,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #eeff ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bd1 #bjbf,mr4 ,booker introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,finance ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,education to establish a ,public ,service ,educational ,assistance ,program to provide educational assistance to the dependents of public service employees1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,public ,service ,educational ,assistance ,act4 #b4 ,establishment of the ,public ,service ,educational ,assistance ,program 7a7 ,in ,general ,the ,secretary shall establish a ,public ,service ,educational ,assistance ,program to provide educational assistance to eligible dependents of public service employees4 7b7 ,educational assistance ,educational assistance provided to an eligible dependent under this ,act-- 7#a7 shall be in an amount that covers the cost of tuition1 fees1 and course materials and related items described in section #dgb7;a77#b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgll7a77#b77 for a program of study at an applicable postsecondary educational institution located in a ,state where a dependent is eligible to receive in-,state tuition2 and 7#b7 may be provided for not longer than #d academic years4 7c7 ,method of distribution 7#a7 ,in ,general ,the ,secretary shall pay to each applicable postsecondary educational institution that has an agreement with the ,secretary under paragraph 7#b7 such sums as may be necessary to pay each eligible dependent described in subsection 7a7 for each period of time during which that eligible dependent is in attendance at an applicable postsecondary educational institution1 an amount of educational assistance described in subsection 7b7 for which that eligible dependent is eligible4 7#b7 ,agreements ,the ,secretary shall enter into agreements with applicable postsecondary educational institutions that desire to participate in the distribution method described in paragraph 7#a7 for funds under this section4 7#c7 ,distribution of ,grants to ,dependents ,payments under this section shall be made in accordance with regulations promulgated by the ,secretary for such purpose1 in such manner as will best accomplish the purpose of this section4 ,any disbursement allowed to be made by crediting the dependent's account shall be limited to tuition and fees1 and the cost of course materials and related items described in section #dgb7;a77#b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgll7a77#b774 #c4 ,coordination with other ,federal benefits 7a7 ,concurrent benefits ,a dependent may receive educational assistance under this ,act concurrently with other forms of ,federal student aid1 including grants and loans under title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj et seq471 and other postsecondary education benefits under ,federal1 ,state1 and local law4 7b7 ,no effect on retirement or other benefits ,educational assistance provided under this ,act shall not be considered wages or compensation for purposes of determining eligibility for1 or the amount of1 any retirement or other employment-related benefit1 or for other means-tested public benefits1 except as otherwise provided by law4 7c7 ,tax treatment ,educational assistance provided under this ,act shall be exempt from taxation under the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf4 #d4 ,regulations ,the ,secretary shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out this ,act4 #e4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,applicable postsecondary educational institution ,the term applicable postsecondary educational institution means-- 7,a7 a public institution of higher education2 or 7,b7 a public education or training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential4 7#b7 ,dependent ,the term dependent has the meaning given such term in section #aeb of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf 7determined by substituting #bf for #ai in subsection 7c77#c77;,a77i7 thereof and without regard to subsection 7c77#c77;,a77ii7 thereof74 7#c7 ,educator or teacher ,the term educator or teacher means an individual who is not an elected official and who is employed at a public elementary school1 a public secondary school1 a public school system1 a ,state educational agency1 or a local educational agency4 7#d7 ,elementary school2 local educational agency2 secondary school2 ,state educational agency ,the terms elementary school1 local educational agency1 secondary school1 and ,state educational agency have the meanings given such terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#e7 ,eligible dependent ,the term eligible dependent means a dependent of a public service employee who-- 7,a7 on or after the effective date of this ,act1 has not less than #bj years of service as a public service employee1 in the aggregate2 and 7,b7 was a public service employee on the date of enactment of this ,act1 or began service as a public service employee after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7#f7 ,first responder ,the term first responder includes a law enforcement officer or firefighter1 including-- 7,a7 an employee of a government prosecutorial agency or a public defender2 7,b7 a public safety telecommunicator1 including a #iaa operator or a fire dispatcher2 7,c7 an emergency medical services member2 7,d7 an employee of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency2 7,e7 an employee of a ,state1 local1 or tribal emergency management agency2 or 7,f7 a ,department of ,energy nuclear courier or emergency response team member4 7#g7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section #ajb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb74 7#h7 ,means-tested public benefit ,the term means-tested public benefit means a public benefit 7including cash1 medical1 housing1 and food assistance and social services7 from the ,federal ,government or from a ,state or political subdivision of a ,state in which the eligibility of an individual1 household1 or family eligibility unit for benefits1 the amount of such benefits1 or both are determined on the basis of income1 resources1 or financial need of the individual1 household1 or family eligibility unit4 7#i7 ,public service employee ,the term public service employee means an employee who works full-time-- 7,a7 as a first responder2 7,b7 as an educator or teacher2 or 7,c7 as a social worker4 7#aj7 ,recognized postsecondary credential ,the term recognized postsecondary credential has the meaning given such term in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb74 7#aa7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,education4 #f4 ,effective date ,this ,act shall take effect on the date that is #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act