Relates to military enhanced recognition, incentive and tribute scholarships; removes the date requirement of on and after August 2, 1990 for a member of the armed forces of the United States or state organized militia to be a member and for children, spouses and financial dependents of such member to receive such scholarships.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5543--A
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 10, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. BROOKS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
ty and Military Affairs -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to military enhanced
recognition, incentive and tribute ("MERIT") scholarships
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 668-e of the education law, as added by chapter 106
2 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 668-e. Military enhanced recognition, incentive and tribute
4 ("MERIT") scholarships. 1. Eligible persons. a. Notwithstanding subdi-
5 visions three and five of section six hundred sixty-one of this title,
6 children, spouses and financial dependents of a member of the armed
7 forces of the United States or state organized militia who at any time
8 [on or after the second day of August, nineteen hundred ninety,] while
9 in service in the armed forces of the United States, as defined by
10 subdivision eight of section one of the military law or in a force of
11 the state organized militia, as defined in subdivision nine of section
12 one of the military law: (i) while a legal resident of New York state,
13 died, became severely and permanently disabled or was classified as
14 missing in action [in a combat theater or combat zone of operations as
15 part of military operations], or died as a result of injury or illness
16 suffered or incurred during such military service; or (ii) while a legal
17 resident of New York state, died or became severely and permanently
18 disabled as a result of injury or illness suffered or incurred during
19 military training operations [in preparation for duty in a combat thea-
20 ter or combat zone of operations].
21 b. A member of the armed forces of the United States who: (i) became
22 severely and permanently disabled as a result of service in the armed
23 forces of the United States, as defined by subdivision eight of section
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10315-02-1
S. 5543--A 2
1 one of the military law, [in a combat theater or combat zone of oper-
2 ations as part of military operations at any time on or after the second
3 day of August, nineteen hundred ninety]; and (ii) was a legal resident
4 of New York state at the time of military service.
5 c. A member of the armed forces of the United States who: (i) became
6 severely and permanently disabled as a result of injury or illness
7 suffered or incurred during military training operations [in preparation
8 for duty in a combat theater or combat zone of operations]; and (ii) was
9 a legal resident of New York state at the time of military service.
10 d. A member of the state organized militia who: (i) became severely
11 and permanently disabled as a result of injury or illness suffered or
12 incurred during active military service, as defined in subdivision six
13 of section one of the military law [related to duty in a combat theater
14 or combat zone of operations]; and (ii) was a legal resident of New York
15 state at the time of active military service.
16 2. Amount. The president shall grant annual scholarships in amounts
17 determined in accordance with subdivisions two and three of section six
18 hundred sixty-eight-d of this [part] subpart.
19 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
