SB89 Alabama 2011 Session

Currently, to be eligible for veterans' educational benefits, the veteran must have been a permanent resident of Alabama for at least one year prior to entrance into service. The wife or child of a permanently and totally disabled veteran who was a resident for at least one year prior to entering the service or immediately prior to his or her death may also be eligible for educational benefits

This bill would require the State Department of Veterans' Affairs to develop a program to provide educational benefits to certain categories of veterans who did not reside in Alabama prior to entry into service, but who have resided in the state for 10 years immediately preceding the application for benefits

This bill would allow a veteran who has a service connected disability rating of 50 to 90 percent and who has been a permanent resident of the state for 10 years prior to application for benefits, and who meets any other criteria established by the department to apply for educational benefits

This bill would also allow the spouse or child of any veteran who has a service connected disability rating of 50 to 90 percent and who has been a permanent resident of the state for 10 years prior to application for benefits, and who meets any additional criteria required by the department to apply for educational benefits

This bill would provide that all benefits provided pursuant to this act would be subject to criteria developed by the department and the availability of adequate funding and resources necessary to provide the benefits

Relating to veterans' educational benefits; to amend Section 31-6-11, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for proof of eligibility of benefits for certain veterans; to provide that certain disabled veterans who have been a permanent resident of the state for 10 years and the spouse or children of such veterans may apply to the State Department of Veterans' Affairs for educational benefits for disabled veterans and their spouses and children; to authorize the department to develop criteria for awarding the educational benefits; and to require the provision of such benefits to be contingent on the funding and resources of the department.