Relates to the veterans tuition awards program

Veterans can share tuition awards, with limits

Beginning July 1, 2026, qualified veterans can transfer all or part of an unused tuition award to family members. Recipients must be a spouse, child, or qualifying survivor who lives in New York. Veterans must qualify for the existing award apart from its enrollment and application requirements, and must not have used it. Total transfers cannot exceed the veteran’s available award, and the program allows no more than 100 transfers each year. Veterans must name each recipient and the number of semesters on a required form attached to the application. The program president must post the form and related information on the SUNY corporation’s website. A child must be under 26 and generally cannot start using the award until the veteran has served 10 years. Exceptions apply when service ends early because of death; discharge or release for a pre-existing medical condition or hardship; discharge for disability or a reduction in force; or involuntary force shaping. Another exception covers discharge or release for a physical or mental condition that interfered with duty. That condition must not be a disability or result from willful misconduct. A survivor must have been married to the veteran and meet at least one of four tests: the veteran died because of military service; they married within 15 years of discharge and the cause of death, disease, or injury began or worsened during service; they were married for at least one year; or they had a child together and lived together continuously until the veteran’s death. For the last test, a separated survivor qualifies only if not at fault for the separation. Agencies can make needed rules before July 1, 2026, to prepare for implementation.