition rates to military families as soon as a student enrolls or registers at a Pennsylvania community college or submits an enrollment deposit to one of Pennsylvania’s four-year state-related, state-owned or private university that receives a state appropriation, even if their military parent is later reassigned out of state.

“Now that the House has unanimously agreed this bill is a good idea yet another time, I encourage the Senate to take action on this bill so it can become law and help students in military families,” Burns said. “This is a small tangible benefit we can provide to honor those who serve, and I encourage the Senate to consider that and finally act on this bill.”

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.