Bill > HB1595

This bill modifies the Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program by updating several key eligibility and administrative provisions. The changes include giving the Adjutant General more discretion in establishing program regulations, removing the requirement for students to satisfy financial obligations at the start of each semester, and simplifying academic performance requirements. Now, upon acceptance of a grant application, funds will be directly disbursed to the higher education institution and applied to the student's account. Members of the Virginia National Guard remain eligible for tuition assistance if they have at least two years of service remaining, have completed initial active duty, and are performing satisfactorily. The bill also maintains the existing provision that if grant applications exceed available funding, they will be processed in the order received. Additionally, the legislation preserves the Department of Military Affairs' ability to use up to $50,000 per fiscal year for recruiting qualified applicants into the Virginia National Guard. These modifications aim to streamline the tuition assistance process and make it more flexible for National Guard members pursuing higher education.

Budget and Finance, Education, Health and Social Services

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB1595