The bill amends the Alabama G.I. Dependent Scholarship Program by lowering the minimum disability rating required for dependents of disabled veterans to qualify for educational benefits. It specifically removes the previous requirement that dependents of veterans with a disability rating between 20 and 40 percent could only qualify if they applied before July 31, 2023. The term "armed forces" is replaced with "Armed Forces" in the relevant sections of the Code of Alabama 1975. Additionally, the bill introduces a new section, §31-6-11.1, which establishes a pilot program to expand access to scholarships for dependents of veterans with a minimum disability rating of 50 percent, allowing up to 100 dependents annually to receive benefits starting January 1, 2026.

The bill also includes provisions that require qualifying schools to release personally identifiable information to the State Department of Veterans' Affairs for eligibility determinations and reporting. It restores lost benefit time for dependents whose benefits were interrupted due to accidents or illnesses and allows dependents of veterans with a disability rating below 20 percent to qualify if they had a pending claim that resulted in a final award of at least 20 percent. The educational benefits for first-time applicants will be limited to undergraduate courses, with caps on tuition reimbursement and fees, and the act is set to take effect on June 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 31-6-4, 31-6-6, 31-6-9
Engrossed: 31-6-4, 31-6-6, 31-6-9