HB 1189

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to the education of children of deceased
3	or disabled veterans; amending s. 295.01, F.S.; extending
4	the opportunity to receive postsecondary educational
5	benefits at state expense to the dependent children of
6	certain dead or disabled veterans who were Florida
7	residents when the death or disability occurred;
8	decreasing the minimum required length of the parent's
9	residency; providing an effective date.
10
11	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13	Section 1.  Section 295.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to
14	read:
15	295.01  Children of deceased or disabled veterans;
16	education.--
17	(1)  It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state to
18	provide educational opportunity at state expense for dependent
19	children either of whose parents:
20	(a)  Was a resident of the state at the time such parent
21	entered the Armed Forces and:
22	1.(a)  Died as a result of service-connected injuries,
23	disease, or disability sustained while on active duty; or
24	2.(b)  Has been:
25	a.1.  Determined by the United States Department of
26	Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a service-connected
27	100-percent total and permanent disability rating for
28	compensation;
29	b.2.  Determined to have a service-connected total and
30	permanent disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt of
31	disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States
32	Armed Services; or
33	c.3.  Issued a valid identification card by the Department
34	of Veterans' Affairs in accordance with s. 295.17;
35	(b)  Met all Florida residency requirements at the time of
36	death or the occurrence of the disability, as described in
37	paragraph (a),
38
39	when the deceased or disabled parent of such a child has been a
40	bona fide resident parents of such children have been bona fide
41	residents of the state for at least 1 year immediately 5 years
42	next preceding the death or occurrence of such disability their
43	application for the benefits hereof, and subject to the rules,
44	restrictions, and limitations set forth in this section hereof.
45	(2)  Sections The provisions of ss. 295.03, 295.04, 295.05,
46	and 1009.40 shall apply to the benefits provided under this
47	section.
48	(3)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for
49	administering this section.
50	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

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