§1686. Scholarship for a child of a military person killed in performance of duty

A. As used in this Section:

(1) "Books" means textbooks, reference books, manuals, or other aids to instruction which are required to be purchased by a student in a given course of study.

(2) "Child" means the natural, adopted, or acknowledged offspring of a military person or his or her spouse living in the same household with and dependent upon the military person for support and the offspring of a military person dependent upon him or her for support whether or not living in the same household.

(3) "Military person" means any person who meets all of the following criteria:

(a) Has served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States in certain theaters of military operation at any time beginning September 11, 2001, through the date as declared by the United States government to be the termination of service for members of the armed forces.

(b) Is eligible for the award of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal or the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

(c) Served in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.

(d) Was domiciled in Louisiana for civilian purposes and named Louisiana a home of residence for military purposes when inducted into active service.

(e) During the course of his or her official duty was killed or later died as a result of injuries sustained in the course of such duty.

(4) "Room and board charges" means any fee charged for lodging, quarters, or food furnished by the public postsecondary institution on its campus for which a regular and periodic charge is made to all students availing themselves of such services and all standard activity, academic, or other fees required for enrollment.

B. Any child of a military person, as defined in Subsection A of this Section, who is eligible for admission and enrollment in a public postsecondary institution of education in Louisiana shall be admitted and enrolled in such institution without the payment of any fees for tuition, books, or room and board charges as long as such child meets the academic standards and complies with the rules and regulations of such institution required for enrollment and continued attendance as a full-time student. Such exemption shall exist for such child for the length of time required for a full-time student to obtain a baccalaureate or other undergraduate degree or completion certificate offered by such institution which, in no event, shall exceed eight semesters or the equivalent of eight semesters for any one child in any public postsecondary education institution that offers degrees at the baccalaureate level or higher or four semesters in any other public postsecondary education institution. In addition, such child shall be entitled to a cash grant of one hundred twenty-five dollars per semester or the equivalent from such institution as an allowance for books.

C.(1) No benefits shall be granted under the provisions of this Section unless the student can demonstrate that he or she does not qualify for federal grant aid.

(2) Additionally, if a student is receiving other financial assistance that when combined with the tuition waiver granted under this Section exceeds the "cost of attendance" as determined for that student in accordance with regulations governing the award of federal student aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, the amount of the waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such excess.

Acts 2005, No. 501, §1, eff. July 12, 2005.