Senate Committee Unanimously Passes Two Tuition Assistance Bills to Help Make Higher Education More Affordable for Coloradans

March 20, 2019

Denver, CO – The Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today unanimously voted to pass two bills to help make college more affordable by increasing tuition assistance for Coloradans: SB19-194, National Guard Tuition Assistance Colorado State University Global, and SB19-174, Dependent Tuition Assistance Program Eligibility. The two bills now head to the Committee of the Whole for consideration with a recommendation that they be placed on the consent calendar.

Sponsored by President Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo) and Senator Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada), SB19-194 would add Colorado State University - Global Campus to the list of designated institutions of higher education for purposes of tuition assistance for members of the National Guard.

“As a veteran, I have great respect for the selflessness and dedication demonstrated by members of the National Guard and all our service branches,” said President Garcia. “They have served us, and I believe we have an obligation to serve them as well. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation that will increase tuition assistance for members of the National Guard and will always work hard to help Coloradans in uniform achieve an education.”

“Members of our National Guard are committed to serving our nation, and we need to commit to serving them in return,” said Senator Zenzinger. “I am proud that our bill to help them receive tuition assistance at CSU Global Campus is moving forward. It is the least we can do to help our National Guard access a quality education.”

President Garcia is also a sponsor of SB19-174, which would make it easier for certain dependents to afford college through tuition assistance programs.

“We owe it to the families of service members who are missing in action or prisoners of war -- as well as to our law enforcement officers and first responders -- to pass legislation that will help clarify things like tuition assistance for their dependents,” added President Garcia.

For more information on these bill, please visit http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-194 and http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-174.

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