Full Citation
Title: Evaluation of the Number of Future Veterans and Related Relatives In Texas Eligible to Receive Assistance Through the Hazlewood Exemption, 2016-2025
Citation Type: Miscellaneous
Publication Year: 2015
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Abstract: Texas has a long history of supporting its military veterans and it has provided substantial support in assisting veterans to obtain the post-service skills needed to work in competitive jobs. Support for veterans in expanding their levels of education extend back to 1923 when the 38th legislature instructed public education institutions to exempt veterans from paying certain fees and charges. This support was enhanced with the passage of the Hazlewood exemption in 1943. 1 Today, veterans can use the Hazlewood exemption to obtain 150 hours of college credit at a public institution or transfer unused hours of that exemption to a dependent they designate who is less than 26 years of age. A Hazlewood exemption can also be obtained for the spouse or child of a military service member killed in action, deceased during military service or seriously disabled (a 100 percent disability rating). The number of recipients of Hazlewood exemptions increased from 9,882 in 2009 to 38,946 in 2014 and the value of the awards increased from $24.7 million in 2009 to $169.1 million in 2014 (Legislative Budget Board 2014). Much of this increase has been due to the growth in the Legacy program, although all of the categories of exemptions have experienced growth. Prior to 2012, both the number and expenditures in support of recipients by category of exemption were difficult to adequately measure because of differences in systems of accounting in different educational institutions. Data from 2012 to date are more complete because of consolidation of the accounting process in the Texas Higher Educational Coordinating Board. From 2012 to 2014 the number of veterans receiving exemptions increased from 15,732 in 2012 to 17,290 in 2014 (a numerical increase of 1,558) and for dependents and spouses the increase was from 751 in 2012 to 1,513 in 2014 (an increase of 762). The growth in recipients through the Legacy program was from 12,288 in 2012 to 17,153 in 2013 (an increase of 4,865 from 2012 to 2013) to 19,715 in 2014 (an increase of 2,562 from 2013 to 2014). The value of waived tuition and fees increased substantially as well with the overall increase in fees increasing from $110.2 million in 2012 to $169.1 million in 2014. Approximately $6.4 million of the $58.9 million increase was due to veteran exemptions, $3.8 million was due to dependent and spouse exemptions and approximately $48.7 million to recipients of Hazlewood benefits through the Legacy program. As a result, much of the concern with the rising number of recipients and related costs has concentrated on factors impacting Legacy recipients. Overall the dilemma for state decision-makers is how to ensure that the services of our veterans are adequately recognized and supported through financial assistance in obtaining advanced levels of education while at the same time ensuring that the financial effects of the Hazlewood exemption do not have deleterious impacts on the economic viability of state institutions of higher education. Critical to this analysis is the determination of how many veterans and their dependents are likely to be using resources resulting from the Hazlewood exemption in the coming years. It is an analysis of alternatives for addressing this issue that is the primary focus of this report.
User Submitted?: No
Authors: Cline, Michael, E; Murdock, Steve, H
Publisher: Hobby Center for the Study of Texas Rice University
Data Collections: IPUMS CPS
Topics: Other, Population Data Science
Countries: United States