New Hampshire Senate Bill SB360

New Hampshire 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/17/21
• Refer: 12/17/21
• Report Pass: 2/2/22
• Engrossed: 3/23/22
• Refer: 3/23/22
• Report Pass: 4/19/22
• Enrolled: 5/27/22

Caption

Relative to national guard educational benefits.

Impact

If enacted, SB360 will amend existing statutes related to educational assistance for national guard members in New Hampshire. The legislation specifically allows for the transfer of tuition waivers, which provides flexibility for military families in accessing education. This bill is intended to leverage the spouse's educational potential while still ensuring that service members meet their obligations, including a four-year reserve duty post-benefit transfer. The impact is expected to be favorable for many families, promoting educational attainment and career development.

Summary

Senate Bill 360 aims to enhance educational benefits for members of the New Hampshire National Guard by allowing them to transfer their national guard tuition waiver to their spouses until July 1, 2027. This initiative is designed to support the families of service members by enabling spouses to utilize educational benefits for degree-enhancing programs at accredited institutions within the New Hampshire college system. Such amendments reflect a commitment to recognize and promote the educational aspirations of military families.

Contention

While the bill may receive support from advocates of military families and education, potential points of contention could emerge regarding the requirement of maintaining a reserve duty obligation after transferring benefits. Critics may express concerns about the feasibility of requiring service members to commit to additional service while balancing family educational needs. Additionally, discussions may arise around the implications of the expiration of the benefit transfer ability in 2027 and the necessity to review or extend the policy before its repeal.