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2006 SESSION

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HB 1272 Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program; created, report.

Introduced by: William R. Janis | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Virginia War Orphan Education Program; definition of disability.  Amends the Virginia War Orphan Education Program to (i) rename the program as the "Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program"; and (ii) expand eligibility to the spouse or child between the ages of 16 and 29 of a military service member who, during military operations against terrorism, a peace-keeping mission, a terrorist act, or any armed conflict, is killed, missing in action, a prisoner of war, or at least 90 percent disabled as rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.  Eligibility for benefits under the Program must be established through documentation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services is directed to designate a senior-level official to be responsible for developing and implementing the agency's strategy for disseminating information about the Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program to disabled veterans whose dependents qualify and to survivors of veterans who may qualify.  The Commissioner of the Department of Veteran Services must report annually to the Governor and General Assembly as to the agency's policies and strategies relating to dissemination of information about the Program and the number of current beneficiaries, the educational institutions attended by beneficiaries, and the completion rate of the beneficiaries.  

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Virginia War Orphan Education Program; definition of disability.  Amends the Virginia War Orphan Education Program to incorporate the federal terminology and definition related to total and permanent disability.  Currently, there is no definition of disability in the Virginia statute relating to the Program.  The measure also changes the name of the Virginia War Orphan Education Program to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program and extends benefits of the Program to qualified survivors and dependants of military service members who are killed, disabled, or missing in action. Eligibility for benefits under the Program must be established through documentation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.  The Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services is directed to designate a senior-level official to be responsible for developing and implementing the agency's strategy for disseminating information about the Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program to disabled veterans whose dependents qualify and to survivors of veterans who may qualify.  The Commissioner of the Department of Veteran Services must report annually to the Governor and General Assembly as to the agency's policies and strategies relating to dissemination of information about the Program.  

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Virginia War Orphan Education Program; definition of disability.  Amends the Virginia War Orphan Education Program to incorporate the federal terminology and definition related to total and permanent disability.  Currently, there is no definition of disability in the Virginia statute relating to the program.