Bill > HB2572

This bill amends the School Code and the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents Educational Opportunity Grant Act to modify how the Department of Veterans' Affairs determines eligibility for scholarships and grants for dependents of veterans. The key change is that the Department will now determine eligibility "by rule," which suggests a more formalized and standardized process for evaluating applications. The bill continues to support dependents of veterans who are prisoners of war, missing in action, deceased from service-connected disabilities, or permanently disabled, by providing educational benefits. These benefits include scholarships for up to 4 calendar years of full-time enrollment at state-supported higher education institutions, with full-time enrollment defined as 12 or more semester hours per term. Eligible dependents include spouses, natural children, legally adopted children, and step-children of qualifying veterans, and the benefits can be used for educational purposes or, in cases of disability, for therapeutic or rehabilitative treatment. The bill maintains the existing framework of support for veterans' families while introducing a more structured approach to determining applicant eligibility.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2572&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104