Veterans (Military Families)

This bill limits the number of students from outside a school district who can enroll in that district's virtual school programs. It requires districts to set a policy for nonresident enrollment and allows them to charge tuition fees for students who do not live in the district. The law establishes enrollment caps, starting with a statewide limit of 1% of total student enrollment and a district-specific limit of 10% of each district's student enrollment, with specific exceptions for military dependents, siblings, and students with medical needs. School districts must report enrollment data to the state, and the department will monitor and enforce these limits, with a provision that districts must stop accepting nonresident virtual students after June 30, 2028, unless further permission is granted.

Amend KRS 61.702 and 78.5536 to provide full hospital and medical insurance benefits for a member, their spouse, and their dependents if the member becomes disabled in line of duty with a hazardous disability; EMERGENCY.

Amend KRS 164.507 to remove degree-seeking requirement for nonremarried spouse and children of a deceased veteran when utilizing educational benefits; require students to use federal grant funds toward tuition prior to the use of the waiver; amend KRS 164.515 to expand educational benefit to include service members with a disability rating of 50% or higher; remove degree-seeking requirement; require students to use federal grant funds toward tuition prior to the use of the waiver.

Amend KRS 164.515 to allow the spouse or a child under the age of 26 of a disabled veteran free tuition at public universities, colleges, or vocational traiing institutions for up to 128 credit hours of undergraduate instruction.