By Benjamin Wermund
University leaders are worried about increased costs based on a federal judge’s ruling striking down a clause in a state law limiting veterans’ tuition benefits to those who enlisted in the military while living in Texas.
The head of the Senate finance committee, who drafts the Senate’s budget proposal, said Monday the ruling would “obviously have an impact on our budget.”
But just how much more would it cost to cover all of Texas’ veterans, not just those who enlisted here? How many more students could potentially be looking to enroll?
We made a rough — and arguably conservative — estimate, comparing census figures with data from a Legislative Budget Board report on the Hazlewood Act, which offers the tuition benefits for veterans. Our calculations suggest there could be a significant jump in the number of eligible veterans — maybe more than double.
About 17,256 veterans were covered by the Hazlewood Act in 2013, according to the budget board. Their spouses and
children are also eligible for coverage, and in 2013 more than 18,000 of them took advantage of the benefits.
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