48-3601. Certain servicemembers, veterans and dependents deemed residents for purpose of tuition and fees. (a) A current member of the armed forces of the United States or the member's spouse or dependent child who is enrolled or has been accepted for admission at a postsecondary educational institution as a postsecondary student shall be deemed to be a resident of the state for the purpose of tuition and fees for attendance at such postsecondary educational institution.

(b) A person is entitled to pay tuition and fees at an institution of higher education at the rates provided for Kansas residents without regard to the length of time the person has resided in the state if the person:

(1) (A) Files a letter of intent to establish residence in the state with the postsecondary educational institution at which the person intends to register; (B) lives in the state while attending the postsecondary educational institution; and (C) is eligible for benefits under the federal post-9/11 veterans educational assistance act of 2008, 38 U.S.C. § 3301 et seq., or any other federal law authorizing educational benefits for veterans;

(2) (A) is a veteran; (B) was permanently stationed in Kansas during service in the armed forces or had established residency in Kansas prior to service in the armed forces; and (C) lives in Kansas at the time of enrollment; or

(3) (A) is the spouse or dependent of a veteran who was permanently stationed in Kansas during such veteran's service in the armed forces or had established residency in Kansas prior to service in the armed forces; and (B) lives in Kansas at the time of enrollment.

(c) As used in this section:

(1) "Armed forces" means the army, navy, marine corps, air force, coast guard, Kansas army or air national guard or any branch of the military reserves of the United States;

(2) "postsecondary educational institution" means the same as provided in K.S.A. 74-3201b, and amendments thereto;

(3) "school year 2015-2016" means July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016; and

(4) "veteran" means a person who has been separated from the armed forces and was honorably discharged or received a general discharge under honorable conditions.

(d) Any person enrolled in a postsecondary educational institution at any time during school year 2015-2016 who would have been entitled to tuition and fee rates for a Kansas resident pursuant to subsection (b)(2) or (3) had such subsection been in effect, but who paid more than such tuition and fee rates for school year 2015-2016 shall be entitled to reimbursement of the difference between any tuition and fee rates such person paid for school year 2015-2016 and the tuition and fee rate such person would have paid as a Kansas resident if such subsection had been in effect.

(e) This section shall be part of and supplemental to chapter 48 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.

History: L. 2015, ch. 76, § 3; L. 2016, ch. 21, § 1; July 1.