HB 24-1226

House Bill 24-1226 expands a Colorado program that helps National Guard members pay for college by including their spouses and children. To qualify, the military member must have served at least six years in the Colorado National Guard, with an option to include those who previously served for at least twelve years. The bill also covers additional fees charged by educational institutions. It has been signed into law, meaning that dependents of eligible National Guard members can now receive financial assistance for their education from a special fund set up within the existing program.

Official Summary

Under existing law, the department of military and veterans affairs (department) pays up to the full amount of tuition for members of the Colorado National Guard (members) pursuing a degree or certificate at certain institutions of higher education via a tuition assistance program (program). The tuition is paid from the Colorado National Guard tuition assistance fund (fund). The bill expands the program to include spouses and children (dependents) of members and to pay for fees charged by the institution of higher education. To qualify for tuition assistance, a dependent must be a dependent of a member who has served in the Colorado National Guard for at least 6 years and either is serving during the period of time that the dependent is receiving tuition and fee assistance or previously served in the Colorado National Guard for at least 12 years. The bill creates the National Guard dependents tuition assistance account (account) in the fund. Tuition for dependents is paid from the account. If the balance in the account is more than the amount necessary to pay for dependents' tuition in a fiscal year and the money in the fund is insufficient to satisfy the demand for tuition assistance for members, the adjutant general of the department may notify the state treasurer to transfer excess money from the account to the fund to pay for members' tuition assistance. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)