Military legislation in Alabama

A bill establishing an interstate compact to make school transfers easier for military families is awaiting action in both houses of the Alabama legislature.

HB435 passed in the House and has been sent to the Senate, where it is sitting in the Education committee.

SB 371 passed the Senate and was sent to the House, where it was read for the first time and referred to a committee.

HB177 would expand education benefits for dependents and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans or prisoners of war. Currently, the benefit pays tuition for four academic years to any in-state institution for dependents. The bill would expand that to five years. The benefit to spouses is lesser than for dependents, but it too would be expanded.

The bill has passed the House and was sent to the Senate at the end of February. Last week, it was read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Veterans and Military Affairs. This bill was introduced last year and supported by the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, but it did not pass. The ADVA is supporting the bill again this year.

Another House bill, HB612, would offer unemployment compensation to military spouses when they have to relocate for a military move. The bill has been referred to the House committee on Congress. It hasn't been touched since it was sent there on Feb. 24.

Twenty-five states currently offer unemployment compensation to spouses who have had to leave their jobs for a military move.

Another bill expanding voting options for military members and Alabama citizens overseas has not yet been introduced in either house, but Secretary of State Beth Chapman has been championing those efforts for the last year.