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Panel hears bill to provide last‑resort education aid to dependents of 100% disabled veterans; sponsors plan to refine age definition
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Summary
House File 982 would create a last‑resort education aid program for dependents of veterans rated 100% disabled. Testimony highlighted the bill is intended as a final funding option and sponsors agreed to add a clearer definition of "dependent." The committee laid the bill over as amended.
House File 982, sponsored by Representative Jeff Clardy, would provide last‑resort financial aid for the dependents of veterans who are rated 100% disabled. Representative Clardy and a veteran testifier, Alan Gursky, described the program as limited to applicants who have exhausted other benefits (FAFSA, military education benefits) and to state‑operated institutions under the current draft.
Gursky, who identified himself as a 100% disabled veteran and father of four, urged committee members to support the bill and said he hoped the program would include a modest pool of funds targeted at veterans’ dependents preparing for college.
Vice Chair Olson raised a procedural and substantive concern: the bill’s draft cites section 197.447 when defining a "dependent," but 197.447 is the statute that defines "veteran," not dependents. Olson said she supports the concept but does not want the program to enable an adult dependent of 42 years of age to receive benefits intended for dependents. Representative Clardy acknowledged the bill is still evolving and agreed to define "dependent" to narrow scope.
The committee adopted the amendment package as presented and laid the bill over for possible inclusion; members indicated they would clarify dependent age limits and other definitions before further action.
