SB216 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom Whatley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Education, National Guard, to limit amount of private tuition reimbursed to eligible guard members, Secs. 31-10-20 to 31-10-25, inclusive, repealed; Secs. 31-10-2, 31-10-3, 31-10-4.1 am'd.

Summary

SB216 overhauls Alabama National Guard education benefits by capping private tuition reimbursement at the highest public rate, extending aid to dual-enrolled students, and ensuring benefits apply to the first degree via stackable credentials with new funding and administration rules.

What This Bill Does

The bill limits private tuition reimbursements to the rate charged by the highest-cost public institution in Alabama. It extends reimbursement to students who are dual-enrolled in high school and college. It clarifies that only the first degree obtained is paid for and that shorter or stackable credentials can lead to a bachelor’s degree. It repeals the old ANGEP provisions and sets new administration, funding, and eligibility rules, including GPA, FAFSA, and repayment conditions, to maximize and manage benefits.

Who It Affects

• Active members of the Alabama National Guard and their families, who may receive tuition reimbursement under new caps and rules and must meet GPA and enrollment requirements.
• High school students who are dually enrolled in college courses, as well as students pursuing certificates or associate degrees who may use stackable credentials toward a bachelor’s degree.
• Private colleges and public four-year institutions in Alabama, which will have reimbursement rates tied to public highest-rate benchmarks and must adhere to new funding and reporting rules.
• The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) and higher education institutions, which will administer, monitor, and standardize benefits and ensure benefits are applied to maximize education aid.
• Nonresident tuition policies, ensuring NG members in good standing are not charged out-of-state rates due to benefiting from ANG benefits.

Key Provisions

• Cap private tuition reimbursement at the rate of the public institution in Alabama with the highest tuition and instructional fees.
• Define tuition as the per-semester cost plus mandatory fees, capped at the average cost for state-supported four-year institutions; exclude major-specific differential fees for private institutions.
• Repeal Sections 31-10-20 through 31-10-25 (old ANGEP provisions) and replace with new rules administered by ACHE.
• Limit ANG Education Assistance Program benefits to the first degree obtained; treat short certificates, long certificates, and associate degrees as stackable credentials toward a bachelor’s degree.
• Require annual funding cap of $10,000,000 and ensure total benefits do not exceed 100 percent of qualified tuition when combined with other aid; implement prorating if funds are insufficient.
• Set use limits: benefits payable for up to 12 years after first tuition payment and up to 120 academic hours, with a 10 percent funding allocation cap for degrees above the bachelor’s level.
• Require FAFSA, maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (SAP standards), and apply other federal, state, and third-party aid before ANG benefits when possible.
• Guarantee no nonresident tuition or out-of-state differential charges for eligible Alabama National Guard members.
• Include repayment provisions for benefits if eligibility ends, with promissory note requirements and conditions for repayment when disqualified or expelled.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education