SB315 Alabama 2017 Session

Under existing law, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education is authorized to pay or reimburse the tuition for any eligible active member of the Alabama National Guard in a program leading to a degree at a college or university in the state.

Also under existing law, the education assistance provided by the state to eligible Alabama National Guard members has a limit of $2,000 per year with a limit of $1,000 per semester.

This bill would increase the amount that may be spent per eligible member from $2,000 per year to $4,800 per year and remove the requirement for a certain amount to be spent on the member per semester.

Under existing law, there is no requirement for public institutions of higher learning to exempt members of the Alabama National Guard from tuition and fees while enrolled to pursue a technical certificate or degree.

This bill would provide for the exemption from tuition and fees for any member of the Alabama National Guard who remains in good standing and meets certain criteria at any in-state public institution of higher learning.

Under current law, children, spouses, and unmarried widows or widowers of disabled veterans may receive educational benefits for tuition, fees, and books depending on the severity of the disability of the veteran.

This bill would establish specific residency requirements for veterans and dependents; restrict the reimbursement for educational benefits at an Alabama state public university to the average tuition rate of institutions under the Alabama Community College System; establish a grade point average requirement for dependents while receiving benefits; require the state benefits to only be used after all federal or other benefits have been used; and create the Alabama Disabled Veterans' Dependents Education Advisory Committee.

To amend Sections 31-6-4, 31-6-5, 31-6-6, 31-6-9, 31-6-11, 31-6-16, 31-10-2, 31-10-3, 31-10-4, 31-10-21, and 31-10-22 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to increase the amount that may be spent by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education for an eligible member of the Alabama National Guard from $2,000 per year to $4,800 per year and remove the requirement for a certain amount of yearly assistance to be spent on each member per semester; to establish an exemption from tuition and fees for any member of the Alabama National Guard who remains in good standing and meets certain criteria while enrolled at any in-state public institution of higher learning; relating to the educational scholarship benefits for dependents of veterans; to reduce the maximum number of months allowed to receive educational benefits; to establish residency requirements for veterans and dependents; to restrict the reimbursement for educational benefits at an Alabama public university to the average tuition rate of institutions under the Alabama Community College System; to establish a grade point average requirement for dependents receiving benefits; to require state educational benefits to be applied only after all other resources have been exhausted; to create the Alabama Disabled Veterans' Dependents Education Advisory Committee responsible for monitoring the progress of dependents receiving educational benefits; to provide for the membership and meetings of the committee; and to require that the committee report its findings to the Legislature.