HB188 Summary

• Establishes the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Program to provide tuition assistance to eligible dependents of qualified law enforcement officers for postsecondary education at participating Alabama institutions.

• Eligible dependents include natural or adopted children under age 27 and current or surviving spouses of officers who are certified by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission and employed full-time for at least 7 years by a single agency or 12 continuous years across multiple agencies.

• Scholarships reimburse participating institutions up to $3,000 per academic period for required educational expenses (tuition, mandatory fees, books) after other aid is applied, covering up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters for approved postsecondary programs.

• Creates the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Fund with an annual appropriation cap of $10,000,000 and authorizes the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to administer the program and accept private donations.

• Establishes a personalized blackout license plate with a $50 annual fee, with proceeds distributed to the scholarship fund after deducting administrative costs ($1) and manufacturing costs ($1.50), with commissions to appropriate agencies; plates begin licensing year January 1, 2026.