OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - An Oklahoma House committee has cleared a proposal to pay tuition and fees for veterans who became 100 percent disabled in the line of duty since Sept. 11, 2001. The benefit would also be available to their spouses and children as well as families of veterans killed in action.
The Higher Education Subcommittee approved the proposal Monday. It has already cleared the Senate and now heads to the full House for a vote.
Sen. Frank Simpson of Springer first introduced the bill and says it's intended to fill gaps in the federal G.I. Bill.
According to a legislative analysis, Oklahoma has had 124 combat casualties since 9/11. If only one family member for each veteran uses the benefits for the state's average college tuition, the proposal could cost $2.3 million.
