Bill > A03240

This bill expands New York's veterans tuition awards program by allowing qualified veterans who have not used their tuition benefits to transfer all or part of those awards to eligible immediate family members, which includes spouses, children, or survivors. The bill defines key terms such as "eligible immediate family" as a spouse, child, or survivor of a qualified veteran who resides in New York, and "survivor" with specific criteria related to marriage and relationship to a veteran who died or was discharged under certain conditions. A transferred tuition award can only be used by a child under 26 years old, and the veteran must have served at least ten years in the armed forces, with exceptions for early discharge due to death, medical conditions, hardship, or other specified circumstances. The bill limits the number of transferred awards to 100 per year and ensures that the transferred benefits do not exceed the original veteran's award. The legislation, known as the "Veteran Family Educational Attainment Act," will take effect on July 1, 2026, and is designed to provide additional educational support to veterans' families by allowing the transfer of unused tuition benefits.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3240