Establishing the dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program within the college student aid commission and making appropriations

This bill establishes the dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program within the college student aid commission (commission) for purposes of providing tuition grants to eligible institutions in which eligible students are enrolled to help such eligible students afford the costs of tuition and mandatory fees associated with attending the eligible institution. The bill provides that a full-time eligible student may receive a grant under the program annually for not more than eight semesters, or until the eligible student earns an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree from the eligible institution, whichever occurs first. Additionally, the bill provides that a part-time eligible student may receive a grant under the program annually for not more than semesters, on a prorated basis, or until the eligible student earns an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree from the eligible institution, whichever occurs first. The bill establishes that a tuition grant under the program shall be awarded on an annual basis, requiring reapplication by an eligible student each year. The bill requires that payments under the program be allocated equally among the semesters and paid to the eligible institution upon certification by the eligible institution that the student meets the applicable requirements. The bill provides that if a grant recipient discontinues attendance before the end of any semester, after receiving grant payments, the entire amount of any refund due that recipient, up to the full amount of grant payments made during that semester, or the equivalent, shall be paid by the eligible institution to the commission. The bill requires the commission to provide application forms for distribution to students by eligible institutions, adopt rules under Code chapter 17A for administration of the program, and approve and award grants on an annual basis. The commission is required to award grants on a first-come, first-served basis. The bill establishes a dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program fund in the state treasury as a separate fund under the control of the commission and appropriates $500,000 to the department of education in FY 2025-2026 for deposit in the fund. The bill defines “commission”, “eligible institution”, “eligible student”, “full-time”, “part-time”, and “veteran with a disability”.