SB364 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Will BarfootSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Colleges and Universities, Alabama G.I. and Dependents' Educational Benefit Act, use of scholarship benefits at 2 year or 4 year public or private institutions of higher education physically located in state provided, Secs. 31-6-2, 31-6-4, 31-6-5, 31-6-6, 31-6-8, 31-6-9, 31-6-11, 31-6-12, 31-6-13, 31-6-15, 31-6-15.1, 31-6-16 am'd.

Summary

SB364 expands the Alabama G.I. and Dependents' Educational Benefit Act to allow scholarship benefits at any in-state two-year or four-year college or university that receives state funds, including private institutions, and updates the code language to current style.

What This Bill Does

It allows use of benefits for tuition reimbursement and books/fees at in-state public or private two-year or four-year institutions that receive state funds. It keeps benefit caps (tuition limited to the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Cap per semester hour; books/fees up to $1,000 per semester) and adds requirements for new applicants (FAFSA, Title IV eligibility, and satisfactory academic progress). It funds benefits through the Education Trust Fund, requires institutional reporting and eligibility notifications to the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, and makes non-substantive updates to terminology and modernizes language.

Who It Affects

• Dependents of veterans (spouses and children) in Alabama, by expanding eligible schools to include private in-state institutions that receive state funds and by clarifying eligibility requirements and submission of federal aid applications.
• Alabama colleges and universities (public and private) that receive state funds, which would participate in administering and billing for benefits and must comply with reporting, eligibility, and notification requirements.

Key Provisions

• Beneficiary institutions: benefits may be used at any public or private two-year or four-year institution in Alabama that receives state funds.
• Benefits coverage and caps: tuition reimbursement and books/fees; tuition limited to the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Cap per semester hour; books/fees limited to $1,000 per semester.
• Applicant requirements: new applicants after July 31, 2017 must file FAFSA, apply for federal student aid, and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards; notification requirements if eligibility changes.
• Funding and administration: benefits paid from the Education Trust Fund; institutions may bill or waive remaining in-state tuition, books, or fees not covered by other funds; the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs administers and reports on program data to the Legislature.
• Definitions and updates: updates to definitions (e.g., state-supported school) and non-substantive revisions to modernize the code language; effective date is the first day of the third month after passage.

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

Subjects

Alabama G.I. and Dependents' Educational Benefit Act