2025 -- H 5780

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LC001631

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- NATIONAL GUARD

     Introduced By: Representatives Read, Azzinaro, Noret, Finkelman, Serpa, Paplauskas,
Place, Casimiro, Solomon, and Casey

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 30-3-40.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 30-3 entitled "National

Guard" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     30-3-40.3. Educational benefits for National Guard members.

     (a) Any person who is an active member in good standing of the Rhode Island national

guard, and who is eligible to attend at any state college or university in Rhode Island, will be eligible

for a tuition assistance educational benefit amounting to five (5) courses per semester at any Rhode

Island state college or university. National Guard members may allocate their state-sponsored

tuition assistance benefits to their dependents. Dependents are defined as immediate family

members enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Basic tuition

or general fee charges to be waived for said five (5) courses. Each of the state colleges or

universities shall receive an equal share of the educational account funding for Rhode Island

national guard members, the account to be administered by the office of the adjutant general. The

exact amount for each institution shall be determined by the board of governors. The total amount

of funds in the education account shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in any

fiscal year.

     (b) In order to be eligible for tuition waivers for themself or their dependent, a person must

remain a member in good standing in the Rhode Island national guard and a student in good

standing at any state college or university. A member in good standing is defined as any soldier or

airperson of the Rhode Island national guard who is currently satisfactorily participating in all unit

training assemblies and annual training periods, as so certified by the adjutant general.

     (c) Those guard members wishing to participate in this program must enter into a

contractual enlistment commitment that provides for one year of obligated service in the Rhode

Island national guard for each twelve (12) course credits or four (4) three-credit (3) courses where

the soldier’s or airperson’s or their dependents tuition will be waived. Such assistance shall be

available for courses creditable to associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees. Failure to

satisfactorily fulfill the service obligation incurred in return for tuition assistance will require the

participant to repay a pro-rata share of said assistance. This obligation shall be considered to be a

debt owed to the state and may be satisfied by offset against any state transfer payments or state

income tax refunds. The participating member shall reimburse the Rhode Island national guard

when any of the following occur: the soldier fails to participate satisfactorily as a member of the

Rhode Island national guard; the soldier withdraws from, or fails to complete, a course for personal

reasons; the soldier fails to make up an incomplete grade within time limits stipulated by the

institution or one hundred twenty (120) days after the completion of the class, whichever occurs

first; or the soldier fails to provide the adjutant general a copy of the grade report within thirty (30)

days of course completion and may be subject to punishment under the Rhode Island military code.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- NATIONAL GUARD

***

     This would allow the dependents of a National Guard member, who is in good standing, to

be eligible for tuition assistance.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001631

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