The Florida Senate

295.016  Children of service members who died or became disabled in Operation Eagle Claw.--

(1)  It is hereby declared to be a policy of the state to provide educational opportunity at state expense for the dependent children of any service member who died or suffered a service-connected 100-percent total and permanent disability rating for compensation as determined by the Veterans Administration, or who has been determined to have a service-connected total and permanent disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States Armed Services, in the Iranian rescue mission known as Operation Eagle Claw, which service member was residing in the state on April 25, 1980. A certified copy of a death certificate, a valid identification card issued by the Department of Veterans' Affairs in accordance with s. 295.17, a letter certifying the service-connected 100-percent total and permanent disability rating for compensation from the Veterans Administration, or a letter certifying the service-connected total and permanent disability rating of 100 percent for retirement pay from any branch of the United States Armed Services shall be prima facie evidence of the fact that the dependent children of the service member are eligible for such benefits.

(2)  The provisions of ss. 295.03, 295.04, 295.05, and 1009.40 shall apply.

History.--s. 1, ch. 81-275; s. 3, ch. 83-71; s. 12, ch. 87-356; s. 22, ch. 88-290; s. 27, ch. 89-207; s. 244, ch. 95-148; s. 950, ch. 2002-387.