Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 32 - Military Educational Programs
Section 3225 - Benefit

(a) Provision.--From the money appropriated for the purposes of this subchapter, benefit payments shall be provided to the military college or approved institution of higher learning on behalf of eligible members for the purpose of pursuing an approved degree-producing program.
(b) Promissory note.--Prior to entry into the program, the eligible member shall sign a promissory note obligating the eligible member to repay the full amount of the benefit if the eligible member fails to satisfactorily fulfill the service obligation. The promissory note shall become payable upon noncompletion of the service obligation under section 3227(a) (relating to recoupment of benefit payments).
(c) Amount.--Benefits awarded under this subchapter shall be:
(1) in year one and two, the rate of military college tuition for the approved associate's degree-producing program; and
(2) thereafter, the annual tuition rate charged by a State System of Higher Education institution for the completion of the eligible member's first bachelor's degree.
(d) Other grants and financial aid.--
(1) The agency may not reduce the amount of other agency grants or aid for which the eligible member qualifies on account of the eligible member's eligibility for or receipt of a benefit under this subchapter.
(2) Prior to making a benefit payment under this subchapter, the approved institution of higher learning shall first consider any Federal tuition assistance received by the eligible member and shall award a benefit under this subchapter if the eligible member requires additional financial aid to cover the costs of attendance for an approved degree-producing program.
(3) A benefit under this subchapter shall be paid or refunded to the eligible member for approved costs of attendance.
(4) Benefits authorized under this section shall be reduced so that the total of Federal and State military education benefits, as administered by the Pennsylvania National Guard, does not exceed 100% of the costs of attendance.
(e) Adjustments.--If the agency and the Adjutant General determine that the amount appropriated for the program in any year will be insufficient to provide benefits in the amounts specified in this section to each eligible member, the agency and the department may reduce the maximum amount of the benefits proportionately or set a limit on the number of participants to ensure that sums expended do not exceed appropriations.
(f) Limit on charges.--Eligible members attending a State System of Higher Education institution may not be charged additional tuition above the annual tuition rate.
(g) Limit on tuition.--A State System of Higher Education institution may not charge an eligible member more than the in-State rate.

Cross References. Section 3225 is referred to in section 3227 of this title.