MADISON, WI…Legislation authored by Sen. André Jacque (New Franken) to cap tuition and fee increases for Wisconsin residents attending the University of Wisconsin System and technical colleges passed the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges today on a vote of 3-2.
Senate Bill 399, co-authored with Rep. Dave Murphy, comes after the Board of Regents raised tuition at UW campuses by 4-5 percent at campuses statewide, nearly twice the amount of inflation. The tuition increase came after the UW received $256 million additional public tax dollars after the budget, the highest amount in 20 years, and millions more in building projects across UW campuses.
“Even after a historic investment in our state’s university system, Wisconsin families were subjected to a significant increase in the cost of undergraduate tuition, with the prospect of more hikes in the future,” said Jacque. “The inability of the UW System to act as good stewards of our public tax dollars has necessitated the Legislature to intervene and place common sense guard rails to prevent out of control tuition and fee increases.”
Senate Bill 399 caps resident undergraduate tuition to rising no more than the amount of inflation, or the increase in the Consumer Price Index over the previous year.
“It is time to prioritize students over bureaucracy,” said Jacque. “A statutory cap on future tuition and fee increases linked to inflation will provide students and families the ability to plan ahead with confidence for college expenses without continuing to be used to backfill budget decisions that avoid limiting runaway administrative spending.”
Other bills authored by Sen. Jacque which passed committee today and move to the full Senate for a vote include:
Tuition Remission for Veterans (Senate Bill 59) – Bipartisan legislation to modify the residency requirements for veterans unanimously passed committee on a vote of 5-0.
“This bill incentivizes veterans to relocate and remain in Wisconsin, and is an easy way we can attract the very best our country has to offer,” said Jacque.
Currently, certain Wisconsin veterans and their spouses and children are eligible for a tuition and fee remission for attending UW schools and technical colleges, if they are Wisconsin resident before entering the military, or a state resident for five years prior to entering school. SB 59 alters the residency requirement to include veterans who become Wisconsin residents prior to entering school.
“The current five-year rule is confusing, exclusionary, and inconsistent with Wisconsin’s values,” said Jacque. “SB 59 replaces confusion with clarity and compassion, reflecting a state that values military service, welcomes those who choose to move there, and understands the long-term benefits of a skilled and educated population.”
School Psychologist Loan Program (Senate Bill 269) – A bipartisan bill to create a school psychologist loan program administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) also unanimously passed out of committee on a vote of 5-0.
As depression, anxiety and mental health issues among teens and children are on the rise, Wisconsin has fallen well below the recommended ratio of 1 school psychologist for every 500 students. Particularly in rural areas, long wait times and a shortage of mental health professionals has led to a lack of access for many young students.
SB 269 created a loan forgiveness program to graduate students who enter the mental health field in Wisconsin. The bill provides a loan of $10,000 annually for up to three years. Students can then receive 25 percent loan forgiveness for each year they serve as a school psychologist in a rural county or urbanized area.
“This program provides those seeking to enter the field of psychology with hands on experience and financial relief, and will directly improve mental health care access to areas of the state with the greatest need,” said Jacque.
The bill has the support of a number of education and health care organizations, such as the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the Wisconsin Public Health Association, the Wisconsin School Psychologists Association and the Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Boards. The bill passed the Senate on a voice vote last session, and the Assembly Education Committee unanimously.
Senator André Jacque represents Northeast Wisconsin’s First Senate District, consisting of Door, Kewaunee and Calumet Counties and portions of Brown, Calumet, Manitowoc, and Outagamie counties.
