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S. B. No. 13 As IntroducedAs Introduced
130th General Assembly | Regular Session | 2013-2014 |
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Cosponsors:
Senators Brown, Cafaro, Kearney, Sawyer, Schiavoni, Skindell, Smith, Tavares, Turner
A BILL
To enact sections 3333.0412, 5903.05, and 5907.071 of
the Revised Code to enhance support and services
for veterans at state institutions of higher
education and to require each institution to
develop a policy for awarding academic credit to
veterans for training received while in the
military.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 3333.0412, 5903.05, and 5907.071 of
the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 3333.0412. (A) As used in this section, "state
institution of higher education" means a state university or
college as defined in division (A)(1) of section 3345.12 of the
Revised Code, community college established under Chapter 3354. of
the Revised Code, state community college established under
Chapter 3358. of the Revised Code, university branch established
under Chapter 3355. of the Revised Code, or technical college
established under Chapter 3357. of the Revised Code.
(B) The chancellor of the Ohio board of regents shall do all
of the following:
(1) Work with the department of veterans services to develop
a model for training counselors of student veterans at state
institutions of higher education regarding the unique needs of and
challenges faced by student veterans;
(2) Facilitate regular statewide meetings for personnel at
state institutions of higher education who regularly provide
services to student veterans to enable them to discuss and develop
best practices, exchange ideas and experiences, and hear
presentations by individuals with generally accepted expertise in
subjects relevant to the needs of and challenges faced by student
veterans;
(3) Develop and facilitate communications between state
institutions of higher education, military bases in the state, and
veteran organizations in the state to advance causes that benefit
student veterans.
Sec. 5903.05. (A) As used in this section:
"State institution of higher education" means a state
university or college as defined in division (A)(1) of section
3345.12 of the Revised Code, community college established under
Chapter 3354. of the Revised Code, state community college
established under Chapter 3358. of the Revised Code, university
branch established under Chapter 3355. of the Revised Code, or
technical college established under Chapter 3357. of the Revised
Code.
"Veteran" means a person who served on active duty for more
than one hundred eighty days and was discharged or released from
active duty with other than a dishonorable discharge or a person
who was discharged or released from active duty because of a
service-connected disability.
(B) The board of trustees of a state institution of higher
education shall establish and implement and, as it becomes
necessary or advisable, shall improve and re-implement measures
requiring the institution under the board's supervision and
management to do all of the following:
(1) Award academic credit to a student veteran at the
institution for training or service completed by the student
veteran as a member of the armed forces of the United States or a
reserve component thereof, the Ohio national guard, the Ohio
military reserve, or the Ohio naval militia, and that meets the
standards of the American council on education or equivalent
standards for awarding academic credit;
(2) Establish and sponsor an organization for student
veterans on campus and encourage other veteran-friendly
organizations;
(3) Periodically survey student veterans to identify their
needs and challenges they face;
(4) Appoint and train faculty members within each degree
program or major as liaisons and contacts for student veterans,
and provide these faculty members with sensitivity and awareness
training on military and veterans culture, traumatic brain injury,
post-traumatic stress disorder, physical and mental disabilities,
suicide, and hypervigilance;
(5) Coordinate existing disability services on campus with
veteran disability services available from the United States
department of veterans affairs, the department of veterans
services, veterans service commissions, other federal and state
agencies, and private resources;
(6) Provide counselors who are trained to effectively respond
to the unique needs of and challenges faced by student veterans,
and provide services or provide referrals to services to fulfill
the needs of student veterans and to help student veterans meet
challenges they face; and
(7) Establish a program that creates collaborative
relationships between student veterans and alumni of the
institution, that links student veterans with prospective
employers, and that provides student veterans with social
opportunities.
Sec. 5907.071. As used in this section, "state institution of
higher education" means a state university or college as defined
in division (A)(1) of section 3345.12 of the Revised Code,
community college established under Chapter 3354. of the Revised
Code, state community college established under Chapter 3358. of
the Revised Code, university branch established under Chapter
3355. of the Revised Code, or technical college established under
Chapter 3357. of the Revised Code.
The veterans service commission of a county in which a state
institution of higher education is located may appoint as needed a
sufficient number of county veteran service officers to serve as
campus veterans service officers at the state institution of
higher education.
A state institution of higher education shall provide
accommodations that may be utilized by veteran service officers to
provide assistance to student veterans.
Section 2. A board of trustees of a state institution of
higher education shall establish and implement the measures
required by section 5903.05 of the Revised Code not later than
July 1, 2013.
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