The proposed bill establishes the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Program, which aims to provide financial assistance for tuition to dependents of qualifying law enforcement officers attending higher education institutions in Alabama. The program will be administered by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and will create the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers Family Scholarship Fund. Eligible dependents include natural or adopted children under 27 years of age and spouses of qualifying law enforcement officers who have resided in Alabama for at least two years. The scholarship will cover educational expenses for up to eight semesters or 12 quarters, with a maximum of $3,000 per academic period, contingent upon annual appropriations not exceeding $10 million. The bill includes new legal language to establish the scholarship program and its administration while deleting any conflicting provisions from existing law.

Additionally, the bill establishes the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Fund within the State Treasury, allowing for the deposit of funds from various sources, including public and private donations. The commission is authorized to accept additional funding and must prioritize expenditures for the scholarship program each fiscal year. The bill also introduces a provision for residents to obtain personalized blackout license plates for their vehicles, with a $50 annual fee. The fee distribution includes allocations for manufacturing and administrative costs, with the remainder directed to the scholarship fund. The blackout plates will feature a black background with white text and will be available starting January 1, 2026, with the act set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Engrossed: 36-21-220, 36-21-220, 36-21-221, 36-21-222, 36-21-223, 36-21-224, 36-11-223, 36-11-222, 36-11-222, 36-21-225, 36-21-226, 36-21-227, 41-4-80, 41-4-96, 41-19-1, 41-19-12