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 cap on the total funding for this educational account or the distribution of funds among state colleges and universities.

To qualify for these tuition assistance benefits, both the National Guard member and their dependent must maintain good standing in their respective roles—military and academic. The bill also requires participants to enter into a contractual enlistment commitment, necessitating 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 may be required to repay a pro-rata share of the assistance, which could 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