Tennessee House Bill HB1604

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 11/13/23
• Refer: 1/10/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49 and Title 58, relative to financial assistance for dependents of disabled veterans.

Impact

The bill's implementation would enable eligible dependent children to attend public institutions of higher education in Tennessee without paying tuition, maintenance fees, and registration fees. It also stipulates that to qualify for these financial benefits, the dependent child must be actively pursuing a degree or certificate and meet specific academic requirements. Furthermore, the bill will require public institutions to publish information about the veterans' dependents' education benefit program in their catalogs, thus raising awareness of the available support.

Summary

House Bill 1604 aims to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated to provide financial assistance to dependents of disabled veterans. Specifically, the bill proposes a tuition waiver for dependent children under twenty-three years of age whose parents have a service-connected disability classified as one hundred percent permanent total disability by the veterans' administration. This initiative seeks to ease the financial burden on families of disabled veterans, allowing their children to access higher education without incurring substantial costs.

Sentiment

General sentiment surrounding HB 1604 appears to be positive, especially among advocates for veterans' rights and educational access. By offering substantial educational benefits to the children of disabled veterans, proponents argue that this bill recognizes the sacrifices made by service members and their families, supporting their educational aspirations. On the other hand, there may be discussions around the fiscal implications of such waivers on state funding for education, though these concerns have not dominated the conversation thus far.

Contention

Some points of contention may arise concerning the financial impact of this bill on state educational budgets. Critics could argue that offering widespread tuition waivers might divert necessary funds from other educational programs or resources. Additionally, there could be debates about the eligibility criteria, particularly regarding the age limit and academic requirements, which some may see as a hurdle rather than a support mechanism for dependent children. However, the overall focus remains on providing support to those who have served in the military and their families.