SB169INTRODUCED
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SB169
JG9TNFN-1
By Senator Kelley
RFD: Finance and Taxation Education
First Read: 28-Feb-24
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5 JG9TNFN-1 02/22/2024 MAP (L)ma 2024-311
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First Read: 28-Feb-24
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, educational benefits up to
the undergraduate level are available to eligible
dependents of deceased or disabled veterans, of those
veterans who are listed as missing in action, and of
those veterans who were prisoners of war while serving
as a member of the United States Armed Forces.
This bill would expand educational benefits to
eligible dependents to include post-bachelor and
graduate studies in a medical field.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to Military Affairs; to amend Sections 31-6-4,
31-6-5, and 31-6-6, Code of Alabama 1975, to expand
educational benefits for eligible dependents of deceased or
disabled veterans and of veterans who are listed as missing in
action and veterans who were prisoners of war while serving as
a member of the United States Armed Forces, to include
post-bachelor and graduate studies in a medical field.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Sections 31-6-4, 31-6-5, and 31-6-6, Code of
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Section 1. Sections 31-6-4, 31-6-5, and 31-6-6, Code of
Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:
"§31-6-4
(a) Any child whose father or mother:
(1) Was killed or died in line of duty or is listed as
missing in action or is or was a prisoner of war or whose
death or permanent total disabilities were service-connected
while serving as a member of the armed forces;
(2) Died from a disability incurred from military
service, as established by the State Department of Veterans'
Affairs, after having been discharged under conditions other
than dishonorable and after having served at least 90 days
consecutively in the armed forces prior to and/or subsequent
to the date on which the disability occurred, or who was
honorably discharged by reason of a qualifying
service-connected disability after serving less than 90 days;
(3) Was killed or died while on state active duty
status as defined in Section 31-12-1, or whose death results
proximately and within three years from an injury received
while on state active duty status; or
(4) Has been assigned 100 percent permanent or total
disability rated by the United States Department of Veterans'
Administration Affairs, or was discharged or retired from the
armed forces with a 40 percent or more disability and
maintained that percentage , or has been assigned 40 percent or
more disability by the United States Department of Veterans'
Affairs as a result of a service-connected condition
regardless of when the disability rating is assigned ; may
attend any qualifying school for a period of five standard
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attend any qualifying school for a period of five standard
academic years, not to exceed 45 months or the equivalent of
45 months if enrolled part-time, pursuant to the tuition
reimbursement guidelines as provided in subsection (c).
Training under this section must be initiated prior to the
child's thirtieth birthday, and must be completed within eight
years after its initiation, except for delays caused by
military service during the training period, and in no case
may training be received under this chapter beyond the
thirty-eighth birthday of the child.
(b) The educational benefits provided by this section
to children making application for benefits for the first time
beginning with the fall term of the 2014-2015 academic year,
and thereafter, shall be limited toavailable for undergraduate
courses of study and post-bachelor and graduate courses of
study in a medical field only, and the value of tuition paid
shall be limited to the in-state tuition rate of the
qualifying school attended.
(c) For those first filing for benefits under this
chapter on or after July 31, 2017, and for those attending a
qualifying private school, the educational benefit shall be
for tuition reimbursement and books and fees reimbursement.
The value of tuition paid per semester hour ,(or equivalent),
shall be limited to the rate of the Department of Defense
Tuition Assistance Cap. The value of the books and fees paid
per semester shall be limited to one thousand dollars ($1,000)
per student.
(d) For the purpose of the minimum disability
requirement provided for in subdivision (a)(4), the dependent
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requirement provided for in subdivision (a)(4), the dependent
of any veteran whose disability rating as of July 31, 2017, is
at least 20 percent but less than 40 percent shall qualify for
the benefits of this chapter, provided that the dependent
shall file application for the benefits before July 31, 2023
2025, and the dependent is reasonably expected to be eligible
to attend a qualifying school in the next academic year."
"§31-6-5
(a) Any spouse or widow whose spouse, during their
marriage:
(1) Was killed or died in the line of duty or is listed
as missing in action or is or was a prisoner of war while
serving as a member of the armed forces;
(2) Died from a disability incurred from military
service; or
(3) Is 100 percent permanently and totally disabled,
whose permanent and total disabilities were service-connected;
shall be entitled to training in any qualifying school for a
period of five standard academic years, not to exceed 45
months, or to training for the equivalent of 45 months if
enrolled part-time, pursuant to the tuition reimbursement
guidelines as provided in subsection (c)(d). One change of
program will be allowed without counseling. All training
received under this section must be completed within eight
years after its initiation.
(b) This section shall not apply to the spouse of any
deceased serviceman or veteran who has remarried prior to
applying for and obtaining educational benefits under this
section, and should any spouse of the deceased serviceman or
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section, and should any spouse of the deceased serviceman or
veteran remarry during the time he or she is in attendance
upon any of the qualifying schools mentioned in this section,
then he or she shall pay tuition and fees for the course of
study or attendance upon the qualifying school from the time
of the remarriage.
(b)(c) The educational benefits provided by this
section to spouses and widows making application for benefits
for the first time beginning with the fall term of the
2014-2015 academic year, and thereafter, shall be limited
toavailable for undergraduate courses of study onlyand
post-bachelor and graduate courses of study in a medical
field, and the value of tuition paid shall be limited to the
in-state tuition rate of the qualifying school attended.
(c)(d) For those first filing for benefits under this
chapter on or after July 31, 2017, and for those attending a
qualifying private school, the educational benefit shall be
for tuition reimbursement and books and fees reimbursement.
The value of tuition paid per semester hour ,(or equivalent),
shall be limited to the rate of the Department of Defense
Tuition Assistance Cap. The value of the books and fees paid
per semester shall be limited to one thousand dollars ($1,000)
per student."
"§31-6-6
(a) The spouse and children of any veteran who is
suffering from 40 to 90 percent service-connected disability
brought about from service in the Armed Forces of the United
States, or the widow and children of a deceased veteran who
was suffering from 40 percent or more of service-connected
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was suffering from 40 percent or more of service-connected
disability at the time of death, as established by the State
Department of Veterans' Affairs, shall be entitled to the
following educational advantages and opportunities:
(1) The spouse or widow shall be entitled to up to 27
months of schooling, or the equivalent of 27 months if
enrolled part-time, in any qualifying school, pursuant to the
tuition reimbursement guidelines as provided in subsection
(d). One change of program will be allowed without counseling.
All training received at qualifying schools under this
subdivision must be completed within a period of six years
after its initiation.
(2) Each child of a disabled veteran shall be entitled
to five standard academic years, or the equivalent of 45
months if enrolled part-time, in any qualifying school
pursuant to the tuition reimbursement guidelines as provided
in subsection (d). One change of program will be allowed
without counseling. Training under this subdivision must be
initiated prior to the child's twenty-sixth birthday, and must
be completed within eight years after its initiation, except
for delays caused by military service during the training
period, and in no case may training be received under this
section beyond the thirty-fourth birthday of the child.
(b) For the purpose of the minimum disability
requirement provided for in subsection (a), the dependent of
any veteran whose disability rating as of July 31, 2017, is at
least 20 percent but less than 40 percent shall qualify for
the benefits of this chapter, provided that the dependent
shall file application for benefits before July 31, 2023 2025,
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shall file application for benefits before July 31, 2023 2025,
and the dependent is reasonably expected to be eligible to
attend a qualifying school in the next academic year.
(c) The educational benefits provided by this section
to spouses, children, and widows making application for
benefits for the first time beginning with the fall term of
the 2014-2015 academic year, and thereafter, shall be limited
toavailable for undergraduate courses of study onlyand
post-bachelor and graduate courses of study in a medical
field, and the value of tuition paid shall be limited to the
in-state tuition rate of the qualifying school attended.
(d) For those first filing for benefits under this
chapter on or after July 31, 2017, and for those attending a
qualifying private school, the educational benefit shall be
for tuition reimbursement and books and fees reimbursement.
The value of tuition paid per semester hour ,(or equivalent),
shall be limited to the rate of the Department of Defense
Tuition Assistance Cap. The value of the books and fees paid
per semester shall be limited to one thousand dollars ($1,000)
per student."
Section 2. This act shall become effective on January
1, 2025.
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