Oklahoma panel approves veteran education bill

Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, said his proposal seeks to keep more veterans in Oklahoma after their service time ends.

It would fill some gaps in the federal measure Congress approved following the 9/11 attacks that grants a free college education to combat veterans, similar to the way the original G.I. Bill provided education benefits to World War II veterans.

Under the federal bill, veterans can transfer their benefits to a spouse or child only if they can't use them, but Simpson's bill would allow a free college education for disabled veterans, their spouses and all their children. The same benefit applies to family members of veterans killed in action.

The federal G.I. Bill's education coverage allows veterans who are honorably discharged to be reimbursed for college, but they would only receive the in-state tuition rate if they go outside their home state. Simpson's would label as in-state students all veterans who were discharged within Oklahoma, regardless of their status, allowing the federal G.I. bill to cover their full tuition.