08 HB 311/AP
House
Bill 311 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By:
Representatives Fleming of the
117th,
Harbin of the
118th,
O`Neal of the
146th,
Yates of the
73rd,
Talton of the
145th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to postsecondary education, so as to revise certain definitions; to provide a
time period for the application for grants and the termination of grant
eligibility; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
postsecondary education, is amended by revising subparagraphs (C) and (D) of
paragraph (2) and paragraph (5) as follows:
"(C)
Is a surviving spouse of a deceased member of the Georgia National Guard as such
term is defined in Code Section 38-2-3 who was killed
or sustained a
100 percent disability in a combat zone or
as a result of injuries received in a combat zone, which member completed at
least one qualifying term of service; or
(D)
Is a surviving spouse of a deceased member of a reserve component of the armed
forces of the United States who was killed
or sustained a
100 percent disability in a combat zone or
as a result of injuries received in a combat zone, which member completed at
least one qualifying term of service."
(5)
'Qualifying term of service' means deployment overseas for active service on or
after the
effective date of this subpart
February 1,
2003, to a location or locations outside
of the United States and its territories designated by the United States
Department of Defense as a combat zone for a
consecutive
cumulative
period of at least 181 days or, in the case of an individual who is killed or
receives a 100 percent disability as a result of injuries received in such
combat zone, any period of time on active service in such combat zone; provided,
however, that any person who fails to serve the full 181 consecutive days
because he or she was evacuated from the combat zone due to severe injuries
shall be deemed to have completed a qualifying term of
service."
SECTION
2.
Said
subpart is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-486, relating to grants
to eligible students, as follows:
"20-3-486.
(a)
There is granted to each eligible student under subparagraph (A) of paragraph
(2) of Code Section 20-3-485 attending an approved school a Georgia HERO
Scholarship grant for a maximum of four award years in the sum of $2,000.00 per
award year. No person shall be eligible to receive grant assistance provided
under this subsection in excess of $8,000.00.
Applications
for grants under this subsection must be made before July 1, 2010, or within two
years after the date the student becomes eligible, whichever is later, and grant
eligibility shall terminate eight years after the date the student becomes
eligible.
(b)
There is granted to each eligible student under subparagraph (B) of paragraph
(2) of Code Section 20-3-485 attending an approved school a Georgia HERO
Scholarship grant in the sum of $2,000.00 per award year. Such student shall be
eligible for one award year for each period of 181
consecutive
cumulative
days that his or her parent was deployed overseas on active service on or after
May 3,
2005,
February 1,
2003, to a location or locations outside
of the United States and its territories designated by the United States
Department of Defense as a combat zone; provided, however, that a student whose
parent was killed or received a 100 percent disability as a result of injuries
received in such combat zone shall receive up to a maximum of four award years
regardless of the time such student´s parent was on active service in such
combat zone. No person shall be eligible to receive grant assistance provided
under this subsection in excess of $8,000.00.
Applications
for grants under this subsection must be made before July 1, 2010, or within two
years after the student becomes eligible, whichever is later, and grant
eligibility shall terminate eight years after the student becomes
eligible.
(c)
There is granted to each eligible student under subparagraph (C) or (D) of
paragraph (2) of Code Section 20-3-485 attending an approved school a
Georgia HERO Scholarship grant in the sum of $2,000.00 per award year. Such
student shall be eligible for four award years. No person shall be eligible to
receive grant assistance provided under this subsection in excess of $8,000.00.
Applications for the initial grant under this subsection must be made before
July 1,
2009
2010,
or not later than two years following the death of the spouse, whichever is
later, and no grant shall be issued later than six years after the initial grant
is issued.
(d)
Grant assistance to eligible students under this subpart shall be payable on a
pro rata basis based upon whether the student is enrolled full time or part time
and the number of semesters or quarters of enrollment. The payment of grants to
eligible students under this subpart shall be contingent upon the appropriation
of funds by the General Assembly for the purposes of this subpart in annual
appropriations Acts of the General Assembly."
SECTION
3.
This
Act shall become effective on July 1, 2008.
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.