Bill > HB487

This bill amends the Alabama G.I. Dependent Scholarship Program to revise educational benefits for veterans' dependents and spouses. The key changes include lowering the minimum disability rating for veterans from 40 to 30 percent to qualify for educational benefits, expanding eligibility for dependents of veterans with specific residency and disability requirements, and establishing new provisions for educational assistance. The bill modifies existing rules about tuition reimbursement, limiting benefits to undergraduate courses and capping tuition reimbursement at $400 per semester hour and book/fee reimbursement at $1,000 per semester. A new section is added to allow dependents of veterans with a 50 percent disability rating who have been Alabama residents for at least five years to receive benefits, even if the veteran was not a resident for a full year before military service. This program will be limited to 100 dependents annually and is set to expire on December 31, 2027, unless extended by the Legislature. Dependents must still meet existing requirements such as submitting a FAFSA, maintaining satisfactory academic progress, and applying for other available financial aid before using these veterans' educational benefits. The bill will become effective on June 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance

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