Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 58.

Beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year and applying to each academic year thereafter, this bill provides that the dependents of service veterans are entitled to a waiver of tuition fees, maintenance fees, student activity fees, and required registration or matriculation fees to any public institution of higher education in the state if the following conditions are met: (1) The veteran parent has a service-connected disability, determined by the veterans' administration to constitute a 100 percent permanent total disability; (2) The veteran parent received the disabling injury while serving honorably as a member of the United States armed forces during a period of armed conflict; and (3) The dependent child is under 23. However, the age limitation for dependent children must not be strictly applied. DEFINITIONS As used in this bill, “serving honorably” means the character of service condition as reported on certificate of release or discharge from active duty, department of defense form 214. Further, “qualifying period of armed conflict” means any hostile military operation for which the following United States military campaign medals are individually authorized: (1) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; (2) Navy Expeditionary Medal; (3) Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal; (4) Combat Action Ribbon (Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard); (5) Army Combat Infantryman Badge; (6) Kosovo Campaign Medal with at least one bronze star appurtenance for specific military campaign participation by the veteran; (7) Southwest Asia Service Medal with at least one bronze star appurtenance for specific military campaign participation by the veteran; (8) Vietnam Service Medal with at least one bronze star appurtenance for specific military campaign participation by the veteran; (9) United States Department of Defense Prisoner of War Medal for former prisoners of war; (10) Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; (11) Air Force Expeditionary Medal; (12) Combat Medic Badge; (13) Afghanistan Campaign Medal; (14) Iraq Campaign Medal; (15) Army Combat Action Badge; and (16) Navy Submarine Combat Patrol & SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia. ELIGIBILITY To be eligible for the educational assistance benefits established by this bill, a dependent child must be enrolled as a full-time student at a public institution of higher education prior to attaining 23. A dependent child is eligible to continue to receive educational assistance benefits established by this section until one of the following events occurs: (1) Prior to attaining 23, the dependent child has earned an undergraduate degree or certificate; (2) The dependent child has earned 135 semester hours, or the equivalent, excluding required remedial or developmental hours; or (3) The dependent child has attempted 150 semester hours, or the equivalent, inclusive of required remedial or developmental hours. Additionally, to be eligible under this bill, a dependent child must present to a public institution of higher education to which the child seeks admission official certification from the United States government that the veterans' administration has determined that the dependent child's parent has a 100 percent permanent total disability from an injury or injuries that the parent received while serving honorably as a member of the United States armed forces during a qualifying period of armed conflict. Further, the disabled veteran from whom eligibility derives must be a resident of this state at the time the veteran enlisted into the United States armed forces and at the time the veteran's dependent child applies for the educational assistance benefits established under this bill. The dependent child must also possess the necessary qualifications required for admission to the public institution of higher education prior to receiving the educational assistance benefits established by this bill. To maintain eligibility for benefits, the dependent child must be in active pursuit of a specific and declared degree or certificate program at the institution. NO BACKDATED REFUNDS AND REQUIRED PUBLISHING OF BILL INFORMATION A student who qualifies for the educational assistance benefits under this bill is not entitled to a refund of any moneys paid to a public institution of higher education by or on behalf of the student before the 2024-2025 academic year (including paid tuition and fees). Further, all public institutions of higher education are required to publish notice of the veterans' dependents' education benefit program established by this bill in their catalogs and schedules of classes. Inclusion of the information is subject to annual review by the veterans' education division of the Tennessee higher education commission.