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119-s-5566119th CongressWALLET

Public Service Educational Assistance Act

Sponsored By: Senator Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

Introduced

Summary

Educational assistance for dependents of long-serving public service employees. This bill would create a Public Service Educational Assistance Program to cover tuition, fees, and course materials at in-state postsecondary institutions for eligible dependents for up to four academic years.

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  • Families and dependents: Dependents of public service employees with at least 20 years of service could receive tuition, fees, and course materials paid for up to four academic years at an in-state institution.
  • Public service workers covered: The program targets dependents of full-time first responders, educators or teachers, and social workers as defined in the bill.
  • Institutions and administration: The Secretary of Education would pay participating institutions that sign agreements and would issue regulations. Assistance would be tax-exempt and may be used with other federal student aid. The program would take effect one year after enactment.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

College help for public-service dependents

If enacted, the Secretary of Education would create a Public Service Educational Assistance Program. The program would pay participating public institutions for tuition, fees, and course materials for eligible dependents. Aid would apply only at an in-state eligible institution and could cover up to four academic years. To qualify, the dependent must be tied to a full-time public service employee (first responder, educator/teacher, or social worker) with at least 20 years of aggregate public-service employment and who was employed on enactment or began service after enactment. The Secretary would pay institutions that sign agreements and the program would start one year after enactment. Dependents could receive this assistance at the same time as other federal, state, or local postsecondary aid.

No federal tax on the aid

If enacted, educational assistance paid under the proposed program would be exempt from federal income taxation under the Internal Revenue Code. The tax exemption would apply only to assistance provided under this Act. The exemption would start one year after enactment.

Education aid excluded from benefit tests

If enacted, educational assistance under this Act would not be treated as wages or compensation when agencies calculate eligibility for or the amount of retirement, employment-related, or means-tested public benefits. The exclusion would apply only to assistance under this Act and would not override other laws that say otherwise. This change would start one year after enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

NJ • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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