PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Academy cannot charge tuition, room, or board unless a law passed after October 5, 1994 allows it. Charges that existed on October 5, 1994 and charges for things like calculators, computers, personal or school supplies, midshipman services (barber, tailor, laundry), and Coast Guard license fees are allowed. The Secretary of Transportation must report any change in those fees at the next Board of Visitors meeting and post it online. Fees go to the Maritime Administration’s Operations and Training fund and stay available until spent. If fees collected exceed actual costs, the extra can be refunded to midshipmen by a method the Secretary approves. The Academy must keep separate, detailed records of fee income and expenses.

Title 46, §51314

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Prohibition.—

Except as provided in subsection (b), no charge or fee for tuition, room, or board for attendance at the United States Merchant Marine Academy may be imposed unless the charge or fee is specifically authorized by a law enacted after October 5, 1994.

(b)Exception.—

The prohibition specified in subsection (a) does not apply with respect to any item or service provided to cadets for which a charge or fee is imposed as of October 5, 1994, or for calculators, computers, personal and academic supplies, midshipman services such as barber, tailor, or laundry services, and Coast Guard license fees. The Secretary of Transportation shall present at the next meeting of the Board of Visitors, and post on a publicly available website, any change made by the Academy in the amount of a charge or fee authorized under this subsection. Such fees shall be credited to the Maritime Administration’s Operations and Training appropriation, to remain available until expended, for those expenses directly related to the purposes of the fees. Fees collected in excess of actual expenses may be refunded to the Midshipmen through a mechanism approved by the Secretary. The Academy shall maintain a separate and detailed accounting of fee revenue and all associated expenses.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5131446 App.:1295b(j).June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title XIII, § 1303(j), as added Pub. L. 108–375, Oct. 28, 2004, div. A, title V, § 545(e), 118 Stat. 1909.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2019—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–420 substituted “shall present at the next meeting of the Board of Visitors, and post on a publicly available website,” for “shall notify Congress of”. 2009—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–117 inserted at end “Such fees shall be credited to the Maritime Administration’s Operations and Training appropriation, to remain available until expended, for those expenses directly related to the purposes of the fees. Fees collected in excess of actual expenses may be refunded to the Midshipmen through a mechanism approved by the Secretary. The Academy shall maintain a separate and detailed accounting of fee revenue and all associated expenses.” Pub. L. 111–84 substituted “1994, or for calculators, computers, personal and academic supplies, midshipman services such as barber, tailor, or laundry services, and Coast Guard license fees.” for “1994.”

§51314 Limitation on Charges and Fees for Attendance