AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- NATIONAL GUARD (Allows the dependents of a national guard member, who is in good standing, to be eligible for tuition assistance.)

S2420

2026 -- S 2420
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LC004301
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- NATIONAL GUARD

Introduced By:
Senators Patalano, Ciccone, Tikoian, Famiglietti, Appollonio, Thompson,
Raptakis, Burke, Urso, and Dimitri

Date Introduced:
January 30, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 30-3-40.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 30-3 entitled "National
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Guard" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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30-3-40.3. Educational benefits for National Guard members.
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(a) For the purpose of this section, the following terms are defined as follows:
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(1) “Dependent(s)” means the national guard member’s immediate family members
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enrolled in the defense enrollment reporting eligibility system (DEERS).
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(2) “National guard member” means an airman or a solider who is an active member in
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good standing of the Rhode Island national guard.
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(3) “Member in good standing” means any national guard member who is currently
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satisfactorily participating in all unit training assemblies and annual training periods, as so certified
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by the adjutant general.
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(a)
(b)
Any person who is an active member in good standing of the Rhode Island national
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guard, and who is eligible to attend at any state college or university in Rhode Island, will be eligible
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for a tuition assistance educational benefit amounting to five (5) courses per semester at any Rhode
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Island state college or university.
National guard members may allocate their state-sponsored
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tuition assistance benefits to their dependents.
Basic tuition or general fee charges to be waived for
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said five (5) courses. Each of the state colleges or universities shall receive an equal share of the
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educational account funding for Rhode Island national guard members, the account to be
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administered by the office of the adjutant general. The exact amount for each institution shall be

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determined by the board of governors. The total amount of funds in the education account shall not
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exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in any fiscal year.
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(b)
(c)
In order to be eligible for tuition waivers
for themself or their dependent
, a
person

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national guard member
must remain a member in good standing in the Rhode Island national guard
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and
the national guard member or their dependent must remain
a student in good standing at any
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state college or university.
A member in good standing is defined as any soldier or airperson of the
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Rhode Island national guard who is currently satisfactorily participating in all unit training
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assemblies and annual training periods, as so certified by the adjutant general.
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(c)
(d)
Those
national
guard members wishing to participate in this program must enter into
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a contractual enlistment commitment that provides for one year of obligated service in the Rhode
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Island national guard for each twelve (12) course credits or four (4) three-credit (3) courses where
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the
soldier’s or airperson’s

national guard member’s or their dependent's
tuition will be waived.
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Such assistance shall be available for courses creditable to associate, bachelor’s, or master’s
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degrees. Failure to satisfactorily fulfill the service obligation incurred in return for tuition assistance
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will require the
participant

national guard member or their dependent
to repay a pro-rata share of
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said assistance. This obligation shall be considered to be a debt owed to the state and may be
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satisfied by offset against any state transfer payments or state income tax refunds. The
participating
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member

national guard member or their dependent
shall reimburse the Rhode Island national guard
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when any of the following occur: the
soldier

national guard member
fails to participate
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satisfactorily as a member of the Rhode Island national guard; the
soldier

national guard member
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or their dependent
withdraws from, or fails to complete, a course for personal reasons; the
soldier

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national guard member or their dependent
fails to make up an incomplete grade within time limits
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stipulated by the institution or one hundred twenty (120) days after the completion of the class,
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whichever occurs first; or the
soldier

national guard member
fails to provide the adjutant general a
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copy of the
national guard member's
grade report within thirty (30) days of course completion and
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may be subject to punishment under the Rhode Island military code.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004301
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- NATIONAL GUARD
***
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This would allow the dependents of a national guard member, who is in good standing, to
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be eligible for tuition assistance.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004301
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