HB 1065

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to educational opportunities for children
3	and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans and
4	servicemembers; amending s. 295.01, F.S.; providing that
5	it is the declared policy of the state to provide
6	educational opportunity at state expense for spouses of
7	deceased or disabled servicemembers; providing criteria
8	for qualification for such benefits for unremarried
9	spouses of deceased servicemembers and dependent spouses
10	of disabled servicemembers; specifying uses of funds
11	appropriated for such educational opportunities; amending
12	s. 295.03, F.S., relating to withdrawal of benefits upon
13	failure to comply with minimum educational requirements;
14	revising terminology; amending s. 295.05, F.S., relating
15	to enrollment as a prerequisite to receipt of benefits;
16	revising terminology; providing an effective date.
17
18	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
19
20	Section 1.  Section 295.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to
21	read:
22	295.01  Children of deceased or disabled veterans; spouses
23	of deceased or disabled servicemembers; education.--
24	(1)  It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state to
25	provide educational opportunity at state expense for dependent
26	children either of whose parents entered the Armed Forces and:
27	(a)  Died as a result of service-connected injuries,
28	disease, or disability sustained while on active duty; or
29	(b)  Has been:
30	1.  Determined by the United States Department of Veterans
31	Affairs or its predecessor to have a service-connected 100-
32	percent total and permanent disability rating for compensation;
33	2.  Determined to have a service-connected total and
34	permanent disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt of
35	disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States
36	Armed Services; or
37	3.  Issued a valid identification card by the Department of
38	Veterans' Affairs in accordance with s. 295.17,
39
40	when the parents of such children have been bona fide residents
41	of the state for 1 year immediately preceding the death or
42	occurrence of such disability, and subject to the rules,
43	restrictions, and limitations set forth in this section.
44	(2)  It is also the declared policy of the state to provide
45	educational opportunity at state expense for spouses of deceased
46	or disabled servicemembers.
47	(a)  The unremarried spouse of a deceased servicemember, as
48	defined in s. 250.01, qualifies for the benefits under this
49	section:
50	1.  If the servicemember and his or her spouse had been
51	residents of the state for 1 year immediately preceding the
52	servicemember's death and the servicemember's death occurred
53	under the circumstances provided in subsection (1); and
54	2.  If the unremarried spouse applies to use the benefit
55	within 5 years after the servicemember's death.
56	(b)  The dependent spouse of a disabled servicemember, as
57	defined in s. 250.01, qualifies for the benefits under this
58	section:
59	1.  If the servicemember and his or her spouse have been
60	married to each other for 1 year; and
61	2.  If the servicemember and his or her spouse have been
62	residents of the state for 1 year immediately preceding the
63	occurrence of the servicemember's disability and the disability
64	meets the criteria set forth in subsection (1); and
65	3.  Only during the duration of the marriage and up to the
66	point of termination of the marriage by dissolution or
67	annulment.
68
69	Notwithstanding s. 295.02, funds appropriated to carry out the
70	provisions of this subsection may only be used for tuition and
71	registration fees at state-supported institutions of higher
72	learning, including community colleges and career centers. All
73	rules, restrictions, and limitations set forth in this section
74	shall apply.
75	(3)(2)  Sections 295.03, 295.04, 295.05, and 1009.40 shall
76	apply.
77	(4)(3)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for
78	administering this section.
79	Section 2.  Section 295.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to
80	read:
81	295.03  Minimum requirements.--Upon failure of any student
82	child benefited by the provisions of this chapter to comply with
83	the ordinary and minimum requirements of the institution
84	attended, both as to discipline and scholarship, the benefits
85	thereof shall be withdrawn as to the student child and no
86	further moneys expended for his or her benefits so long as such
87	failure or delinquency continues.
88	Section 3.  Section 295.05, Florida Statutes, is amended to
89	read:
90	295.05  Admission; enrollment.--Eligibility for admission
91	is not affected by this chapter, but all students children
92	receiving benefits under this chapter shall be enrolled
93	according to the customary rules and requirements of the
94	institution attended.
95	Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.