Sen. Jenkins supports military tuition break

SALT LAKE CITY — Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, does support programs to help military families, when it doesn’t end up costing local taxpayers.

Earlier in the session, Jenkins, the Senate majority leader, opposed a bill that would have provided a break on property taxes for those on active duty for more than 200 days a year.

The tuition bill passed the Senate’s second reading calendar by a unanimous vote and will receive final consideration today.

“Why would Jenkins support this, when he didn’t support the other?” Jenkins said in presenting the bill.

He said there is not a constitutional problem with HB 124 and it isn’t taking any money away from local taxing authorities. He said tuition assistance is also a major incentive for people to serve in the National Guard.

 

 

The bill’s original sponsor is Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield.

 

Jenkins co-sponsored House Bill 124 in the Senate on Wednesday. The bill would provide in-state college tuition for out-of-state residents for members of the National Guard and military veterans in the process of becoming state residents.