Bill > S04358

This bill, known as the "Veteran Family Educational Attainment Act", expands the existing veterans tuition awards program to allow qualified veterans who have not used their tuition benefits to transfer those benefits to eligible immediate family members, including spouses, children, or survivors. The bill defines key terms such as "eligible immediate family" (a spouse, child, or survivor of a qualified veteran residing in New York), "qualified veteran" (a veteran eligible for tuition awards), and "survivor" (which includes various categories of individuals connected to a veteran through marriage, children, or specific circumstances of the veteran's death). The transfer of tuition awards is subject to several conditions: the transferred award cannot exceed the original veteran's award, only one hundred transfers will be permitted per year, and for children receiving transferred benefits, the veteran must have served at least ten years in the armed forces (with specific exceptions for early discharge due to death, medical conditions, hardship, or other specified circumstances). The transferred award can only be used by a child under twenty-six years old, and the transfer must be designated on a specific form provided by the educational institution. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2026, allowing time for implementing regulations to be developed.

Budget and Finance, Education, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4358