Oklahoma Legislature
OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation which cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee this week could expand the number of veterans attending college in Oklahoma.
Senate Bill 1379, filed by Springer Republican Sen. Frank Simpson, would offer in-state tuition status to armed services veterans who are not currently residents of Oklahoma but who file a letter expressing their intent to establish residence and live in the state while seeking a higher education degree. Simpson said the measure could increase the number of veterans seeking degrees in Oklahoma and give them more time to take advantage of their education benefits.
“This bill will allow veterans in Oklahoma more time to take advantage of their G.I. Bill, which helps them be able to transition easier into civilian life when they have a degree or training in a specific field or industry,” Simpson said. “Transitioning from military to civilian life is difficult and it takes time. One of the reasons is veterans have to find a new way to support themselves and their families if they have one.” For many veterans, he said, finding a new job or choosing a new career isn’t easy for anyone but it’s especially hard for those who originally chose to serve their country.
“My bill will give them more time to complete their degree and still be able to enjoy the cheaper in-state tuition for our career techs, colleges and universities,” he said. The measure could have a major impact in Southwestern Oklahoma, home to several military bases and Cameron University. Data from the Oklahoma Works report of Oklahoma State University show that 58 percent of the veterans attending an Oklahoma College were seeking a bachelor’s degree and of that figure 52 percent were first-generation students – meaning they were a college student whose parents did not attend college.
Simpson said his bill would apply to any veteran who has served at least 90 days of active duty in the military. Under the measure, vets would have up to ten years after leaving the military to enroll at an Oklahoma college or university. Nationwide, about 728,000 veterans – about 5 percent of the 14. 56 million college students -- were enrolled in a public college or university. Data from the National Conference of State Legislatures indicates there are about 18.8 million veterans living in the United States with a little more than 37 percent having completed some college or an associate’s degree. Senate Bill 1379 is set to be heard by the full Senate soon.