[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4721 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4721

   To make dependents of members of the Armed Forces who died while 
serving on active duty eligible for enrollment in Department of Defense 
  Education Activity schools on a tuition-free, space-available basis.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                July 11 (legislative day, July 10), 2024

  Mr. Ossoff (for himself, Mr. Rounds, and Mr. Cramer) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                             Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To make dependents of members of the Armed Forces who died while 
serving on active duty eligible for enrollment in Department of Defense 
  Education Activity schools on a tuition-free, space-available basis.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Gold Star Children Education Act of 
2024''.

SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF DEPENDENTS OF CERTAIN DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE 
              ARMED FORCES FOR ENROLLMENT IN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
              EDUCATION ACTIVITY SCHOOLS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 108 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2164a the 
following new section:
``Sec. 2164b. Eligibility of dependents of certain deceased members for 
              enrollment in schools operated by Department of Defense 
              Education Activity
    ``(a) In General.--A dependent of a covered member is eligible to 
enroll in a school operated by the Department of Defense Education 
Activity without regard to--
            ``(1) whether the dependent was enrolled in such a school 
        on the date of the death of the member; or
            ``(2) the proximity of the school in which the dependent 
        seeks enrollment to the location where the dependent resided on 
        the date of the death of the member.
    ``(b) Tuition-Free, Space-Available Enrollment.--Enrollment of a 
dependent of a covered member in a school operated by the Department of 
Defense Education Activity shall be on a tuition-free and space-
available basis.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Covered member.--The term `covered member' means a 
        member of the armed forces who died while serving on active 
        duty or active Guard and Reserve duty.
            ``(2) School operated by the department of defense 
        education activity.--The term `school operated by the 
        Department of Defense Education Activity' means--
                    ``(A) a Department of Defense domestic dependent 
                elementary or secondary school established under 
                section 2164 of this title; or
                    ``(B) any elementary or secondary school for 
                dependents of members of the armed forces operated by 
                the Department of Defense Education Activity.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 108 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 2164a the following new item:

``2164b. Eligibility of dependents of certain deceased members for 
                            enrollment in schools operated by 
                            Department of Defense Education 
                            Activity.''.
    (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section or the 
amendments made by this section may be construed to affect the 
eligibility of dependents of individuals described in subsection (j)(2) 
of section 2164 of title 10, United States Code, for enrollment in a 
Department of Defense education program provided by the Secretary of 
Defense pursuant to subsection (a) of that section.
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