HB 98

"This act is the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers’ Family Scholarship Program. This act adds Article 11 to Chapter 21 of Title 36, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) provide up to $2, 500 for tuition for eligible children and spouses of qualifying law enforcement officers for each of up to eight semesters at a public university or college; (2) provide application procedures and eligibility criteria for eligible dependents; (3) establish the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Fund in the State Treasury from which scholarships under the program shall be awarded, to be funded beginning with fiscal year 2028 by an annual appropriation from the Education Trust Fund until revenue from blackout license plate fees reaches an annual level of $10, 000, 000; (4) provide for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to administer the program, including charging a fee of not more than three percent of monies in the fund and adopting rules to administer the program; and (5) require the commission to annually report on the program to the Legislature, including the program's participation levels and costs. This act also establishes a new blackout license plate for motor vehicles and motorcycles beginning January 1, 2027, for an additional fee of $50, $46.75 of which shall be deposited into the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Fund."