Alabama 2022 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Bill SB119 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		1 SB119
2		-	2 216807-4
	2	+	2 216807-3
3	3		3 By Senators Barfoot and Butler
4	4		4 RFD: Veterans and Military Affairs
5	5		5 First Read: 18-JAN-22
6	6
7		-	Page 0 SB119
8		-	1 SB119
	7	+	Page 0 1 SB119
9	8		2
10	9		3
11		-	4 ENROLLED, An Act,
12		-	5 Relating to the Alabama G.I. and Dependents'
13		-	6 Educational Benefit Act; to amend Sections 31-6-2, as amended
14		-	7 by Act 2021-444, 2021 Regular Session, 31-6-2.1, as added by
15		-	8 Act 2021-444, 2021 Regular Session, 31-6-3, 31-6-4, as amended
16		-	9 by Act 2021-84, 2021 Regular Session, 31-6-5, 31-6-6, 31-6-9,
17		-	10 31-6-11, 31-6-12, 31-6-13, 31-6-14, 31-6-15, 31-6-15.1, and
18		-	11 31-6-16, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide that scholarship
19		-	12 benefits may be used for instruction at any public or private
20		-	13 two-year or four-year institution of higher education located
21		-	14 in the state that receives state funds; to remove an obsolete
22		-	15 correspondence course benefit; to make nonsubstantive,
23		-	16 technical revisions to update the existing code language to
24		-	17 current style; and to repeal Section 31-6-8, Code of Alabama
25		-	18 1975, relating to Alabama G.I. Scholarships.
26		-	19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
27		-	20 Section 1. Sections 31-6-2, as amended by Act
28		-	21 2021-444, 2021 Regular Session, 31-6-2.1, as added by Act
29		-	22 2021-444, 2021 Regular Session, 31-6-3, 31-6-4, as amended by
30		-	23 Act 2021-84, 2021 Regular Session, 31-6-5, 31-6-6, 31-6-9,
31		-	24 31-6-11, 31-6-12, 31-6-13, 31-6-14, 31-6-15, 31-6-15.1, and
32		-	Page 1 SB119
33		-	1 31-6-16 of the Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:
34		-	2 "§31-6-2.
35		-	3 "For the purposes of this chapter, the following
36		-	4 terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this
37		-	5 section:
38		-	6 "(1) ARMED FORCES. The term includes Includes the
39		-	7 United States Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Space
40		-	8 Force, and Coast Guard. The term also includes the units of
41		-	9 those branches of the services having women troops and the
42		-	10 Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Nurse Corps.
43		-	11 "(2) COMPREHENSIVE TRANSITION AND POSTSECONDARY
44		-	12 PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. Has the
45		-	13 same meaning as in 20 U.S.C. § 1140.
46		-	14 "(3) HUSBAND. Spouse.
47		-	15 "(3) QUALIFYING PRIVATE SCHOOL. Any regionally
48		-	16 accredited private two-year or four-year institution of higher
49		-	17 education physically located in the state that receives a
50		-	18 direct appropriation from the state or whose resident students
51		-	19 may receive appropriations from the state through the Alabama
52		-	20 Student Grant Program.
53		-	21 "(4) QUALIFYING SCHOOL. An institution which is
54		-	22 either a qualifying state school or a qualifying private
55		-	23 school as defined by this chapter.
56		-	24 "(5) QUALIFYING STATE SCHOOL. An Alabama public
57		-	25 two-year or four-year institution of higher education.
58		-	Page 2 SB119
59		-	1 "(6) SPOUSE. Husband or wife.
60		-	2 "(4)(7) TUITION. Fees for instruction.
61		-	3 "(5)(8) TUITION AND FEES. All fees known and classed
62		-	4 as instructional fees.
63		-	5 "(6)(9) WIDOW or WIDOWER. An individual whose spouse
64		-	6 is deceased and who has not remarried.
65		-	7 "(7) WIFE. Spouse.
66		-	8 "§31-6-2.1.
67		-	9 "For the purposes of this chapter, in addition to
68		-	10 any other benefits granted under this chapter, any child of a
69		-	11 disabled or deceased veteran or otherwise eligible for
70		-	12 educational benefits under this chapter who is admitted to
71		-	13 attend and attends a comprehensive transition and
72		-	14 postsecondary program for students with intellectual
73		-	15 disabilities at a state four-year college or university
74		-	16 institution of higher education shall be eligible to receive
75		-	17 benefits equal to the benefits provided pursuant to this
76		-	18 chapter to any other child eligible for educational benefits
77		-	19 in an undergraduate course of study at a state four-year
78		-	20 college or university institution of higher education under
79		-	21 this chapter without regard as to whether the program is a
80		-	22 degree, certificate, or non-degree program.
81		-	23 "§31-6-3.
82		-	24 "Tuition benefits received pursuant to Sections
83		-	25 31-6-4 through 31-6-6 shall be called "Alabama G.I.
84		-	Page 3 SB119
85		-	1 Dependents' Scholarships." Tuition benefits received under
	10	+	4 ENGROSSED
	11	+	5
	12	+	6
	13	+	7 A BILL
	14	+	8 TO BE ENTITLED
	15	+	9 AN ACT
	16	+	10
	17	+	11 Relating to the Alabama G.I. and Dependents'
	18	+	12 Educational Benefit Act; to amend Sections 31-6-2, as amended
	19	+	13 by Act 2021-444, 2021 Regular Session, 31-6-2.1, as added by
	20	+	14 Act 2021-444, 2021 Regular Session, 31-6-3, 31-6-4, as amended
	21	+	15 by Act 2021-84, 2021 Regular Session, 31-6-5, 31-6-6, 31-6-9,
	22	+	16 31-6-11, 31-6-12, 31-6-13, 31-6-14, 31-6-15, 31-6-15.1, and
	23	+	17 31-6-16, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide that scholarship
	24	+	18 benefits may be used for instruction at any public or private
	25	+	19 two-year or four-year institution of higher education located
	26	+	20 in the state that receives state funds; to remove an obsolete
	27	+	21 correspondence course benefit; to make nonsubstantive,
	28	+	22 technical revisions to update the existing code language to
	29	+	23 current style; and to repeal Section 31-6-8, Code of Alabama
	30	+	24 1975, relating to Alabama G.I. Scholarships.
	31	+	25 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
	32	+	26 Section 1. Sections 31-6-2, as amended by Act
	33	+	27 2021-444, 2021 Regular Session, 31-6-2.1, as added by Act
	34	+	Page 1 1 2021-444, 2021 Regular Session, 31-6-3, 31-6-4, as amended by
	35	+	2 Act 2021-84, 2021 Regular Session, 31-6-5, 31-6-6, 31-6-9,
	36	+	3 31-6-11, 31-6-12, 31-6-13, 31-6-14, 31-6-15, 31-6-15.1, and
	37	+	4 31-6-16 of the Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as
	38	+	5 follows:
	39	+	6 "§31-6-2.
	40	+	7 "For the purposes of this chapter, the following
	41	+	8 terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this
	42	+	9 section:
	43	+	10 "(1) ARMED FORCES. The term includes Includes the
	44	+	11 United States Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Space
	45	+	12 Force, and Coast Guard. The term also includes the units of
	46	+	13 those branches of the services having women troops and the
	47	+	14 Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Nurse Corps.
	48	+	15 "(2) COMPREHENSIVE TRANSITION AND POSTSECONDARY
	49	+	16 PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. Has the
	50	+	17 same meaning as in 20 U.S.C. § 1140.
	51	+	18 "(3) HUSBAND. Spouse.
	52	+	19 "(3) QUALIFYING PRIVATE SCHOOL. Any regionally
	53	+	20 accredited private two-year or four-year institution of higher
	54	+	21 education physically located in the state that receives a
	55	+	22 direct appropriation from the state or whose resident students
	56	+	23 may receive appropriations from the state through the Alabama
	57	+	24 Student Grant Program.
	58	+	25 "(4) QUALIFYING SCHOOL. An institution which is
	59	+	26 either a qualifying state school or a qualifying private
	60	+	27 school as defined by this chapter.
	61	+	Page 2 1 "(5) QUALIFYING STATE SCHOOL. An Alabama public
	62	+	2 two-year or four-year institution of higher education.
	63	+	3 "(6) SPOUSE. Husband or wife.
	64	+	4 "(4)(7) TUITION. Fees for instruction.
	65	+	5 "(5)(8) TUITION AND FEES. All fees known and classed
	66	+	6 as instructional fees.
	67	+	7 "(6)(9) WIDOW or WIDOWER. An individual whose spouse
	68	+	8 is deceased and who has not remarried.
	69	+	9 "(7) WIFE. Spouse.
	70	+	10 "§31-6-2.1.
	71	+	11 "For the purposes of this chapter, in addition to
	72	+	12 any other benefits granted under this chapter, any child of a
	73	+	13 disabled or deceased veteran or otherwise eligible for
	74	+	14 educational benefits under this chapter who is admitted to
	75	+	15 attend and attends a comprehensive transition and
	76	+	16 postsecondary program for students with intellectual
	77	+	17 disabilities at a state four-year college or university
	78	+	18 institution of higher education shall be eligible to receive
	79	+	19 benefits equal to the benefits provided pursuant to this
	80	+	20 chapter to any other child eligible for educational benefits
	81	+	21 in an undergraduate course of study at a state four-year
	82	+	22 college or university institution of higher education under
	83	+	23 this chapter without regard as to whether the program is a
	84	+	24 degree, certificate, or non-degree program.
	85	+	25 "§31-6-3.
	86	+	26 "Tuition benefits received pursuant to Sections
	87	+	27 31-6-4 through 31-6-6 shall be called "Alabama G.I.
	88	+	Page 3 1 Dependents' Scholarships." Tuition benefits received under
86	89		2 Section 31-6-8 shall be called "Alabama G.I. Scholarships."
87	90		3 "§31-6-4.
88	91		4 "(a) Any child whose father or mother:
89	92		5 "(1) Was killed or died in line of duty or is listed
90	93		6 as missing in action or is/was a prisoner of war or whose
91	94		7 death or permanent total disabilities were service-connected
92	95		8 while serving as a member of the armed forces;
93	96		9 "(2) Died from a disability incurred from military
94	97		10 service, as established by the State Department of Veterans'
95	98		11 Affairs, after having been discharged under conditions other
96	99		12 than dishonorable and after having served at least 90 days
97	100		13 consecutively in the armed forces prior to and/or subsequent
98	101		14 to the date on which the disability occurred, or who was
99	102		15 honorably discharged by reason of wartime, a qualifying
100	103		16 service-connected disability after serving less than 90 days;
101	104		17 "(3) Was killed or died while on state active duty
102	105		18 status as defined in Section 31-12-1, or whose death results
103	106		19 proximately and within three years from an injury received
104	107		20 while on state active duty status; or
105	108		21 "(4) Has been assigned 100 percent permanent or
106	109		22 total disability rated by the United States Veterans'
107	110		23 Administration, or was discharged or retired from the armed
108	111		24 forces with a 40 percent or more disability and maintained
109	112		25 that percentage (such person to be deemed to be a disabled
110		-	Page 4 SB119
111		-	1 veteran); may attend any Alabama state institution of higher
112		-	2 learning, college, or university qualifying school for a
113		-	3 period of five standard academic years, not to exceed 45
114		-	4 months or the equivalent of 45 months if enrolled part-time,
115		-	5 pursuant to the tuition reimbursement guidelines as provided
116		-	6 in subsection (c) for such college or university attendance,
117		-	7 or any such child may take a prescribed course in any Alabama
118		-	8 state-supported community or technical college for the length
119		-	9 of any prescribed course of study of his or her choosing, and
120		-	10 if such course does not require the full 45 months, then
121		-	11 training for the remainder of the 45 months' entitlement may
122		-	12 be taken at a state-supported college or university only,
123		-	13 pursuant to the tuition reimbursement guidelines as provided
124		-	14 in subsection (c). Training under this section must be
125		-	15 initiated prior to the child's thirtieth birthday, and must be
126		-	16 completed within eight years after its initiation, except for
127		-	17 delays caused by military service during the training period,
128		-	18 and in no case may training be received under this chapter
129		-	19 beyond the thirty-eighth birthday of such the child.
130		-	20 "(b) Except as provided in Section 31-6-11(e), the
131		-	21 The educational benefits provided by this section to children
132		-	22 making application for benefits for the first time beginning
133		-	23 with the fall term of the 2014-2015 academic year, and
134		-	24 thereafter, shall be limited to undergraduate courses of study
135		-	25 only, and the value of tuition paid shall be limited to the
136		-	Page 5 SB119
137		-	1 in-state tuition rate of the Alabama state institution of
138		-	2 higher learning, college, or university qualifying school
139		-	3 attended.
140		-	4 "(c) For those first filing for benefits under this
141		-	5 chapter on or after July 31, 2017, and for those attending a
142		-	6 qualifying private school, the educational benefit shall be
143		-	7 for tuition reimbursement and books and fees reimbursement.
144		-	8 The value of tuition paid per semester hour (or equivalent)
145		-	9 shall be limited to the rate of the Department of Defense
146		-	10 Tuition Assistance Cap. The value of the books and fees paid
147		-	11 per semester shall be limited to one thousand dollars ($1,000)
148		-	12 per student.
149		-	13 "(d) For the purpose of the minimum disability
150		-	14 requirement provided for in subdivision (a)(4), the dependent
151		-	15 of any veteran whose disability rating as of July 31, 2017, is
152		-	16 at least 20 percent but less than 40 percent shall qualify for
153		-	17 the benefits of this chapter, provided that the dependent
154		-	18 shall file application for such benefits before July 31, 2023,
155		-	19 and the dependent is reasonably expected to be eligible to
156		-	20 attend an Alabama institution of higher learning, college, or
157		-	21 university a qualifying school in the next academic year.
158		-	22 "§31-6-5.
159		-	23 "(a) Any wife or husband spouse or unmarried widow
160		-	24 or widower whose spouse, during their marriage:
161		-	Page 6 SB119
162		-	1 "(1) Was killed or died in the line of duty or is
163		-	2 listed as missing in action or is/was a prisoner of war while
164		-	3 serving as a member of the armed forces;
165		-	4 "(2) Died from a disability incurred from military
166		-	5 service; or
167		-	6 "(3) Is 100 percent permanently and totally
168		-	7 disabled, whose permanent and total disabilities were
169		-	8 service-connected; shall be entitled to training in any
170		-	9 Alabama state-supported college or university qualifying
171		-	10 school for a period of five standard academic years, not to
172		-	11 exceed 45 months, or to training for the equivalent of 45
173		-	12 months if enrolled part-time or to training in a prescribed
174		-	13 course in a state-supported community or technical college,
175		-	14 and if such course does not require the full 45 months, then
176		-	15 training for the remainder of such 45 months' entitlement may
177		-	16 be taken at a state-supported college or university only,
178		-	17 pursuant to the tuition reimbursement guidelines as provided
179		-	18 in subsection (c). One change of program will be allowed
180		-	19 without counseling. All training received under this section
181		-	20 must be completed within eight years after the beginning date
182		-	21 of the course its initiation. This section shall not apply to
183		-	22 the spouse of any such deceased serviceman or veteran who has
184		-	23 remarried prior to applying for and obtaining educational
185		-	24 benefits under this section, and should any such spouse of
186		-	25 such the deceased serviceman or veteran remarry during the
187		-	Page 7 SB119
188		-	1 time he or she is in attendance upon any of the qualifying
189		-	2 schools, colleges, or universities mentioned in this section,
190		-	3 then he or she shall pay tuition and fees for the course of
191		-	4 study or attendance upon such the qualifying school, college,
192		-	5 or university from the time of the remarriage. The benefits
193		-	6 provided under this section shall be in addition to federal
194		-	7 government benefits.
195		-	8 "(b) Except as provided in Section 31-6-11(e), the
196		-	9 The educational benefits provided by this section to wives,
197		-	10 husbands, and unmarried spouses and widows or widowers making
198		-	11 application for benefits for the first time beginning with the
199		-	12 fall term of the 2014-2015 academic year, and thereafter,
200		-	13 shall be limited to undergraduate courses of study only, and
201		-	14 the value of tuition paid shall be limited to the in-state
202		-	15 tuition rate of the Alabama state-supported college or
203		-	16 university qualifying school attended.
204		-	17 "(c) For those first filing for benefits under this
205		-	18 chapter on or after July 31, 2017, and for those attending a
206		-	19 qualifying private school, the educational benefit shall be
207		-	20 for tuition reimbursement and books and fees reimbursement.
208		-	21 The value of tuition paid per semester hour (or equivalent)
209		-	22 shall be limited to the rate of the Department of Defense
210		-	23 Tuition Assistance Cap. The value of the books and fees paid
211		-	24 per semester shall be limited to $1,000 one thousand dollars
212		-	25 ($1,000) per student.
213		-	Page 8 SB119
214		-	1 "§31-6-6.
215		-	2 "(a) The spouse and children of any veteran who is
216		-	3 suffering from 40 to 90 percent service-connected disability
217		-	4 brought about from service in the Armed Forces of the United
218		-	5 States, or the unmarried widow or widower and children of a
219		-	6 deceased veteran who was suffering from 40 percent or more of
220		-	7 service-connected disability at the time of death, provided
221		-	8 such disabilities as are mentioned herein are incurred from
222		-	9 military service, as established by the State Department of
223		-	10 Veterans' Affairs, shall be entitled to the following
224		-	11 educational advantages and opportunities:
225		-	12 "(1) The spouse or unmarried widow or widower, as
226		-	13 the case may be, shall be entitled to up to 27 months of
227		-	14 schooling, or the equivalent of 27 months if enrolled
228		-	15 part-time, in any Alabama state-supported institution of
229		-	16 higher learning, college, or university, or to a prescribed
230		-	17 course in any Alabama state-supported community or technical
231		-	18 college qualifying school, pursuant to the tuition
232		-	19 reimbursement guidelines as provided in subsection (d). One
233		-	20 change of program will be allowed without counseling. It is
234		-	21 provided, however, that all All training received at state
235		-	22 institutions of higher learning or state-supported community
236		-	23 or technical college qualifying schools under this subdivision
237		-	24 must be completed within a period of six years after the
238		-	Page 9 SB119
239		-	1 beginning date of such two-year course or such prescribed
240		-	2 course its initiation.
241		-	3 "(2) Each child of such a disabled veteran shall be
242		-	4 entitled to five standard academic years, or the equivalent of
243		-	5 45 months if enrolled part-time, in any Alabama
244		-	6 state-supported institution of higher learning, college, or
245		-	7 university, or to a prescribed course at an Alabama
246		-	8 state-supported community or technical college. If the course
247		-	9 of training at the community or technical college does not
248		-	10 require the full time to which such child is entitled
249		-	11 hereunder, then the remaining entitlement may be taken in a
250		-	12 state-supported college or university only, qualifying school
251		-	13 pursuant to the tuition reimbursement guidelines as provided
252		-	14 in subsection (d). One change of program will be allowed
253		-	15 without counseling. Training under this subdivision must be
254		-	16 initiated prior to the child's twenty-sixth birthday, and must
255		-	17 be completed within eight years after its initiation, except
256		-	18 for delays caused by military service during the training
257		-	19 period, and in no case may training be received under this
258		-	20 section beyond the thirty-fourth birthday of such the child.
259		-	21 "(b) For the purpose of the minimum disability
260		-	22 requirement provided for in subsection (a), the dependent of
261		-	23 any veteran whose disability rating as of July 31, 2017, is at
262		-	24 least 20 percent but less than 40 percent shall qualify for
263		-	25 the benefits of this chapter, provided that the dependent
264		-	Page 10 SB119
265		-	1 shall file application for such benefits before July 31, 2023,
266		-	2 and the dependent is reasonably expected to be eligible to
267		-	3 attend an Alabama institution of higher learning, college or
268		-	4 university a qualifying school in the next academic year.
269		-	5 "(c) Except as provided in Section 31-6-11(e), the
270		-	6 The educational benefits provided by this section to spouses,
271		-	7 children, and unmarried widows and widowers making application
272		-	8 for benefits for the first time beginning with the fall term
273		-	9 of the 2014-2015 academic year, and thereafter, shall be
274		-	10 limited to undergraduate courses of study only, and the value
275		-	11 of tuition paid shall be limited to the in-state tuition rate
276		-	12 of the Alabama state-supported institution of higher learning,
277		-	13 college, or university qualifying school attended.
278		-	14 "(d) For those first filing for benefits under this
279		-	15 chapter on or after July 31, 2017, and for those attending a
280		-	16 qualifying private school, the educational benefit shall be
281		-	17 for tuition reimbursement and books and fees reimbursement.
282		-	18 The value of tuition paid per semester hour (or equivalent)
283		-	19 shall be limited to the rate of the Department of Defense
284		-	20 Tuition Assistance Cap. The value of the books and fees paid
285		-	21 per semester shall be limited to $1,000 one thousand dollars
286		-	22 ($1,000) per student.
287		-	23 "(e) The benefits provided under this section shall
288		-	24 be available in addition to federal government benefits. Any
289		-	25 child, spouse, or unmarried widow who was denied full
290		-	Page 11 SB119
291		-	1 entitlement, 27 or 45 months, whichever the case may be, shall
292		-	2 have the remainder of their entitlement reinstated under this
293		-	3 chapter.
294		-	4 "§31-6-9.
295		-	5 "(a) For those dependents who first file for
296		-	6 benefits under this chapter prior to July 31, 2017, the
297		-	7 benefits provided under this chapter shall be in addition to
298		-	8 any other state or federal benefits to which that dependent
299		-	9 may be entitled.
300		-	10 "(b) For dependents who first file for benefits
301		-	11 under this chapter on or after July 31, 2017, and for those
302		-	12 attending a qualifying private school:
303		-	13 "(1) To the extent permitted by law, prior to
304		-	14 applying any benefits provided for under this chapter,
305		-	15 institutional certifying officials and financial aid officials
306		-	16 shall first apply other federal, state, institutional, and
307		-	17 third party scholarships and grants awarded to the dependent
308		-	18 for that academic period for payment of required educational
309		-	19 expenses during an academic period.
310		-	20 "(2) A completed Free Application for Federal
311		-	21 Student Aid (FAFSA), or the equivalent, must be submitted to
312		-	22 the United States Department of Education for each year in
313		-	23 which the dependent receives benefits under this chapter. The
314		-	24 dependent shall have applied for all federal student financial
315		-	25 aid grants, including, but not limited to, Pell Grants,
316		-	Page 12 SB119
317		-	1 Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, and Education and
318		-	2 Training Vouchers, identified as being available for the
319		-	3 student's application by Federal Student Aid, an office of the
320		-	4 United States Department of Education, or its successor
321		-	5 agency.
322		-	6 "(3) All students receiving educational benefits
323		-	7 under this chapter and the educational institutions qualifying
324		-	8 schools they attend must comply with the standards of
325		-	9 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as required for Title IV
326		-	10 benefits under the Higher Education Act and as defined by that
327		-	11 education institution qualifying school. Those students who
328		-	12 would no longer be eligible to receive Title IV benefits due
329		-	13 to a failure to meet SAP standards shall no longer be eligible
330		-	14 to receive benefits under this chapter. Education institutions
331		-	15 Each qualifying school shall notify the Alabama State
332		-	16 Department of Veterans Veterans' Affairs of any student who
333		-	17 currently holds a certificate of eligibility for benefits
334		-	18 under this chapter who is no longer eligible to receive
335		-	19 benefits due to a failure to meet SAP standards and the
336		-	20 effective date of that change in eligibility.
337		-	21 "(4) The dependent shall ensure that all qualifying
338		-	22 schools they attend he or she attends under this program are
339		-	23 authorized to release such personally identifiable information
340		-	24 to the Alabama State Department of Veterans Veterans' Affairs
341		-	25 as is required for the determination of that dependent's
342		-	Page 13 SB119
343		-	1 continued eligibility and as required for the completion of
344		-	2 all reports required by law.
345		-	3 "(c) Any dependent who receives benefits under this
346		-	4 chapter, and whose benefit period is interrupted due to
347		-	5 accident, injury, or illness, shall have the benefit time
348		-	6 period which is lost due to such accident, illness, or injury
349		-	7 restored to him or her.
350		-	8 "(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
351		-	9 chapter to the contrary, dependents of any veteran whose
352		-	10 disability rating, if any, prior to May 23, 2017, was less
353		-	11 than 20 percent, but who had a claim for compensation pending
354		-	12 prior to that date which resulted in a final award by the
355		-	13 United States Department of Veterans Affairs of at least 20
356		-	14 percent, shall be eligible for education benefits as the
357		-	15 chapter read prior to May 23, 2017, if the dependent files an
358		-	16 application for benefits under this chapter within six months
359		-	17 of that final adjudication and provides proof satisfactory to
360		-	18 the Alabama State Department of Veterans Veterans' Affairs
361		-	19 that they qualify he or she qualifies under this exception and
362		-	20 currently meet satisfies the eligibility requirements as the
363		-	21 chapter read prior to May 23, 2017.
364		-	22 "§31-6-11.
365		-	23 "(a) Before an application of any veteran for
366		-	24 benefits under this chapter can be approved, such veteran
367		-	Page 14 SB119
368		-	1 shall submit proof, satisfactory to the State Department of
369		-	2 Veterans' Affairs, of all of the following:
370		-	3 "(1) Identification.
371		-	4 "(2) Having been a permanent resident of the State
372		-	5 of Alabama for at least one year immediately prior to his or
373		-	6 her entrance into service.
374		-	7 "(3) An honorable discharge or other proof of
375		-	8 honorable termination of at least 24 months of service in the
376		-	9 armed forces, or if such veteran was discharged or released by
377		-	10 reason of service-connected disability then proof of honorable
378		-	11 termination of less than 24 months of service is acceptable.
379		-	12 "(b)(a) Before the application of a wife spouse,
380		-	13 widow, or child of a disabled veteran or a deceased veteran or
381		-	14 serviceman for educational benefits under this chapter is
382		-	15 approved, proof, satisfactory to the State Department of
383		-	16 Veterans' Affairs, must be submitted of all of the following:
384		-	17 "(1) Establishing the identification of such wife
385		-	18 the spouse, widow, or child as the wife spouse, widow, or
386		-	19 child of the veteran or serviceman, as the case may be.
387		-	20 "(2) Of the veteran or serviceman having been a
388		-	21 permanent resident of the State of Alabama for at least one
389		-	22 year immediately prior, to his or her entrance into service,
390		-	23 or if the applicant is the wife spouse, widow, or child of a
391		-	24 totally and permanently disabled veteran, then proof either of
392		-	25 the veteran's having been a permanent resident of the State of
393		-	Page 15 SB119
394		-	1 Alabama for at least one year prior to his or her entrance
395		-	2 into service or proof that the veteran has been a bona fide
396		-	3 resident of this state for at least five years immediately
397		-	4 prior to the filing of the application for benefits under this
398		-	5 chapter or immediately prior to his or her death if the
399		-	6 veteran is deceased.
400		-	7 "(3) Of the veteran or serviceman having been a
401		-	8 permanent resident of the State of Alabama for at least two
402		-	9 years immediately prior to the filing of the application for
403		-	10 benefits under this chapter or has filed an Alabama income tax
404		-	11 return as a resident individual for the previous ten 10 years
405		-	12 or is a current resident and was discharged from active duty
406		-	13 within the prior 12 months. If the veteran or serviceman is
407		-	14 deceased, his or her dependent may still qualify if the
408		-	15 veteran or serviceman met this residency requirement at the
409		-	16 time of his or her death. Alabama income tax return
410		-	17 information, including, but not limited to, the type of return
411		-	18 filed, necessary to show the residency requirements under this
412		-	19 chapter have been met is hereby exempted from the
413		-	20 confidentiality provisions of Section 40-2A-10, and shall be
414		-	21 provided by the Department of Revenue to the State Department
415		-	22 of Veterans Veterans' Affairs upon request. Such requests and
416		-	23 the significance of the information provided, shall be
417		-	24 requested by the State Department of Veterans Veterans'
418		-	25 Affairs as necessary when other residency information is not
419		-	Page 16 SB119
420		-	1 available, and the department shall promulgate adopt rules and
421		-	2 procedures to effect the provisions of this section as needed.
422		-	3 "(4) Of the wife spouse, widow, or child being a
423		-	4 current resident of the State of Alabama.
424		-	5 "(5) An honorable discharge or other proof of
425		-	6 honorable termination of service of the veteran or serviceman
426		-	7 in the armed forces for a period of at least 90 days between
427		-	8 the dates mentioned in this chapter, or service of less than
428		-	9 90 days if the veteran or serviceman was discharged or
429		-	10 released by reason of a qualifying service-connected
430		-	11 disability.
431		-	12 "(c) The service upon which any benefits are awarded
432		-	13 under this chapter shall have been rendered during wartime or
433		-	14 under extrahazardous conditions, except as provided otherwise
434		-	15 in this section; and this condition of eligibility shall be
435		-	16 established by the State Department of Veterans' Affairs.
436		-	17 "(d) The service requirements provided for in
437		-	18 subsection (c) shall not apply to any person making
438		-	19 application for benefits under this chapter beginning with the
439		-	20 fall term of the 2014-2015 academic year, and thereafter.
440		-	21 "(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
441		-	22 chapter to the contrary, any person denied educational
442		-	23 benefits provided by this chapter based solely upon the
443		-	24 service requirements provided for in subsection (c) shall be
444		-	25 eligible to receive the benefits the person would otherwise
445		-	Page 17 SB119
446		-	1 have been entitled to had their application been approved at
447		-	2 the time of initial application, except as provided otherwise
448		-	3 in this subsection. Any age limitation on the benefits
449		-	4 provided by this chapter shall be extended in like manner for
450		-	5 any such previously denied person to ensure that the person
451		-	6 has the opportunity to receive all benefits they would
452		-	7 otherwise have been entitled. In order to receive any
453		-	8 educational benefits, such the previously denied person must
454		-	9 reapply for educational benefits with the State Department of
455		-	10 Veterans' Affairs and begin use of the educational benefits no
456		-	11 later than the fall term of the 2015-2016 academic year. The
457		-	12 value of tuition paid for any such previously denied person
458		-	13 shall be limited to the in-state tuition rate of the Alabama
459		-	14 state institution of higher learning, college, or university
460		-	15 state-supported school attended.
461		-	16 "(f)(b) For those first filing for benefits under
462		-	17 this chapter on or after July 31, 2017, and for those
463		-	18 attending a qualifying private school, the educational benefit
464		-	19 shall be for tuition reimbursement and books and fees
465		-	20 reimbursement. The value of tuition paid per semester hour (or
466		-	21 equivalent) shall be limited to the rate of the Department of
467		-	22 Defense Tuition Assistance Cap. The value of the books and
468		-	23 fees paid per semester shall be limited to $1,000 one thousand
469		-	24 dollars ($1,000) per student.
470		-	25 "§31-6-12.
471		-	Page 18 SB119
472		-	1 "The State Department of Veterans' Affairs is hereby
473		-	2 charged with the duty of informing the veterans and their
474		-	3 dependents in this state, through its county service
475		-	4 commissioners and all other sources at its command, of the
476		-	5 provisions of this chapter in order that those veterans and
477		-	6 their dependents may know of the benefits provided in this
478		-	7 chapter. The State Department of Veterans' Affairs shall
479		-	8 furnish and assist in preparing and producing all necessary
480		-	9 blanks, forms, and other matters necessary for the veterans,
481		-	10 their wives spouses, widows, or children to obtain the
482		-	11 benefits provided under this chapter. The State Service
483		-	12 Commissioner shall cause to be forwarded to the state
484		-	13 institution of higher learning, college or university, or
485		-	14 state trade qualifying school of the applicant's choice, a
486		-	15 certificate of eligibility and entitlement, or other necessary
487		-	16 proof for the veteran, his wife or her spouse, widow, or child
488		-	17 to obtain the benefits made available hereby.
489		-	18 "§31-6-13.
490		-	19 "The president or head of each state institution of
491		-	20 higher learning or college or university or state trade
492		-	21 qualifying school must inform the faculty members of each
493		-	22 respective institution of the provisions and benefits of this
494		-	23 chapter, who in turn shall inform the wives spouses, widows,
495		-	24 and children of veterans attending such institutions as to
496		-	Page 19 SB119
497		-	1 their rights and benefits under the provisions of this
498		-	2 chapter.
499		-	3 "§31-6-14.
500		-	4 The county superintendent of education and the city
501		-	5 superintendent of schools in each respective county and city
502		-	6 must shall inform the teachers of their county and city of the
503		-	7 provisions and benefits of this chapter, who in turn shall
504		-	8 inform the children of veterans as to their rights and
505		-	9 benefits under the provisions of this chapter.
506		-	10 "§31-6-15.
507		-	11 "(a) The benefits provided in this chapter shall be
508		-	12 paid from an annual appropriation from the Education Trust
509		-	13 Fund to reimburse every Alabama state institution of higher
510		-	14 learning, college, university, or Alabama community or
511		-	15 technical college qualifying school in which benefits are
512		-	16 given to veterans, their wives spouses, widows, or children
513		-	17 under this chapter. Such reimbursement Reimbursement shall be
514		-	18 made timely at the end of each academic quarter or semester
515		-	19 for all tuition reimbursements for the certified invoices
516		-	20 submitted by such the institution or school to the State
517		-	21 Department of Veterans' Affairs, and shall be supported by
518		-	22 names of the students receiving such benefits, together with
519		-	23 the amounts claimed for each student. Any amount of in-state
520		-	24 tuition, books, or fees not paid by the combination of
521		-	25 federal, state, and third party funds may be billed to
522		-	Page 20 SB119
523		-	1 students receiving such benefits or waived by the institution
524		-	2 or school.
525		-	3 "(b) The Department of Examiners of Public Accounts
526		-	4 may audit the records of any two-year or four-year institution
527		-	5 of higher education which receives any reimbursement as a
528		-	6 result of this chapter to the same extent, degree, and scope
529		-	7 as audits performed on other public educational institutions,
530		-	8 and the institution shall submit to the Legislature and the
531		-	9 State Department of Veterans' Affairs each year, before any
532		-	10 subsequent reimbursement may be applied for or considered, a
533		-	11 full accounting of any receipts, disbursements, assets,
534		-	12 liabilities, and other resources as of the date of the close
535		-	13 of the immediately preceding academic year.
536		-	14 "§31-6-15.1.
537		-	15 "The State Department of Veterans Veterans' Affairs
538		-	16 shall report to the Legislature, by January 1st of each year,
539		-	17 the number of applicants approved in the previous fiscal year
540		-	18 and those approved as of the reporting date for the current
541		-	19 fiscal year, the number of students by years of remaining
542		-	20 eligibility, and the costs of the previous fiscal year's
543		-	21 expenditures to the program by each category of public
544		-	22 institution of higher learning qualifying school to include
545		-	23 the number of students who attended each of those institutions
546		-	24 schools.
547		-	25 "§31-6-16.
548		-	Page 21 SB119
549		-	1 "Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as
550		-	2 lowering the standards or requirements, or as to making any
551		-	3 exceptions thereto for entrance into any of the state
552		-	4 qualifying schools or institutions affected by this chapter.
553		-	5 All applicants, in order to obtain the educational benefits of
554		-	6 this chapter, must first meet all scholastic and other
555		-	7 requirements for entrance into any of the qualifying schools
556		-	8 coming within the purview of this chapter."
557		-	9 Section 2. Section 31-6-8, Code of Alabama 1975,
558		-	10 relating to Alabama G.I. Scholarships, is repealed.
559		-	11 Section 3. This act shall become effective on June
560		-	12 1, 2022, following its passage and approval by the Governor,
561		-	13 or its otherwise becoming law.
562		-	Page 22 SB119
563		-	1
	113	+	26 veteran); may attend any Alabama state institution of higher
	114	+	27 learning, college, or university qualifying school for a
	115	+	Page 4 1 period of five standard academic years, not to exceed 45
	116	+	2 months or the equivalent of 45 months if enrolled part-time,
	117	+	3 pursuant to the tuition reimbursement guidelines as provided
	118	+	4 in subsection (c) for such college or university attendance,
	119	+	5 or any such child may take a prescribed course in any Alabama
	120	+	6 state-supported community or technical college for the length
	121	+	7 of any prescribed course of study of his or her choosing, and
	122	+	8 if such course does not require the full 45 months, then
	123	+	9 training for the remainder of the 45 months' entitlement may
	124	+	10 be taken at a state-supported college or university only,
	125	+	11 pursuant to the tuition reimbursement guidelines as provided
	126	+	12 in subsection (c). Training under this section must be
	127	+	13 initiated prior to the child's thirtieth birthday, and must be
	128	+	14 completed within eight years after its initiation, except for
	129	+	15 delays caused by military service during the training period,
	130	+	16 and in no case may training be received under this chapter
	131	+	17 beyond the thirty-eighth birthday of such the child.
	132	+	18 "(b) Except as provided in Section 31-6-11(e), the
	133	+	19 The educational benefits provided by this section to children
	134	+	20 making application for benefits for the first time beginning
	135	+	21 with the fall term of the 2014-2015 academic year, and
	136	+	22 thereafter, shall be limited to undergraduate courses of study
	137	+	23 only, and the value of tuition paid shall be limited to the
	138	+	24 in-state tuition rate of the Alabama state institution of
	139	+	25 higher learning, college, or university qualifying school
	140	+	26 attended.
	141	+	Page 5 1 "(c) For those first filing for benefits under this
	142	+	2 chapter on or after July 31, 2017, and for those attending a
	143	+	3 qualifying private school, the educational benefit shall be
	144	+	4 for tuition reimbursement and books and fees reimbursement.
	145	+	5 The value of tuition paid per semester hour (or equivalent)
	146	+	6 shall be limited to the rate of the Department of Defense
	147	+	7 Tuition Assistance Cap. The value of the books and fees paid
	148	+	8 per semester shall be limited to one thousand dollars ($1,000)
	149	+	9 per student.
	150	+	10 "(d) For the purpose of the minimum disability
	151	+	11 requirement provided for in subdivision (a)(4), the dependent
	152	+	12 of any veteran whose disability rating as of July 31, 2017, is
	153	+	13 at least 20 percent but less than 40 percent shall qualify for
	154	+	14 the benefits of this chapter, provided that the dependent
	155	+	15 shall file application for such benefits before July 31, 2023,
	156	+	16 and the dependent is reasonably expected to be eligible to
	157	+	17 attend an Alabama institution of higher learning, college, or
	158	+	18 university a qualifying school in the next academic year.
	159	+	19 "§31-6-5.
	160	+	20 "(a) Any wife or husband spouse or unmarried widow
	161	+	21 or widower whose spouse, during their marriage:
	162	+	22 "(1) Was killed or died in the line of duty or is
	163	+	23 listed as missing in action or is/was a prisoner of war while
	164	+	24 serving as a member of the armed forces;
	165	+	25 "(2) Died from a disability incurred from military
	166	+	26 service; or
	167	+	Page 6 1 "(3) Is 100 percent permanently and totally
	168	+	2 disabled, whose permanent and total disabilities were
	169	+	3 service-connected; shall be entitled to training in any
	170	+	4 Alabama state-supported college or university qualifying
	171	+	5 school for a period of five standard academic years, not to
	172	+	6 exceed 45 months, or to training for the equivalent of 45
	173	+	7 months if enrolled part-time or to training in a prescribed
	174	+	8 course in a state-supported community or technical college,
	175	+	9 and if such course does not require the full 45 months, then
	176	+	10 training for the remainder of such 45 months' entitlement may
	177	+	11 be taken at a state-supported college or university only,
	178	+	12 pursuant to the tuition reimbursement guidelines as provided
	179	+	13 in subsection (c). One change of program will be allowed
	180	+	14 without counseling. All training received under this section
	181	+	15 must be completed within eight years after the beginning date
	182	+	16 of the course its initiation. This section shall not apply to
	183	+	17 the spouse of any such deceased serviceman or veteran who has
	184	+	18 remarried prior to applying for and obtaining educational
	185	+	19 benefits under this section, and should any such spouse of
	186	+	20 such the deceased serviceman or veteran remarry during the
	187	+	21 time he or she is in attendance upon any of the qualifying
	188	+	22 schools, colleges, or universities mentioned in this section,
	189	+	23 then he or she shall pay tuition and fees for the course of
	190	+	24 study or attendance upon such the qualifying school, college,
	191	+	25 or university from the time of the remarriage. The benefits
	192	+	26 provided under this section shall be in addition to federal
	193	+	27 government benefits.
	194	+	Page 7 1 "(b) Except as provided in Section 31-6-11(e), the
	195	+	2 The educational benefits provided by this section to wives,
	196	+	3 husbands, and unmarried spouses and widows or widowers making
	197	+	4 application for benefits for the first time beginning with the
	198	+	5 fall term of the 2014-2015 academic year, and thereafter,
	199	+	6 shall be limited to undergraduate courses of study only, and
	200	+	7 the value of tuition paid shall be limited to the in-state
	201	+	8 tuition rate of the Alabama state-supported college or
	202	+	9 university qualifying school attended.
	203	+	10 "(c) For those first filing for benefits under this
	204	+	11 chapter on or after July 31, 2017, and for those attending a
	205	+	12 qualifying private school, the educational benefit shall be
	206	+	13 for tuition reimbursement and books and fees reimbursement.
	207	+	14 The value of tuition paid per semester hour (or equivalent)
	208	+	15 shall be limited to the rate of the Department of Defense
	209	+	16 Tuition Assistance Cap. The value of the books and fees paid
	210	+	17 per semester shall be limited to $1,000 one thousand dollars
	211	+	18 ($1,000) per student.
	212	+	19 "§31-6-6.
	213	+	20 "(a) The spouse and children of any veteran who is
	214	+	21 suffering from 40 to 90 percent service-connected disability
	215	+	22 brought about from service in the Armed Forces of the United
	216	+	23 States, or the unmarried widow or widower and children of a
	217	+	24 deceased veteran who was suffering from 40 percent or more of
	218	+	25 service-connected disability at the time of death, provided
	219	+	26 such disabilities as are mentioned herein are incurred from
	220	+	27 military service, as established by the State Department of
	221	+	Page 8 1 Veterans' Affairs, shall be entitled to the following
	222	+	2 educational advantages and opportunities:
	223	+	3 "(1) The spouse or unmarried widow or widower, as
	224	+	4 the case may be, shall be entitled to up to 27 months of
	225	+	5 schooling, or the equivalent of 27 months if enrolled
	226	+	6 part-time, in any Alabama state-supported institution of
	227	+	7 higher learning, college, or university, or to a prescribed
	228	+	8 course in any Alabama state-supported community or technical
	229	+	9 college qualifying school, pursuant to the tuition
	230	+	10 reimbursement guidelines as provided in subsection (d). One
	231	+	11 change of program will be allowed without counseling. It is
	232	+	12 provided, however, that all All training received at state
	233	+	13 institutions of higher learning or state-supported community
	234	+	14 or technical college qualifying schools under this subdivision
	235	+	15 must be completed within a period of six years after the
	236	+	16 beginning date of such two-year course or such prescribed
	237	+	17 course its initiation.
	238	+	18 "(2) Each child of such a disabled veteran shall be
	239	+	19 entitled to five standard academic years, or the equivalent of
	240	+	20 45 months if enrolled part-time, in any Alabama
	241	+	21 state-supported institution of higher learning, college, or
	242	+	22 university, or to a prescribed course at an Alabama
	243	+	23 state-supported community or technical college. If the course
	244	+	24 of training at the community or technical college does not
	245	+	25 require the full time to which such child is entitled
	246	+	26 hereunder, then the remaining entitlement may be taken in a
	247	+	27 state-supported college or university only, qualifying school
	248	+	Page 9 1 pursuant to the tuition reimbursement guidelines as provided
	249	+	2 in subsection (d). One change of program will be allowed
	250	+	3 without counseling. Training under this subdivision must be
	251	+	4 initiated prior to the child's twenty-sixth birthday, and must
	252	+	5 be completed within eight years after its initiation, except
	253	+	6 for delays caused by military service during the training
	254	+	7 period, and in no case may training be received under this
	255	+	8 section beyond the thirty-fourth birthday of such the child.
	256	+	9 "(b) For the purpose of the minimum disability
	257	+	10 requirement provided for in subsection (a), the dependent of
	258	+	11 any veteran whose disability rating as of July 31, 2017, is at
	259	+	12 least 20 percent but less than 40 percent shall qualify for
	260	+	13 the benefits of this chapter, provided that the dependent
	261	+	14 shall file application for such benefits before July 31, 2023,
	262	+	15 and the dependent is reasonably expected to be eligible to
	263	+	16 attend an Alabama institution of higher learning, college or
	264	+	17 university a qualifying school in the next academic year.
	265	+	18 "(c) Except as provided in Section 31-6-11(e), the
	266	+	19 The educational benefits provided by this section to spouses,
	267	+	20 children, and unmarried widows and widowers making application
	268	+	21 for benefits for the first time beginning with the fall term
	269	+	22 of the 2014-2015 academic year, and thereafter, shall be
	270	+	23 limited to undergraduate courses of study only, and the value
	271	+	24 of tuition paid shall be limited to the in-state tuition rate
	272	+	25 of the Alabama state-supported institution of higher learning,
	273	+	26 college, or university qualifying school attended.
	274	+	Page 10 1 "(d) For those first filing for benefits under this
	275	+	2 chapter on or after July 31, 2017, and for those attending a
	276	+	3 qualifying private school, the educational benefit shall be
	277	+	4 for tuition reimbursement and books and fees reimbursement.
	278	+	5 The value of tuition paid per semester hour (or equivalent)
	279	+	6 shall be limited to the rate of the Department of Defense
	280	+	7 Tuition Assistance Cap. The value of the books and fees paid
	281	+	8 per semester shall be limited to $1,000 one thousand dollars
	282	+	9 ($1,000) per student.
	283	+	10 "(e) The benefits provided under this section shall
	284	+	11 be available in addition to federal government benefits. Any
	285	+	12 child, spouse, or unmarried widow who was denied full
	286	+	13 entitlement, 27 or 45 months, whichever the case may be, shall
	287	+	14 have the remainder of their entitlement reinstated under this
	288	+	15 chapter.
	289	+	16 "§31-6-9.
	290	+	17 "(a) For those dependents who first file for
	291	+	18 benefits under this chapter prior to July 31, 2017, the
	292	+	19 benefits provided under this chapter shall be in addition to
	293	+	20 any other state or federal benefits to which that dependent
	294	+	21 may be entitled.
	295	+	22 "(b) For dependents who first file for benefits
	296	+	23 under this chapter on or after July 31, 2017, and for those
	297	+	24 attending a qualifying private school:
	298	+	25 "(1) To the extent permitted by law, prior to
	299	+	26 applying any benefits provided for under this chapter,
	300	+	27 institutional certifying officials and financial aid officials
	301	+	Page 11 1 shall first apply other federal, state, institutional, and
	302	+	2 third party scholarships and grants awarded to the dependent
	303	+	3 for that academic period for payment of required educational
	304	+	4 expenses during an academic period.
	305	+	5 "(2) A completed Free Application for Federal
	306	+	6 Student Aid (FAFSA), or the equivalent, must be submitted to
	307	+	7 the United States Department of Education for each year in
	308	+	8 which the dependent receives benefits under this chapter. The
	309	+	9 dependent shall have applied for all federal student financial
	310	+	10 aid grants, including, but not limited to, Pell Grants,
	311	+	11 Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, and Education and
	312	+	12 Training Vouchers, identified as being available for the
	313	+	13 student's application by Federal Student Aid, an office of the
	314	+	14 United States Department of Education, or its successor
	315	+	15 agency.
	316	+	16 "(3) All students receiving educational benefits
	317	+	17 under this chapter and the educational institutions qualifying
	318	+	18 schools they attend must comply with the standards of
	319	+	19 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as required for Title IV
	320	+	20 benefits under the Higher Education Act and as defined by that
	321	+	21 education institution qualifying school. Those students who
	322	+	22 would no longer be eligible to receive Title IV benefits due
	323	+	23 to a failure to meet SAP standards shall no longer be eligible
	324	+	24 to receive benefits under this chapter. Education institutions
	325	+	25 Each qualifying school shall notify the Alabama State
	326	+	26 Department of Veterans Veterans' Affairs of any student who
	327	+	27 currently holds a certificate of eligibility for benefits
	328	+	Page 12 1 under this chapter who is no longer eligible to receive
	329	+	2 benefits due to a failure to meet SAP standards and the
	330	+	3 effective date of that change in eligibility.
	331	+	4 "(4) The dependent shall ensure that all qualifying
	332	+	5 schools they attend he or she attends under this program are
	333	+	6 authorized to release such personally identifiable information
	334	+	7 to the Alabama State Department of Veterans Veterans' Affairs
	335	+	8 as is required for the determination of that dependent's
	336	+	9 continued eligibility and as required for the completion of
	337	+	10 all reports required by law.
	338	+	11 "(c) Any dependent who receives benefits under this
	339	+	12 chapter, and whose benefit period is interrupted due to
	340	+	13 accident, injury, or illness, shall have the benefit time
	341	+	14 period which is lost due to such accident, illness, or injury
	342	+	15 restored to him or her.
	343	+	16 "(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
	344	+	17 chapter to the contrary, dependents of any veteran whose
	345	+	18 disability rating, if any, prior to May 23, 2017, was less
	346	+	19 than 20 percent, but who had a claim for compensation pending
	347	+	20 prior to that date which resulted in a final award by the
	348	+	21 United States Department of Veterans Affairs of at least 20
	349	+	22 percent, shall be eligible for education benefits as the
	350	+	23 chapter read prior to May 23, 2017, if the dependent files an
	351	+	24 application for benefits under this chapter within six months
	352	+	25 of that final adjudication and provides proof satisfactory to
	353	+	26 the Alabama State Department of Veterans Veterans' Affairs
	354	+	27 that they qualify he or she qualifies under this exception and
	355	+	Page 13 1 currently meet satisfies the eligibility requirements as the
	356	+	2 chapter read prior to May 23, 2017.
	357	+	3 "§31-6-11.
	358	+	4 "(a) Before an application of any veteran for
	359	+	5 benefits under this chapter can be approved, such veteran
	360	+	6 shall submit proof, satisfactory to the State Department of
	361	+	7 Veterans' Affairs, of all of the following:
	362	+	8 "(1) Identification.
	363	+	9 "(2) Having been a permanent resident of the State
	364	+	10 of Alabama for at least one year immediately prior to his or
	365	+	11 her entrance into service.
	366	+	12 "(3) An honorable discharge or other proof of
	367	+	13 honorable termination of at least 24 months of service in the
	368	+	14 armed forces, or if such veteran was discharged or released by
	369	+	15 reason of service-connected disability then proof of honorable
	370	+	16 termination of less than 24 months of service is acceptable.
	371	+	17 "(b)(a) Before the application of a wife spouse,
	372	+	18 widow, or child of a disabled veteran or a deceased veteran or
	373	+	19 serviceman for educational benefits under this chapter is
	374	+	20 approved, proof, satisfactory to the State Department of
	375	+	21 Veterans' Affairs, must be submitted of all of the following:
	376	+	22 "(1) Establishing the identification of such wife
	377	+	23 the spouse, widow, or child as the wife spouse, widow, or
	378	+	24 child of the veteran or serviceman, as the case may be.
	379	+	25 "(2) Of the veteran or serviceman having been a
	380	+	26 permanent resident of the State of Alabama for at least one
	381	+	27 year immediately prior, to his or her entrance into service,
	382	+	Page 14 1 or if the applicant is the wife spouse, widow, or child of a
	383	+	2 totally and permanently disabled veteran, then proof either of
	384	+	3 the veteran's having been a permanent resident of the State of
	385	+	4 Alabama for at least one year prior to his or her entrance
	386	+	5 into service or proof that the veteran has been a bona fide
	387	+	6 resident of this state for at least five years immediately
	388	+	7 prior to the filing of the application for benefits under this
	389	+	8 chapter or immediately prior to his or her death if the
	390	+	9 veteran is deceased.
	391	+	10 "(3) Of the veteran or serviceman having been a
	392	+	11 permanent resident of the State of Alabama for at least two
	393	+	12 years immediately prior to the filing of the application for
	394	+	13 benefits under this chapter or has filed an Alabama income tax
	395	+	14 return as a resident individual for the previous ten 10 years
	396	+	15 or is a current resident and was discharged from active duty
	397	+	16 within the prior 12 months. If the veteran or serviceman is
	398	+	17 deceased, his or her dependent may still qualify if the
	399	+	18 veteran or serviceman met this residency requirement at the
	400	+	19 time of his or her death. Alabama income tax return
	401	+	20 information, including, but not limited to, the type of return
	402	+	21 filed, necessary to show the residency requirements under this
	403	+	22 chapter have been met is hereby exempted from the
	404	+	23 confidentiality provisions of Section 40-2A-10, and shall be
	405	+	24 provided by the Department of Revenue to the State Department
	406	+	25 of Veterans Veterans' Affairs upon request. Such requests and
	407	+	26 the significance of the information provided, shall be
	408	+	27 requested by the State Department of Veterans Veterans'
	409	+	Page 15 1 Affairs as necessary when other residency information is not
	410	+	2 available, and the department shall promulgate adopt rules and
	411	+	3 procedures to effect the provisions of this section as needed.
	412	+	4 "(4) Of the wife spouse, widow, or child being a
	413	+	5 current resident of the State of Alabama.
	414	+	6 "(5) An honorable discharge or other proof of
	415	+	7 honorable termination of service of the veteran or serviceman
	416	+	8 in the armed forces for a period of at least 90 days between
	417	+	9 the dates mentioned in this chapter, or service of less than
	418	+	10 90 days if the veteran or serviceman was discharged or
	419	+	11 released by reason of a qualifying service-connected
	420	+	12 disability.
	421	+	13 "(c) The service upon which any benefits are awarded
	422	+	14 under this chapter shall have been rendered during wartime or
	423	+	15 under extrahazardous conditions, except as provided otherwise
	424	+	16 in this section; and this condition of eligibility shall be
	425	+	17 established by the State Department of Veterans' Affairs.
	426	+	18 "(d) The service requirements provided for in
	427	+	19 subsection (c) shall not apply to any person making
	428	+	20 application for benefits under this chapter beginning with the
	429	+	21 fall term of the 2014-2015 academic year, and thereafter.
	430	+	22 "(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
	431	+	23 chapter to the contrary, any person denied educational
	432	+	24 benefits provided by this chapter based solely upon the
	433	+	25 service requirements provided for in subsection (c) shall be
	434	+	26 eligible to receive the benefits the person would otherwise
	435	+	27 have been entitled to had their application been approved at
	436	+	Page 16 1 the time of initial application, except as provided otherwise
	437	+	2 in this subsection. Any age limitation on the benefits
	438	+	3 provided by this chapter shall be extended in like manner for
	439	+	4 any such previously denied person to ensure that the person
	440	+	5 has the opportunity to receive all benefits they would
	441	+	6 otherwise have been entitled. In order to receive any
	442	+	7 educational benefits, such the previously denied person must
	443	+	8 reapply for educational benefits with the State Department of
	444	+	9 Veterans' Affairs and begin use of the educational benefits no
	445	+	10 later than the fall term of the 2015-2016 academic year. The
	446	+	11 value of tuition paid for any such previously denied person
	447	+	12 shall be limited to the in-state tuition rate of the Alabama
	448	+	13 state institution of higher learning, college, or university
	449	+	14 state-supported school attended.
	450	+	15 "(f)(b) For those first filing for benefits under
	451	+	16 this chapter on or after July 31, 2017, and for those
	452	+	17 attending a qualifying private school, the educational benefit
	453	+	18 shall be for tuition reimbursement and books and fees
	454	+	19 reimbursement. The value of tuition paid per semester hour (or
	455	+	20 equivalent) shall be limited to the rate of the Department of
	456	+	21 Defense Tuition Assistance Cap. The value of the books and
	457	+	22 fees paid per semester shall be limited to $1,000 one thousand
	458	+	23 dollars ($1,000) per student.
	459	+	24 "§31-6-12.
	460	+	25 "The State Department of Veterans' Affairs is hereby
	461	+	26 charged with the duty of informing the veterans and their
	462	+	27 dependents in this state, through its county service
	463	+	Page 17 1 commissioners and all other sources at its command, of the
	464	+	2 provisions of this chapter in order that those veterans and
	465	+	3 their dependents may know of the benefits provided in this
	466	+	4 chapter. The State Department of Veterans' Affairs shall
	467	+	5 furnish and assist in preparing and producing all necessary
	468	+	6 blanks, forms, and other matters necessary for the veterans,
	469	+	7 their wives spouses, widows, or children to obtain the
	470	+	8 benefits provided under this chapter. The State Service
	471	+	9 Commissioner shall cause to be forwarded to the state
	472	+	10 institution of higher learning, college or university, or
	473	+	11 state trade qualifying school of the applicant's choice, a
	474	+	12 certificate of eligibility and entitlement, or other necessary
	475	+	13 proof for the veteran, his wife or her spouse, widow, or child
	476	+	14 to obtain the benefits made available hereby.
	477	+	15 "§31-6-13.
	478	+	16 "The president or head of each state institution of
	479	+	17 higher learning or college or university or state trade
	480	+	18 qualifying school must inform the faculty members of each
	481	+	19 respective institution of the provisions and benefits of this
	482	+	20 chapter, who in turn shall inform the wives spouses, widows,
	483	+	21 and children of veterans attending such institutions as to
	484	+	22 their rights and benefits under the provisions of this
	485	+	23 chapter.
	486	+	24 "§31-6-14.
	487	+	25 The county superintendent of education and the city
	488	+	26 superintendent of schools in each respective county and city
	489	+	27 must shall inform the teachers of their county and city of the
	490	+	Page 18 1 provisions and benefits of this chapter, who in turn shall
	491	+	2 inform the children of veterans as to their rights and
	492	+	3 benefits under the provisions of this chapter.
	493	+	4 "§31-6-15.
	494	+	5 "(a) The benefits provided in this chapter shall be
	495	+	6 paid from an annual appropriation from the Education Trust
	496	+	7 Fund to reimburse every Alabama state institution of higher
	497	+	8 learning, college, university, or Alabama community or
	498	+	9 technical college qualifying school in which benefits are
	499	+	10 given to veterans, their wives spouses, widows, or children
	500	+	11 under this chapter. Such reimbursement Reimbursement shall be
	501	+	12 made timely at the end of each academic quarter or semester
	502	+	13 for all tuition reimbursements for the certified invoices
	503	+	14 submitted by such the institution or school to the State
	504	+	15 Department of Veterans' Affairs, and shall be supported by
	505	+	16 names of the students receiving such benefits, together with
	506	+	17 the amounts claimed for each student. Any amount of in-state
	507	+	18 tuition, books, or fees not paid by the combination of
	508	+	19 federal, state, and third party funds may be billed to
	509	+	20 students receiving such benefits or waived by the institution
	510	+	21 or school.
	511	+	22 "(b) The Department of Examiners of Public Accounts
	512	+	23 may audit the records of any two-year or four-year institution
	513	+	24 of higher education which receives any reimbursement as a
	514	+	25 result of this chapter to the same extent, degree, and scope
	515	+	26 as audits performed on other public educational institutions,
	516	+	27 and the institution shall submit to the Legislature and the
	517	+	Page 19 1 State Department of Veterans' Affairs each year, before any
	518	+	2 subsequent reimbursement may be applied for or considered, a
	519	+	3 full accounting of any receipts, disbursements, assets,
	520	+	4 liabilities, and other resources as of the date of the close
	521	+	5 of the immediately preceding academic year.
	522	+	6 "§31-6-15.1.
	523	+	7 "The State Department of Veterans Veterans' Affairs
	524	+	8 shall report to the Legislature, by January 1st of each year,
	525	+	9 the number of applicants approved in the previous fiscal year
	526	+	10 and those approved as of the reporting date for the current
	527	+	11 fiscal year, the number of students by years of remaining
	528	+	12 eligibility, and the costs of the previous fiscal year's
	529	+	13 expenditures to the program by each category of public
	530	+	14 institution of higher learning qualifying school to include
	531	+	15 the number of students who attended each of those institutions
	532	+	16 schools.
	533	+	17 "§31-6-16.
	534	+	18 "Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as
	535	+	19 lowering the standards or requirements, or as to making any
	536	+	20 exceptions thereto for entrance into any of the state
	537	+	21 qualifying schools or institutions affected by this chapter.
	538	+	22 All applicants, in order to obtain the educational benefits of
	539	+	23 this chapter, must first meet all scholastic and other
	540	+	24 requirements for entrance into any of the qualifying schools
	541	+	25 coming within the purview of this chapter."
	542	+	26 Section 2. Section 31-6-8, Code of Alabama 1975,
	543	+	27 relating to Alabama G.I. Scholarships, is repealed.
	544	+	Page 20 1 Section 3. This act shall become effective on June
	545	+	2 1, 2022, following its passage and approval by the Governor,
	546	+	3 or its otherwise becoming law.
	547	+	Page 21 1
564	548		2
565		-	3
566		-	4
567		-	President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
568		-
569		-	5
570		-	6 Speaker of the House of Representatives
571		-	SB1197
572		-	8 Senate 15-FEB-22
573		-	9 I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and passed
574		-	10 the Senate, as amended.
575		-	11
576		-	12 Patrick Harris,
577		-	13 Secretary.
	549	+	3 Senate
	550	+	Read for the first time and referred to the Senate4
	551	+	committee on Veterans and Military Affairs .......5 1.8-JAN-22
	552	+	6
	553	+	Read for the second time and placed on the calen-7
	554	+	dar with 1 substitute and.........................8 0.2-FEB-22
	555	+	9
	556	+	Read for the third time and passed as amended ....10 1.5-FEB-22
	557	+	Yeas 2711
	558	+	12 Nays 0
	559	+	13
578	560		14
579		-	15
580		-	16
581		-	17 House of Representatives
582		-	18 Passed: 24-FEB-22
583		-	19
584		-	20
585		-	21 By: Senator Barfoot
586		-	Page 23
	561	+	15 Patrick Harris,
	562	+	16 Secretary.
	563	+	17
	564	+	Page 22