Alabama Board Approves Law Enforcement Family Scholarships

The Alabama Board of Higher Education met on Friday for their quarterly gathering, where they officially approved the administrative procedures related to the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers’ Family Scholarships.

This scholarship program was introduced earlier in the year by Governor Kay Ivey during a state address and subsequently passed by Congress through HB188, which was sponsored by Representative Allen Tredaway. The initiative aims to support the families of law enforcement professionals committed to their careers in Alabama.

The legislation allows for reimbursement to universities for educational expenses incurred by the eligible dependents of law enforcement officers. The scholarship covers costs for up to eight semesters or 12 quarters in approved higher education programs at community colleges, state universities, or public technical schools.

To be eligible, law enforcement officers need to be certified by the Alabama Peace Officer Standards and Training Committee and have served full-time for at least seven consecutive years at one agency or for 12 consecutive years across multiple agencies in Alabama. Dependents must be under 27 years old, have resided in the state for at least two years prior to applying, and must maintain full-time residency in Alabama during their studies.

For students enrolled in full course loads, four-year institutions will be able to reimburse up to $3,000 per semester, while community colleges can receive up to $1,500 per semester. Funding for the program is allocated from the Education Trust Fund Budget Act, with lawmakers designating an annual budget of $10 million.

Additionally, students must adhere to academic progress benchmarks to keep receiving funding, and the law necessitates that they complete their degree within a timeframe of 66 months.

Officials from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) mentioned that preliminary approval of the administrative procedures was granted during a meeting in June, with the proposed rules sent to legislative agencies for Alabama’s monthly publication. A public comment period was open until August 15, but there were no responses. Following Friday’s approval, the rules are anticipated to be forwarded to the Alabama Proceeding Office and are expected to be implemented within 45 days.

The scholarship program is designed to provide support for families within law enforcement and aligns with Alabama’s broader goal of enhancing access to higher education. Over recent years, the state has initiated various targeted scholarship programs, including one for military families called the Alabama GI dependents’ scholarship program.

Ivey remarked that the initiative represents “a way that means giving back to those who serve and protect our community.”