(a) The general welfare and well-being of the State are directly related to the educational levels and skills of its citizens.

(b) It is the policy of the State to advance postsecondary education opportunities by using the State's limited resources in an effective, efficient, and equitable manner.

(c) Given the cost of postsecondary education to students, families, and the taxpayers of the State, it is in the public interest of the State to support supplemental means that enable its citizens to pursue their educational aspirations.

(d) It is a valid and vital public purpose to create a means of encouraging the savings and investing of funds for future postsecondary education, in compliance with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(e) The implementation of the Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan as provided by this subchapter furthers this public purpose. (Added 1997, No. 79 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 1997; amended 2001, No. 58, § 4, eff. June 16, 2001; 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 189, eff. Feb. 14, 2014.)