News from the Senate Majority

Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

For Immediate Release: April 9, 1997 Contact: Senator Tim Kelly, 907/465-3822

Senate Passes Bill To Make Education Assistance More Flexible For National Guard Members

Juneau -- The Senate Wednesday unanimously passed legislation to modify the Alaska National Guard tuition assistance program making it more flexible to meet the members’ educational needs.

Senator Tim Kelly (R-Anchorage), sponsor of Senate Bill 143, noted that this legislation will build a stronger National Guard program by making education easier to attain for enlisted members and by giving more discretion to the Adjutant General for applying educational benefits to the organization’s most pressing needs.

"Better educational opportunities will increase the overall skill level of the members and will allow them to better serve Alaska’s and our country’s public safety needs," said Kelly. "These education opportunities will help the National Guard to recruit capable participants and retain them once they are enlisted."

Provisions in Senate Bill 143 include:

• Provides for the Adjutant General to pay up to 100 percent of tuition and required fees for members attending Alaska educational institutions. Formerly, the A.G. could only pay up to 50 percent.
• Provides that those receiving educational benefits maintain acceptable standards.
• Removes educational assistance for retirees and former members of the Territorial Guard to make sufficient funding available for active members.
• Changes outdated language to allow all members of the National Guard and Reserves to be eligible for educational benefits during their first term of enlistment.