Veterans (Veteran Education)

Recognize and celebrate the patriotic service and community contributions of veterans and the importance of protecting the earned benefits of our veterans from retaliatory and punitive measures.

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.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 40 to require persons seeking to receive compensation for advising or assisting with veterans' benefits claims to provide a signed disclosure document stating these services may be provided for free from other entities.

Amend KRS 164.507 to allow the nonremarried spouse or a child under the age of 26 of a deceased veteran free tuition at public universities, colleges, or vocational training institutions for up to 128 credit hours of undergraduate instruction; 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 training institutions for up to 128 credit hours of undergraduate instruction.

HB 436 amends Kentucky state park fee rules to exempt graduates of the PGA HOPE program (a golf program for veterans and active-duty military) and one guest from paying green fees on state park golf courses. Instead, they only pay standard golf cart rental fees. To qualify, graduates must present a valid PGA HOPE graduate card at the time of rental. This policy change directly affects eligible veterans and military personnel using state park facilities.

Amend KRS 164.515 to make the amount of tuition waived for the spouse or child of designated permanently disabled veterans a last-dollar scholarship that shall not exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees less any state or federal grants; amend KRS 164.2841 to make the amount tuition waived for the survivor of police officer, firefighter, or volunteer firefighter killed in line of duty last-dollar scholarship that shall not exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees less any state or federal grants; amend KRS 164.2842 to make the amount of tuition waived for the survivor of police officer, firefighter, or volunteer firefighter permanently and totally disabled in line of duty a last-dollar scholarship that shall not exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees less any state or federal grants; amend KRS 164.507 to make the amount of tuition waived for the non-married spouse or child of a deceased veteran a last-dollar scholarship that shall not exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees less any state or federal grants; amend KRS 164.020 to delete the tuition waiver for employees and faculty of state and locally operated secondary area technology center staff.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 40 to define terms; require any person seeking compensation for assisting with veterans' benefits to be accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; provide that the Act may be cited as the Veterans' Benefits Accreditation Act.

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.