HB284 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jerry StarnesRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

The Alabama G.I. and Dependents Educational Benefit Act conform to federal requirements

Summary

HB284 updates Alabama's G.I. and Dependents Educational Benefits by replacing the DoD tuition cap with a state cap of $400 per semester hour (plus $1,000 per semester for books/fees), and tightens eligibility, residency, and timing rules for veterans, spouses, widows, and children.

What This Bill Does

It removes the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance cap and establishes a $400 cap per semester hour for tuition (with in-state rate rules) and a $1,000 cap for books/fees, applying to both public and private qualifying schools. It sets specific benefit durations and start/finish windows: up to 27 months for spouses, up to 45 months (five academic years) for children of veterans with qualifying disabilities, and similar structured limits for other dependents, with allowances for one program change and required completion within eight years in most cases. It requires proof of Alabama residency and allows sharing certain residency information between state agencies to verify eligibility, with the act becoming effective July 31, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Veterans and their spouses, widows, and children who use the Alabama G.I. and Dependents Educational Benefits to attend qualifying schools, with revised caps, durations, and eligibility rules.
• Qualifying schools and state agencies (e.g., Department of Veterans' Affairs, Department of Revenue) that administer, verify, and implement the benefits, including residency determinations and reporting requirements.

Key Provisions

• Tuition and books/fees caps: remove the DoD Tuition Assistance cap and replace with a $400 per semester hour cap for tuition and a $1,000 per semester cap for books/fees, applicable to both public and private qualifying schools.
• Benefit durations and limits: spouses/widows may receive up to 27 months of schooling; children of veterans may receive up to five standard academic years (about 45 months) for qualifying study; one program change allowed without counseling; all training must be completed within specified time frames (generally 6 years for spouses and 8 years for children/dependents).
• Eligibility categories: benefits tied to specific service outcomes (e.g., death in service, certain service-connected disabilities, or other qualifying statuses) with defined start/age initiation requirements (e.g., initiation before certain birthdays) and in-state or qualifying school criteria.
• Residency requirements: applicants must establish Alabama residency with documented proof; provisions allow sharing of residency information from state tax and revenue data to verify eligibility; confidentiality provisions are adjusted to enable needed verification.
• Private vs. public schools: benefits for private schools remain allowable with the same cap structure set (tuition cap $400 per semester hour and books/fees cap $1,000 per student) and the same undergraduate-only rule for first-time filings after 2014-2015.
• Effective date: the act becomes effective July 31, 2024.

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

Subjects

Military