Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Floyd County Lawmaker Introduces Legislation Concerning Disabled Veterans
FRANKFORT - Senator Johnny Ray Turner, D-Drift, co-sponsored legislation today to make it easier for family members of a disabled veteran to receive tuition benefits.
"We owe it to our disabled veterans to make sure their family members have the chance to further their educations," said Turner, a member of the Senate Education Committee. "This legislation is a way to honor our veterans who have put their lives on the line for you and me. They deserve the best we can offer."
Under current law, a spouse, child, stepchild, or orphan of a veteran, permanently or totally disabled while on active duty, may attend any state-supported university, junior college, or vocational training center tuition free. If passed, this bill will allow benefits to family members of veterans who have a fifty percent or more service connected disability to qualify for tuition benefits. Turner is proposing tuition benefits equal the percent of disability of the veteran instead of the current 100 percent requirement.
In order for children or a spouse to qualify for tuition assistance, the veteran has to be a resident of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. If the disabled veteran has been discharged, it must be under honorable conditions.
"I will encourage my colleagues in both the Senate and the House to support this bill," Turner said. "We need to do more than talk about how much we appreciate the sacrifices of our veterans; we need to show them our gratitude by offering real support."
This legislation takes a bill passed by Turner last year for family members of a deceased veteran a step further.
Turner is a strong supporter of the military and has co-sponsored a number of bills in support of service men and women. Turner represents the 29th District which includes Floyd, Letcher, Knott and Breathitt counties.
This bill will be considered during the 2008 legislative session which began last week.
"We owe it to our disabled veterans to make sure their family members have the chance to further their educations," said Turner, a member of the Senate Education Committee. "This legislation is a way to honor our veterans who have put their lives on the line for you and me. They deserve the best we can offer."
Under current law, a spouse, child, stepchild, or orphan of a veteran, permanently or totally disabled while on active duty, may attend any state-supported university, junior college, or vocational training center tuition free. If passed, this bill will allow benefits to family members of veterans who have a fifty percent or more service connected disability to qualify for tuition benefits. Turner is proposing tuition benefits equal the percent of disability of the veteran instead of the current 100 percent requirement.
In order for children or a spouse to qualify for tuition assistance, the veteran has to be a resident of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. If the disabled veteran has been discharged, it must be under honorable conditions.
"I will encourage my colleagues in both the Senate and the House to support this bill," Turner said. "We need to do more than talk about how much we appreciate the sacrifices of our veterans; we need to show them our gratitude by offering real support."
This legislation takes a bill passed by Turner last year for family members of a deceased veteran a step further.
Turner is a strong supporter of the military and has co-sponsored a number of bills in support of service men and women. Turner represents the 29th District which includes Floyd, Letcher, Knott and Breathitt counties.
This bill will be considered during the 2008 legislative session which began last week.
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 8:33 PM 
