Texas Hazelwood Act

Texas Hazelwood Act is sponsored by Texas Veterans Commission. Provides tuition exemptions for Texas veterans and their dependents.

Hazlewood Act ⋆ Texas Education Benefit ⋆ Texas Veterans Commission Hazlewood Application [PDF, 334 KB] Learn about the Hazlewood Act: The Hazlewood Act is a State of Texas benefit that provides qualified Veterans, spouses, and dependent children with an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition exemption , including most fee charges, at public institutions of higher education in Texas.

This does NOT include living expenses, books, or supply fees. The Institution of Higher Education (IHE) is the final decision-making authority on student eligibility. For more information, contact hazlewood@tvc.

texas. gov Hazlewood Database for Veterans and Students *Check college website for specific steps and deadlines to submit an application packet to their office.

The steps provided by the college should align with the following general process: Be accepted as a student by a Texas-based public college/university Register for a Hazlewood account on TVC website: Hazlewood Data Base Login Complete and submit an application packet to the college a. application form (use the school’s form if they have one) c. Certificate of Eligibility for VA Federal benefit (if applicable) d.

Individual colleges may have additional documents they require * Check with your school on application deadline policies. If you qualify for state education benefits earned through military service and your verification paperwork to the school is delayed, you may apply for up to a 60-day deferment of tuition and fees to avoid late charges and/or being dropped from classes by submitting a Deferment Request Form [PDF, 262.

09 KB] Hazlewood Links & Resources Hazlewood Student Hours Database Revocation of Previously Assigned Hours Application For Continued Enrollment Sample Documentation Checklist List of Texas Public Universities Texas Education Code §54. 341, Hazlewood Act Texas Education Code §54. 2001, GPA and Excessive Hours 40 TAC §461, Hazlewood Act Administrative Rules 1.

Reside in Texas at the time of entry into active duty service, or enter service in Texas Hazlewood Act Statute and 40 Texas Administrative Code §461 designated Texas as Home of Record; a. The DD214 will show if the designated “Home of Record at Time of Entry” is a Texas address b. The DD214 will show if “Place of Entry into Active Duty” was in Texas c.

If a DD214 does not show Texas in the fields mentioned above, a Veteran must provide documentation as evidence that the place of residence at time of entry was in Texas 2. Served at least 181 days of active duty service (excluding Initial Entry Training), as shown on a DD214 “Net Active Service This Period” 3. Have received an “Honorable” or a “General – Under Honorable Conditions” discharge/separation, as indicated on a DD214 4.

Currently reside in Texas; ( 40 TAC §461. 40 ) & ( 40 TAC §461. 70 ) 5.

Have no federal Veteran’s education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31); or have federal benefits for term or semester enrolled with a tuition benefit that does not cover the full cost of tuition; 6. Not be in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas; 7.

Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its cost), or a non-funded course that has been approved by the college’s governing board; and 8.

Meet the GPA requirement of the institution’s satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution’s financial aid policy and, as an undergraduate student, not be considered to have attempted an excessive amount of credit hours.

Child (Legacy) Eligibility Veterans meeting the Veteran Eligibility requirements listed in 1-4 of the previous “Veterans Eligibility” section may share unused hours of exemption with a qualifying child. Under the Legacy Child rules, a child must meet the following requirements: Be classified by the institution as a Texas resident; ( 40 TAC §461.

70 ) Be the biological child, stepchild, adopted child, or claimed as a dependent in the current or previous tax year; Be 25 years old or younger on the first day of the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed (unless granted an extension due to a qualifying illness or debilitating condition); and Have no federal Veteran’s education benefits for term or semester enrolled dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31); or have federal benefits with a tuition benefit that does not cover the full cost of tuition; Not be in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas; Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its cost), or a non-funded course that has been approved by the college’s governing board; and Meet the GPA requirement of the institution’s satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution’s financial aid policy and, as an undergraduate student, not be considered to have attempted an excessive amount of credit hours.

Legacy recipients will receive an exemption for the number of degree certified hours reported by the institution for that term or semester.

Maximum degree certified hours awarded to the Legacy recipient will be dependent upon the degree or certificate program in which the student is enrolled for that term or semester and shall be consistent with the program length as defined within the school catalog as approved by the regional accreditation commission. ( 40 TAC §461.

30 ) *If a child to whom hours have been delegated fails to use all of the assigned hours, a Veteran may re-assign the unused hours that are available to another child. Only one child will use Hazlewood Legacy benefits at a time. Can I transfer my unused hours to multiple children under Legacy?

Yes. However, you can only transfer unused hours to one eligible child at a time , you may not exceed 150 hours total, regardless of how you distribute the hours among multiple children. As the veteran, do I have to reside in Texas, while my child uses my hours under “Legacy”?

Yes. The veteran uses their Hazlewood exemption when they share it with a Legacy child. Each person who is eligible to use the Hazlewood Act must currently reside in Texas; ( 40 TAC §461.

40 ) & ( 40 TAC §461. 70 ). Each Legacy child, dependent, or spouse must be classified by the institution as a Texas resident; ( 40 TAC §461.

70 ). How can I stop one Legacy child from using my Hazlewood benefit and assign it to another child? To revoke a Legacy Child’s hours in the current semester, use the Revocation of Previously Assigned Hours form .

After revoking the hours from one child, the veteran will continue the application process for the second child to share the benefit. Can more than one child use the transferred benefit at the same time, even if they attend different colleges? No. Only one Legacy child may use the transferred hours at a time.

Must the veteran and the Legacy child both register with the Texas Veterans Commission online database? Yes. The veteran registers so that the standard and/or legacy hours used by both the veteran and the legacy child are correctly accounted for under both record sets.

By accounting for the hours used by both the veteran and legacy child, they can determine the remaining benefit hours, who has used which hours, at which school, and the total hours used. Can an IRS dependent continue to use the veterans’ benefit after the veteran dies? Yes , If the child was using the veterans’ benefit already as an IRS dependent and there is a tax transcript, the child may continue to use the hours.

The veterans’ legal next of kin, entrusted with the veteran’s estate may sign on behalf of the deceased veteran. A grandchild living with their grandparents may be eligible to receive the veterans’ unused hours, by proving they are a dependent via IRS transcripts or court records of adoption, legal guardianship, or full custody.

There must be a document to prove the veteran’s intention to transfer their Hazlewood exemption to the designated grandchild (i.e., a will, adoption court records, other legal documents). Can a grandchild, who recently moved into their grandparent’s home, use the veterans’ hours even though the veteran is now deceased?

No, The Hazlewood Act cannot be transferred to a child by the deceased veteran’s executor unless there are supporting documents to substantiate the veteran intended to transfer the benefit (i.e., a will, adoption, court records, or IRS tax transcripts showing the veteran regarded the child as a dependent, etc.).

When a child recently moved into a relative’s home and is cohabitating with the grandparent, there is no established custodial relationship between the veteran and the child. There must be a clear legal link established between the grandchild and the deceased veteran grandparent. Can a biological father, whose child was adopted by another person or family, still receive transferred hours under Legacy?

If the biological father wants to transfer his Hazlewood Act eligibility – and the child and veteran parent meet eligibility requirements – then, yes, the child may use the veteran parent’s benefit.

There are no existing provisions in either the State Education Code or the TVC’s Admin Rules, that preclude a biological child of a Hazlewood Act benefit-eligible veteran from receiving that benefit once the child is (legally) adopted by a stepparent. [ EDUCATION CODE CHAPTER 54. TUITION AND FEES (texas.

gov) ] [ Texas Administrative Code Is there an age minimum for Legacy and Dependent children? No . There is no age minimum specified in the Texas Statutes or Administrative Rules governing the Hazlewood Act exemption benefit.

What is the age limit for the Legacy Child? A Legacy child must stop using the Hazlewood Act exemption when they reach 26 years of age. After 26, the benefit is no longer available to them.

Spouse / Dependent Eligibility Applicants qualifying under the Disability Hours category of Hazlewood are entitled to receive 150 credit hours of tuition exemption. Each dependent of an eligible veteran may qualify for their own benefit, under certain conditions as drawn from the Hazlewood Act Statute and Texas Administrative Code §461.

To qualify under the Disability Hours category, an applicant must be the spouse/dependent of an eligible veteran. Veteran eligibility requirements for this category of Hazlewood are listed below. Veteran Eligibility , must meet requirements for #1 AND #2.

1. Reside in Texas at the time of entry into active duty of the U.S. Armed Forces OR enter the service in Texas. DD214 will show: Texas location in “Place of Entry into Active Duty” block Texas location in “Home of Record at Time of Entry” block If a DD Form 214 does not show Texas, must provide documentation proving that residence at time of entry was in Texas ( 40 TAC §461.

50 ) & ( 40 TAC §461. 60 ) 2.

Have one of the following VA disability ratings: be determined by the VA to be 100%, total and permanent, service-connected disabled is awarded a rating for individual unemployability died as a result of service-related injuries or, Missing in action (MIA), or (Additionally, the spouse/dependent of a member of the Texas National Guard who is either killed while on active duty in the service of Texas or the United States, OR who is awarded a VA rating of either 100% totally/permanently disabled or Individually Unemployable, may also be considered under this category of Hazlewood) The spouse/dependent(s) of an eligible veteran under the disability category must meet the requirements below Have no federal Veteran education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33); or have federal benefits for term or semester enrolled with a tuition benefit that does not cover the full cost of tuition; Be classified by the institution as a Texas resident; Not be in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas; Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its cost), or a non-funded course that has been approved by the college’s governing board; and Meet the GPA requirement of the institution’s satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution’s financial aid policy and, as an undergraduate student, not be considered to have attempted an excessive amount of credit hours.

This requirement does not apply to the spouse / child of a MIA, KIA, or service-connected deceased Veteran. ( 40 TAC §461. 50 ) & ( 40 TAC §461.

60 ) Spouse / Dependent Eligibility Be the spouse/dependent of a Hazlewood Act benefit-eligible veteran who is determined by the VA to be 100% total and permanent service-connected veteran or one who became disabled for purposes of employability because of a service-related injury or illness. The veteran must have been KIA, MIA, or died as a result of service-related injuries or illness.

Is there an age limit for a spouse or dependent who has their own Hazlewood hours? No . There is no age limit for a child, spouse, or dependent who has their own Hazlewood hours.

Each veteran family member may receive their own 150 tuition hours if the veteran is 100%, total and permanent, service-connected by the VA or the veteran must have been KIA, MIA, or died because of a service-related injury or illness. Are there requirements for the spouse/dependent to be enrolled in a degree or certificate program? Yes.

To use the exemption, a veteran, Legacy, or Spouse/Dependent (child with own hours) must be enrolled in a certificate program or degree program with a degree plan. Which children may be eligible for the Hazlewood Act spouse/dependents? The child must be a biological, adopted, stepchild or dependent claimed in the current or previous tax year.

As the veteran, do I have to reside in Texas, even though I am 100% totally and permanently disabled and individually unemployable? No. A veteran who is totally and permanently disabled and individually unemployable is not required to maintain Texas residency while their eligible child and/or spouse are using their Child/Spouse Hazlewood Act benefits.

Institutions of Higher Education This section contains resources and links dedicated for the use of Institutions of Higher Education (IHE), which include colleges and universities only. Veterans, Children, Spouses and Dependents should utilize the above resources. The Hazlewood Act may be used only at Texas public colleges and universities.

To view a complete list of eligible institutions, visit the Texas Institutions of Higher Education page and review the schools listed under Texas Public Institutions. ⚠️ Important: Schools listed under Independent (Private) Institutions are not eligible for the Hazlewood Act exemption.

Hazlewood Act Submission Report Deadlines and DD214 Reporting Reminders: Fall Semester – January 31 st Spring Semester – June 30 th Summer Semesters – September 30 th Beginning in October 2018, public institutions of higher education were notified of a new requirement to submit additional demographic data related to a veteran’s DD214 and the utilization of the Hazlewood Act by Texas veterans and their dependents.

To meet this requirement, institutions may submit the additional data in one of two ways: Through a standalone DD214 Report, or By submitting the information as part of the combined . csv file , which integrates both the DD214 Report and the Student Usage Report into a single submission.

We appreciate your continued cooperation in providing this required information and your ongoing support in ensuring accurate and compliant reporting with each submission. Hazlewood Database for Institutions Hazlewood Institution Database Login (Institution use ONLY) Hazlewood Manuals and CSV Template Hazlewood Procedure Manual Hazlewood Database Manual CSV Format Record Template Texas Education Code §54.

341, Hazlewood Act Texas Education Code §54. 2001, GPA and Excessive Hours 40 TAC §461, Hazlewood Act Administrative Rules We welcome all Hazlewood Act certifying officials who have questions or concerns, please contact us at Veterans Education Services via e-mail at hazlewood@tvc. texas.

gov or phone at 512-463-3168. Thank you for your continued support of veterans and their families as they pursue their educational goals! Frequently Asked Hazlewood Questions If I have used Hazlewood in the past, how do I find out how many hours I have left to use?

I can’t find the Hazlewood database registration link. Where is it? You may visit https://hazlewood.

tvc. texas. gov/students/Account/Register .

Why do I see “no hours used” when I register on the database? Does this mean I have the whole 150 hours to use, now? If you have never used Hazlewood, a “0” indicates no hours have been charged.

If you have used Hazlewood, and you see “0” hours, call the Vets Ed Hazlewood staff at (512) 463-3168 or (877) 898-3833 for help. I’m going to get married; do I change my last name for Hazlewood? No action is required or necessary unless you are the veteran’s IRS dependent.

Call your school Hazlewood staff to determine eligibility after your IRS status changes. Does the student need to be enrolled in a degree program or certificate course? Yes.

A student must meet the GPA requirement of the institution’s satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution’s financial aid policy and, as an undergraduate student, not be considered to have attempted an excessive amount of credit hours . This requirement does not apply to the spouse/child of an MIA, KIA, or service-connected deceased Veteran. ( 40 TAC §461.

50 ) & ( 40 TAC §461. 60 ) It is the veteran’s responsibility to provide the appropriate proof of eligibility as specified in: §461. 40 provide to the institution a completed Hazlewood Act Exemption Application and the supporting documentation, as provided in §461.

90 of this subchapter (relating to Supporting Documentation for the Hazlewood Act Exemption Application), no later than the last class date of the semester or term to which the exemption applies. Can active-duty service-members transfer unused hours to their child under Legacy? Possibly.

It is possible to use the Hazlewood Act or Child Legacy Act while on active duty, if the servicemember has been released or discharged from previous military service and received a DD-214 that qualifies the veteran to receive the Hazlewood Act. What is the required amount of active-duty service? Is it 180 or 181 active-duty days?

The requirement amount is “more than 180 days” of active-duty service, excluding initial entry training for the veteran. “Initial Entry Training: Rule §461. 20 (15): Initial Entry Training definitions “ I am a veteran who has more than one DD-Form 214, do I still meet Hazlewood eligibility of 181 active-duty days?

Yes. The law requires more than 180 days of Hazlewood Act exemption qualifying federal military service, excluding initial entry training. The law does not specify nor require the full 181 active-duty days to fall under one continuous period.

(You may submit multiple DD-214s to accumulate more than 180 days active duty as long as Texas is your home of record or place of entry on all DD-214s and you have an honorable or general discharge on all DD214 submitted.) My discharge is listed as “other than honorable. ” Can I use the Hazlewood Act exemption?

No. You must have a discharge type of “honorable” or “under honorable conditions, general,” or equivalent language. My military documents state that I have an “honorable separation” as opposed to an “honorable discharge. ” Can I still qualify for the Hazlewood Act?

Yes. In September 1996, the Texas Attorney General issued an opinion that military personnel honorably separated after being on active duty may qualify for the Hazlewood Act exemption if they meet other program requirements. Discharge Issues Questions Does a veteran need to provide their DD214 to qualify?

Yes. The Veteran must provide a qualifying DD-214 or equivalent documentation to prove their eligibility for the Hazlewood Act exemption. A DD-214 must be a “clean copy” and must be legible, no over-writing or smudges that render it unusable.

Member 1 copy is NOT acceptable for proof of Hazlewood eligibility. I can’t find my DD214. Where can I get a copy?

The fastest way to obtain a copy is to submit your request via the NARA website at National Archives: Veterans’ Service Record . Also, you make your request via mail by sending in a Standard Form 180 . Standard Form 180 can be obtained from The National Archives website.

If the veteran has a poor-quality copy of their DD-214 or is waiting to receive a correction to the DD-214, is the student able to apply for Hazlewood Act tuition exemption? It is the school’s decision if they will accept in good faith the poor-quality DD-214 (while waiting for the DD214 to be generated, received by the veteran, and submitted to the IHE), or deny the benefit.

Residency of Veteran Questions Can a veteran whose place of entry is in another state qualify for the Hazlewood Act benefits if the veteran was an established Texas resident at the time of entry? Yes. A veteran must prove that they were a Texas resident at the time of entry into military service, entered the service in the State of Texas, or declared Texas as their home of record.

The burden of proof is on the veteran to prove their Texas residency through supporting documents (i.e., federal tax records, high school/college transcripts, voter registration, Texas property tax filings, etc.). It is up to the school’s Hazlewood staff to determine if they will accept residency supporting documents. Does an individual have to be a U.S. citizen when they enter service to receive the Hazlewood Act benefits?

No. U.S. citizenship is no longer a requirement. If the veteran is now a Texas resident, but was not at the time of entry to active-duty service, can they qualify for the Hazelwood Act? No. The veteran must have entered the service in the state of Texas; or, declared Texas as their home of record at the time of entry into the service, or prove they were a Texas state resident at that time.

Additionally, military orders, separating military service from Texas, having a Texas driver's license, retiring in Texas, owning property in Texas, reenlisting in Texas, current or last duty station assignments in Texas, any disability rating, or having recently established Texas residency are not relevant factors used to determine a veteran’s eligibility for Hazlewood.

If someone enters service from another state, can they be eligible for Hazlewood Act benefits? *Eligibility requires a DD214 showing entry from Texas. If a veteran has more than one service period, with a subsequent DD214 showing entry from Texas, that DD214 may be used for eligibility purposes.

The key eligibility factor for a veteran who originally entered active-duty service from another state is they must have a separate DD214 for a subsequent period of service reflecting entry into that service period from Texas, as described in the Veteran Eligibility section above. College Charges Questions How does the exemption work? Will I get a check in the mail for tuition?

No. The Hazlewood Act exempts qualified students from paying tuition, and most fees, while enrolled in classes at public institutions of higher education in Texas, up to 150 semester hours. If the cost of the digital textbook and access to the instructional content is established in the course program as a specific lab and/or course fee, then Hazlewood Act benefits users should be exempt from paying the fee associated with that class.

What charges are NOT covered? Books, supplies, living expenses, property deposits, and student services fees are NOT covered . If digital textbook and access code fees are considered by the IHE to be textbooks required for taking the classes, and all students taking those classes purchase or lease their books and content, then Hazlewood would not cover the cost.

The purchase/lease price will be the student’s responsibility. Is there a waiver if I have not received all my supporting documents? Use the 60-day deferment form when the student is missing a supporting document.

The form establishes the deferment for an extension of time up to 60 days from the first day of the semester. Deferment Form . Student Financial Aid Questions Is financial aid an eligibility requirement?

No. The Hazlewood Act benefits are awarded regardless of financial need, and they are completely unaffected and independent from one and the other. Are students allowed to use the Hazlewood Act for credit courses, while in default of a student loan made or guaranteed by the state of Texas? No. A student who has defaulted on a loan that was made or guaranteed by the state of Texas is disqualified from receiving Hazlewood Act benefits.

Currently, the state loans that apply to the rule are Hinson-Hazlewood Stafford Loans, Hinson-Hazlewood Health Education Loans (HELP), Hinson-Hazlewood College Access Loans (CAL), uninsured Texas Opportunity Plan Loans (TOP) and the Texas B-On-Time Student Loan administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

If it is discovered that a student defaulted on a state of Texas education loan, do they have to pay the school back for class they took using Hazlewood? Yes. If the student is in default on a state education loan, the school can require repayment of all Hazlewood exempt tuition and fees.

What is the GPA standard or requirement to continue applying for Hazlewood Act tuition exemption? Hazlewood Administrative Rule 461. 20 (19): Satisfactory academic progress–A grade point average that satisfies the institution’s requirement for making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate in accordance with the institution’s policy regarding eligibility for financial aid.

This requirement does not apply to spouses or children of veterans who died from a service-related injury or illness, or who were classified as missing in action (MIA) or killed in action (KIA). - Degree or Certificate Program: A reminder – For a veteran, Legacy, or Spouse/Dependent (Child with own hours) to use the Hazlewood Act benefit exemption, they must be enrolled in a certificate program or degree plan.

Is it possible to receive the Hazlewood Act benefits and federal VA educational benefits concurrently? Yes. If the student receives federal VA education benefits other than the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33 or any other benefits designated only for payment of tuition and fees), the student may use both benefits at the same time.

If the student is receiving federal VA education benefits for payment of tuition and fees, they may use both benefits at the same time only if the federal VA tuition and fees benefit amount does not equal or exceed the Hazlewood exemption value.

If a Veteran has active-duty service AFTER September 11th, 2001, the student must provide a copy of their Department of Veterans Affairs Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) for federal education benefits from the VA showing the student’s benefit type and amount, the inclusive dates of payment, and the remaining entitlement at the end of the award period.

Legacy child, spouse/dependent: Most schools want the student’s own COE to show they do not have any federal education benefits that pay tuition. Apply to VA for a Legacy, spouse/dependent’s COE by using VA Form 22-1990e on the www. VA.

gov website. Types of Courses Covered Questions Does the Hazlewood Act Exemption cover teacher certification fees? No. The teacher certification fee is not an institutional fee.

It is a fee required by the State Board for Educator Certification and is paid directly to that board. There is no money with Hazlewood (it is a waiver from tuition payments) so no funds or processes to pay for certification costs. Does the Hazlewood Act Exemption cover credit by examination?

Yes. Since Texas Education Code 54. 341 (a) refers to exemption from “all dues, fees, and charges,” the exemption would include charges for credit by examination.

Will Hazlewood Act Exemption benefits pay for continuing education classes? Institutions are NOT required to offer Hazlewood Act benefits to veterans enrolled in continuing education classes for which the college or university receives no formula funding (tax support). However, the college or university may choose to permit this option.

Can Hazlewood Act benefits be used for graduate school? Yes . Yes.

Hazlewood Act benefits may be used for graduate studies, including law school or any other program of study at public institutions. Continuing Education courses are not eligible for Hazlewood. Can the student use Hazlewood at two schools in the same semester?

An eligible Hazlewood beneficiary may use their benefit at more than one college/university during the same semester or term; they must meet the same requirements in both and be enrolled in a degree or certificate program and meet all other requirements of the TX Education Code and Admin Rules for both IHEs.

There are no stated restrictions or limitations in the TEC or Admin Rules denying/restricting/limiting a Hazlewood beneficiary from using their benefit at more than one IHE at a time. Are online courses covered by the Hazlewood Act? Conditionally, yes.

If the classes receive formula funding, taken through Texas public institutions, and the charges are not paid to a third party, they may be covered by the Hazlewood Act. Each school Hazlewood staff determines which of their courses are approved for use with their school’s formula funding. Are aircraft training courses covered by the Hazlewood Act?

Possibly, yes. The governing board of a community college may establish a fee for extraordinary costs associated with a specific course of program such as flight training, diesel mechanics or other classes in which fees are higher than that of a normal class, and the school may charge higher fees(s) for specific courses that will not be fully covered by the Hazlewood Act Exemption for fees.

“Flight hours are not exempt with Hazlewood and must be paid for by the student. ” Recording Information / Reporting Questions What information will be made available upon signing the release form? All students using the Hazlewood Act benefit are required to register on the Hazlewood online database to sign a release that allows the Texas Veterans Commission, along with any institution the veteran