The bill amends Section 30-3-40.3 of the General Laws concerning educational benefits for members of the Rhode Island National Guard. It establishes that National Guard members in good standing are eligible for tuition assistance benefits, which they may allocate to their dependents. Dependents are defined as immediate family members enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). The bill does not specify a limit on the number of courses covered per semester.

To qualify for these tuition assistance benefits, both the National Guard member and their dependents must maintain good standing in the National Guard and at their educational institution. The bill also includes a requirement for participants to enter into a contractual enlistment commitment, which mandates one year of service for every twelve course credits or four courses for which tuition is waived. If the service obligation is not fulfilled, the member must repay a pro-rata share of the assistance, which may be collected through offsets against state payments or tax refunds. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5780: 30-3-40.3