HB153 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joe LovvornRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Education, providing for an education assistance program for the children of service persons, Sec. 16-64-6, 36-21-102 am'd.

Summary

HB153 expands the education assistance program for the children and spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and rescue squad members and requires annual tuition-pricing reports to be posted online.

What This Bill Does

It requires the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to publish an annual report of institutional tuition practices on its website. It expands the Police Officer's and Firefighter's Survivors Educational Assistance Program to cover more dependent children (natural or adopted) of these service members who died in the line of duty or who became totally disabled, including children born after death or total disability, and adopted children who have lived in the household for at least five years prior to enrollment. It also adds a spouse provision: a spouse who has not remarried may receive benefits if initial enrollment is within five years of death or total disability. The benefits cover undergraduate study and related costs at state colleges and universities.

Who It Affects

• Dependent children (natural or adopted) under 21 at death or total disability, or born after death/disability, of law enforcement officers, firefighters, or rescue squad members, who may qualify for free undergraduate tuition and costs (with an adoption residency rule).
• Spouses of those officers, firefighters, or rescue squad members, who have not remarried and enroll within five years of death or total disability, and may receive the same undergraduate benefits.

Key Provisions

• Section 16-64-6 requires an annual report of institutional tuition policies to be posted on the Alabama Commission on Higher Education's website.
• Section 36-21-102 expands the Survivors Educational Assistance Program to include additional dependent children (natural or adopted) under 21 at death or total disability, or born after; and adds an adoption-residency requirement (adopted dependents must have lived in the household for at least five years prior to enrollment).
• Section 36-21-102 adds a spouse benefit: a spouse who has not remarried may receive benefits if initial enrollment is within five years of death or total disability.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education