MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2019 Regular Session

To: Universities and Colleges; Appropriations

By: Representative Henley

House Bill 1024

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-106-41, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES FOR THE CHILDREN OF MISSISSIPPI SERVICE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES WHO WERE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY OR DIED AS THE IMMEDIATE RESULT OF A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY WHILE SERVING IN EITHER OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM OR OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, AS DETERMINED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 37-106-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     37-106-41.  (1)  If any member of the armed services, whose official house of record and residence is within the State of Mississippi, is officially reported as being either a prisoner of war or missing in action in Southeast Asia, or has been a prisoner of a foreign government as the result of a military action against the United States naval vessel, Pueblo, or was killed in the line of duty or died as the immediate result of a service-connected disability while serving in either Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, as determined by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, his or her child or children shall be entitled to an eight-semester scholarship without cost, exclusive of books, food, school supplies, materials and dues or fees for extracurricular activities at any state-supported college or university of his choice within this state.  However, no child will be entitled to receive benefits during any semester or quarter when * * *said that child has reached the age of twenty-three (23) years on the first day of the semester or quarter.

     (2)  The provisions of this section shall apply to the child or children of any member of the armed services who is officially reported as being either a prisoner of war or missing in action in Southeast Asia, or who was killed in the line of duty or died as the immediate result of a service-connected disability while serving in either Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, as determined by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, whose spouse was a resident of this state for a period of not less than ten (10) years during his or her minority and is a resident or physically resides within this state and does continually reside within this state at the time of enrollment and during the enrollment * * *, and is a resident or physically resides within this state as of April 9, 1973.

     (3)  It is further provided that the provisions of this section shall apply to the child or children of any person who was a resident of this state at the time he was inducted into the Armed Forces of the United States of America and who is either a former prisoner of war or officially reported as being a prisoner of war or missing in action in Southeast Asia, or any resident of this state who is the child of a Mississippi service member of the United States Armed Forces who was killed in the line of duty or died as the immediate result of a service-connected disability while serving in either Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, as determined by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, and who, or his or her spouse if he or she was a resident of this state for a period of not less than ten (10) years during her minority, is a resident of this state and at the time of enrollment and during the enrollment of his or her child or children at any state-supported college or university in this state resided or resides in this state.

     (4)  Any applicant qualified and desiring a scholarship under this section shall apply in writing to the board.  The board shall make inquiries into each such application and shall make the investigation as it deems proper to establish and validate all claims made under this section before a scholarship is granted.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2019.