SB547 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Trip Pittman
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Veterans, family educational benefits, limited to tuition only for family members granted benefits for the first time after August 1, 2012, Secs. 31-6-2, 31-6-4, 31-6-5, 31-6-6, 31-6-7, 31-6-15 am'd
Summary: SB547 tightens who qualifies for the Alabama G.I. Dependents' Scholarship and makes new recipients after August 1, 2012 eligible for tuition-only benefits.
What This Bill Does
The bill defines which dependents are eligible for the G.I. Dependents' Scholarship and, for those applying for the first time after August 1, 2012, limits benefits to covering tuition only (not tuition, fees, and books). It preserves the overall goal of helping children and spouses of veterans with certain death or disability situations, but sets specific time limits (up to about 45 months or 27 months depending on category) and age requirements, with rules on program changes and completion windows. It also keeps benefits in addition to federal aid and creates funding to reimburse schools for waived tuition/fees, with the act taking effect immediately upon governor’s approval.

Who It Affects
Dependent children of veterans who died in service, are missing in action, were prisoners of war, or have service-connected disabilities (including 100% disabled); these children may receive up to 45 months of free attendance at Alabama state colleges/universities or trade schools, with a limit to tuition only for new recipients after 2012.
Spouses, husbands, and unmarried widows/widowers of veterans who died in service or have service-connected disabilities (various disability levels) qualify for education benefits (up to 27 or 45 months depending on category) at Alabama state institutions; for new recipients after 2012, benefits are limited to tuition only. remarriage rules apply and benefits end if conditions change or eligibility ends.

Key Provisions
Amends Sections 31-6-2, 31-6-4, 31-6-5, 31-6-6, 31-6-7, and 31-6-15 to implement changes.
Specifies which dependents are entitled to benefits and limits new-time benefits (applied after August 1, 2012) to tuition only.
For eligible children, benefits may cover up to five standard academic years (about 45 months) with restrictions on initiation (before age 30) and completion (within eight years).
For spouses and widows/widowers, benefits may cover up to five years (about 45 months) or 27 months for certain disability levels, with completion within eight years and conditions about remarriage.
Benefits remain in addition to federal benefits; any remainder or reinstatement rules apply if full entitlement isn’t used.
Section 31-6-15 establishes funding from the Education Trust Fund to reimburse institutions for waived tuition/fees, based on invoices and student details.
Effective date is immediate upon the governor’s approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Veterans