Pennsylvania HB 865: An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Educational Assistance Program, further providing for definitions, for eligibility and for recoupment of grant payments; and, in Military Family Education Program, further providing for definitions, for eligibility, for limitations and for recoupment of Military Family Education Program grant payments.

Bill Text

SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 890, 1705 PRINTER'S NO. 2010
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 865
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY VENKAT, C. WILLIAMS, PIELLI, DOUGHERTY, HILL-
EVANS, MADDEN, PROBST, HOWARD, FREEMAN, MARCELL, SANCHEZ,
HOHENSTEIN, GUENST, CERRATO, SHUSTERMAN, STEELE, BOROWSKI,
KENYATTA, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, RIVERA, STEHR, HANBIDGE, SAMUELSON,
GILLEN, INGLIS, T. DAVIS, K.HARRIS, RUSNOCK, SCHEUREN,
WEBSTER, GREEN AND KHAN, MARCH 11, 2025
SENATOR MASTRIANO, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
IN SENATE, AS AMENDED, JUNE 24, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in Military Family Education Program,
further providing for definitions, for eligibility, for
Military Family Education Program grants and for limitations.
AMENDING TITLE 51 (MILITARY AFFAIRS) OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
CONSOLIDATED STATUTES, IN EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,
FURTHER PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS, FOR ELIGIBILITY AND FOR
RECOUPMENT OF GRANT PAYMENTS; AND, IN MILITARY FAMILY
EDUCATION PROGRAM, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS, FOR
ELIGIBILITY, FOR LIMITATIONS AND FOR RECOUPMENT OF MILITARY
FAMILY EDUCATION PROGRAM GRANT PAYMENTS.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definition of "eligible member" in section
3210.1 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is
amended to read:
§ 3210.1. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
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context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Eligible member." A member of the Pennsylvania National
Guard who [has completed an initial service obligation in the
Pennsylvania National Guard and] is eligible to enlist or
reenlist in the Pennsylvania National Guard for a period of six
years or, if a commissioned officer, is eligible to serve in the
Pennsylvania National Guard for [an additional] six years.
* * *
Section 2. Sections 3210.2(a)(2), 3210.4(a) and 3210.6 of
Title 51 are amended to read:
§ 3210.2. Eligibility.
(a) General rule.--A family member is eligible to receive a
Military Family Education Program grant under this subchapter if
all of the following eligibility criteria are met:
* * *
(2) The eligible member accepted an obligation to serve
in the Pennsylvania National Guard for a period of six years
and has not accepted an obligation under Subchapter A
(relating to Educational Assistance Program) and this
subchapter for the same six-year period.
* * *
§ 3210.4. Military Family Education Program grants.
(a) General rule.--From the funds appropriated for the
purposes of this subchapter, Military Family Education Program
grants shall be provided to eligible family members for the
purpose of pursuing an approved program of education. A Military
Family Education Program grant shall be treated as a benefit
earned by an eligible member for honorable service to the
country and this Commonwealth. A Military Family Education
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Program benefit shall only be renewable with each subsequent
six-year service commitment in the Pennsylvania National Guard.
* * *
§ 3210.6. Limitations.
(a) General rule.--No eligible member shall be permitted to
assign more than five academic years or their equivalent, as
determined by the agency for each benefit earned.
(b) Assignment of benefit.--[An] For each benefit earned, an
eligible member may assign a portion of the entire benefit or
the entire benefit by the number of credit hours per semester or
its equivalent, as determined by the agency, to one or more
family members, as the case may be.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
SECTION 1. THE DEFINITION OF "APPROVED PROGRAM OF EDUCATION"
IN SECTION 3201 OF TITLE 51 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED
STATUTES IS AMENDED TO READ:
§ 3201. DEFINITIONS.
THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS SUBCHAPTER
SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE
CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
* * *
"APPROVED PROGRAM OF EDUCATION." A DEGREE-GRANTING OR
CERTIFICATE-GRANTING CURRICULUM, COURSE OF STUDY OR TRAINING
PROGRAM [REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE INTO A SPECIFIC CAREER TO BE
PURSUED ON A FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME BASIS OR ITS EQUIVALENT AS
DETERMINED BY THE AGENCY, AT AN APPROVED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER
LEARNING.], REFRESHER, REMEDIAL OR DEFICIENCY COURSE OR
PREPARATORY OR SPECIAL EDUCATION TRAINING COURSE NECESSARY TO
ENABLE THE INDIVIDUAL TO PURSUE AN APPROVED PROGRAM OF EDUCATION
ON A FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME BASIS OR ITS EQUIVALENT AS
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DETERMINED BY THE AGENCY, AT AN APPROVED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER
LEARNING.
* * *
SECTION 2. SECTIONS 3202 AND 3207 OF TITLE 51 ARE AMENDED TO
READ:
§ 3202. ELIGI