SB0587 Summary

• Changes Illinois Veteran grant eligibility to base benefit duration on actual length of active duty service (verified via DD-214 form) rather than a fixed 4-year period, with graduated credit hour amounts ranging from 72 hours for 12-18 months of service to 120 hours for 36+ months.

• Allows veterans' grants to be transferred to qualified dependents (spouses or children under 26) beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, provided the veteran has served at least 6 years of active duty plus 2 years of Reserve service and has no federal veterans' benefits exceeding the grant value.

• Dependents of deceased veterans or those with service-connected disabilities (90-100% rating) or total disability are eligible for full 120-credit-hour transfers regardless of the veteran's service length.

• Adds prohibition preventing dependents receiving MIA/POW scholarships under the School Code from also receiving Illinois Veteran grants simultaneously.

• Takes effect July 1, 2021.