Sec. 1. (a) This chapter applies to the following persons:

(1) A person who:

(A) is a pupil at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home; and

(B) was admitted to the Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home because the person was related to a member of the armed forces of the United States.

(2) A person whose mother or father:

(A) served in the armed forces of the United States;

(B) received the Purple Heart decoration or was wounded as a result of enemy action;

(C) received a discharge or separation from the armed forces other than a dishonorable discharge; and

(D) either designated Indiana as home of record at the time of enlistment in the armed forces of the United States or resided in Indiana at least five (5) years before the person first applies for an exemption under this chapter.

(3) A person whose mother or father:

(A) served in the armed forces of the United States during a war or performed duty equally hazardous that was recognized by the award of a service or campaign medal of the United States;

(B) suffered a service connected death or disability as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;

(C) received any discharge or separation from the armed forces other than a dishonorable discharge; and

(D) either listed Indiana as home of record at the time of enlistment in the armed forces of the United States or resided in Indiana at least five (5) years before the person first applies for an exemption under this chapter.

(4) A person who:

(A) enters active duty service from a permanent home address in Indiana;

(B) received a discharge or separation from the armed forces of the United States other than a dishonorable discharge; and

(C) received the Purple Heart decoration or was wounded as a result of enemy action.

(5) A person whose mother, father, or spouse:

(A) served as a public safety officer; and

(B) was killed in the line of duty.

(6) A person whose mother, father, or spouse:

(A) is a member of the 1977 fund;

(B) sustained a catastrophic physical personal injury in the line of duty; and

(C) qualifies for benefits under IC 36-8-8-13.3(f) or IC 36-8-8-13.5(m).

(7) A person whose mother, father, or spouse:

(A) was a member of the Indiana National Guard; and

(B) suffered a service connected death while serving on state active duty (as described in IC 10-16-7-7).

(8) A person whose mother, father, or spouse:

(A) was a state police officer; and

(B) suffered a permanent and total disability from a catastrophic personal injury that was sustained in the line of duty and permanently prevents the state police officer from performing any gainful work.

(b) In addition to the eligibility requirements under subsection (a), an individual must meet the following to be eligible for an educational costs exemption under this chapter:

(1) The individual is eligible to pay the resident tuition rate at the state educational institution the individual will attend, as determined by the state educational institution.

(2) If the individual:

(A) qualifies for an exemption under this chapter based on the service of the individual's mother or father; and

(B) was adopted by the individual's mother or father described in clause (A);

the individual was adopted before the individual was eighteen (18) years of age.

(3) If the individual qualifies for an exemption under this chapter based on the service of the individual's mother or father, the individual is not more than thirty-two (32) years of age when the individual first applies and becomes eligible for the exemption under this chapter.

(4) The individual is, after high school graduation, pursuing a prescribed course of study at the state educational institution.

(5) After July 1, 2020, the individual maintains satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the state educational institution.

[Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-19-1(b).]

As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.255. Amended by P.L.169-2011, SEC.15; P.L.6-2012, SEC.148; P.L.112-2019, SEC.8.