07 HB 131/AP
House
Bill 131 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By:
Representatives Horne of the
71st
and Forster of the
3rd
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Subpart 10A of Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the
Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia HERO (Helping
Educate Reservists and their Offspring) Scholarship, so as to provide that
surviving spouses shall be eligible students; to provide limitations on the time
periods when such scholarship funds shall be available; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Subpart
10A of Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia HERO (Helping Educate Reservists and
their Offspring) Scholarship, is amended by revising paragraph (2) of Code
Section 20-3-485 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
definitions relative to the Georgia HERO (Helping Educate Reservists and their
Offspring) Scholarship, as follows:
"(2)
'Eligible student' means a person who:
(A)(i)
Is enrolled as a full-time or part-time student in an approved
school;
(ii)
Meets residency requirements to be classified as a legal resident of Georgia as
established pursuant to regulations of the authority and who remains a citizen
of the state while receiving funds under this subpart; and
(iii)
Is a member of the Georgia National Guard as such term is defined in Code
Section 38-2-3 or a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the
United States, which member has completed at least one qualifying term of
service;
or
(B)
Is a child:
(i)
Whose parent was a member of the Georgia National Guard as such term is defined
in Code Section 38-2-3 or a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of
the United States, including a deceased member, which member completed at least
one qualifying term of service;
(ii)
Who was born prior to such qualifying term of service or within nine months of
the beginning of such qualifying term of service; and
(iii)
Is 25 years of age or younger who is enrolled as a full-time or part-time
student in an approved
school;
(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 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 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."
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.
(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 days that his or
her parent was deployed overseas on active service on or after May 3, 2005, 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.
(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, 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.
(c)
(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.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.