§ 28-42-81. Tuition costs. (a) Any individual who receives any sums as benefits pursuant to chapters 42 - 44 of this title whose household income is less than three (3) times the federal poverty level as established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and who may not be claimed as a dependent for federal income tax purposes, shall be eligible to enroll in any course, for credit, in any college or university operated by the state, without the payment of any tuition or registration fees; provided, that any person eligible for financial aid, as determined by the institution of higher education, shall apply for financial aid. Any financial aid award received by the applicant shall be applied toward the full amount of tuition that would otherwise have been charged by the college or university. This section shall not be applicable in any course without a vacancy, nor shall the registration of any such individual(s) be considered in determining the minimum number of students necessary for a given course to be offered. The enrollment shall not deem the individual to be ineligible for any benefits for which he or she would have otherwise been eligible. Any individual who enrolls in any course pursuant to this section shall still be required to comply with § 28-44-12.

(b) Any individual who has exhausted benefits within a sixty (60) day period before the start of a class for which that individual has registered in a state college or university shall be eligible for benefits pursuant to this section.

(c) Any individual whose tuition benefits have become exhausted after he or she has started a class in a state college or university, shall be eligible for continuation of tuition benefits pursuant to this section until the completion of the class.

History of Section. (G.L. 1956, § 28-42-78; P.L. 1986, ch. 374, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 65, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 138, art. 52, § 2.)