[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64435-64436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17412]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Docket ID: DoD-2024-OS-0027]


Request for Information for 2026 Department of Defense State 
Policy Priorities Impacting Service Members and Their Families; 
Response to Public Comments

AGENCY: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community 
and Family Policy, Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION:  Request for information; response to public comments.

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SUMMARY:  On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, DoD published a request for 
information in the Federal Register that provided an opportunity for 
the public to submit issues that have an impact on Service members and 
their families where state governments are the primary agents for 
making positive change. Each year, DoD selects State Policy Priorities 
for states to consider that reduce barriers resulting from the 
transience and uncertainty of military life. The public submissions 
received will be considered by DoD in setting those priorities. For 
example, as a result of previous feedback provided by a non-profit 
educational research organization, DoD has educated states on the 
benefits of modifying their open enrollment policies to increase access 
to school options for military-connected children. This follow-up 
notice responds to the public comments received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Ms. Geraldine Valentin-Smith, (703) 
618-6907 (voice), [email protected] (email), 4800 
Mark Center Drive, Suite 14E08, Alexandria, Virginia 22350 (mailing 
address).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Tuesday, March 26, 2024 (89 FR 20954), 
the DoD published a notice titled ``Request for Information for 2026 
DoD State Policy Priorities Impacting Service Members and Their 
Families.'' Public comments were accepted for 30 days until April 25, 
2024. Twenty public comments were received. The DoD responds to the 
comments as follows:
    Seven comments were received which identified issues for potential 
inclusion as a State Policy Priority. We appreciate your thoughtful 
engagement and recommendations. We respond to the comments as follows:
     Bridging Support Systems During Permanent Change of 
Station (PCS) Transitions for Vulnerable Military Families. We 
recognize military families face significant disruptions in essential 
state support services during PCS moves. Implementing an advance 
enrollment system for state-run support programs, such as Medicaid and 
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, similar to successful 
models in educational settings, may affect the continuity of care and 
support for military families during PCS transitions.
     Enfranchising Military-Connected Voters. We agree military 
voters face significant challenges in participating in elections. 
Various states have differing rules regarding absentee ballot deadlines 
and procedures for curing ballot discrepancies, with no standardized 
approach specifically accommodating the unique circumstances of 
military voters. We commend states which have enhanced the fairness and 
inclusivity of the electoral process, reinforcing the democratic values 
that military personnel defend.
     Facilitating Guardianship Transfer for Military Families. 
We understand that military families with guardianship responsibilities 
face significant legal and bureaucratic hurdles when moving between 
states due to permanent changes of station. The Uniform Adult 
Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act is an approach 
to enabling a more seamless transfer of guardianship for military 
families between all states.
     Military Community Experience with Job Opportunity Scams. 
We share concern that military spouses are particularly vulnerable to 
job opportunity scams, which pose a significant threat to their 
financial security and well-being. No current state law or initiative 
requires specific protections or targeted initiatives to address the 
unique vulnerability of military spouses to job scams. However, states 
have begun addressing claim sharks who target veterans by offering 
veteran and military benefit services in exchange for financial 
compensation and other predatory practices.
     Military Family Agility and Children's Educational 
Success. We concur that full implementation of the Interstate Compact 
on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (the Compact) enhances 
educational continuity and fairness for military children. The Compact 
has been crucial in addressing educational challenges

[[Page 64436]]

faced by military families when relocating. All states and the District 
of Columbia have adopted the Compact; however, discrepancies in 
implementation across states create unequal opportunities and support 
for these children.
     Paid Military Family Leave. We acknowledge the substantial 
role that employed military spouses play in maintaining the home front 
during activations and the reintegration period that follows. The 
current legislative landscape includes several states that have taken 
commendable steps toward supporting military families through paid 
family leave policies. These initiatives not only alleviate financial 
pressures but also contribute to the overall readiness and resilience 
of our forces.
     Partial Credit During Mid-Term Transfers. We continue to 
address academic disruptions faced by military children. Many sending 
schools do not award partial credit for coursework completed before a 
transfer, and receiving schools frequently do not accept such partial 
credits, forcing students to repeat entire courses upon a PCS move. 
States have begun implementing policies that require both sending and 
receiving schools to recognize and accept partial credits.
    The Department will evaluate the seven issues independently for 
suitability, feasibility, desirability, acceptability, and 
sustainability.
    One comment was received which related to an existing State Policy 
Priority:
     Creating a State Holiday for Month of the Military Child. 
Each year, the Department joins national, state, and local governments, 
schools, military serving organizations, companies, and private 
citizens in celebrating military children and the sacrifices they make 
during the month of April. There are more than 1.6 million military 
children who face many challenges and unique experiences as a result of 
their parents' service. This line of effort is part of the State Policy 
Priority for Purple Star School Programs.
    Additionally, four comments were received which related to issues 
outside the criteria listed for consideration. The criteria include: 
States are primary responsible for resolving the problem; the solution 
should positively impact the quality of life of Service members and 
their families; should or positively contribute to readiness; should 
impact members of the military, recent veterans, and their family 
members; and for quality-of-life issues, the resolution should help 
eliminate a barrier caused by the dynamics of military life. We respond 
to the comments as follows:
     DoD-State Liaison Office Support to the Territories. We 
appreciate the comment that military members and families benefit from 
the Department's engagement with state legislative and executive 
branches to support military family readiness and quality of life. 
Within the limits of available resources, increased engagement with the 
governments of the insular areas of the United States may include 
connecting with other states and territories to share best practices 
and address common challenges and building relationships with key state 
policymakers responsible for defense issues.
     Establishment of a DoD-Specific Portable Medicaid Waiver 
for Military Children. Military children with special needs face 
substantial disruptions in continuity of care due to frequent 
relocations mandated by their parents' military service. While creation 
of a portable Medicaid waiver for military children is not within the 
purview of state government to resolve, other state policies do account 
for the mobility of military families with special needs. States have 
enacted improvements to existing Medicaid waivers for the provision of 
Home and Community-Based Services, allowing military families to retain 
their positions on waiting lists for this program despite a military-
directed move out of the state. Additionally, states have begun 
modifying state education statutes to build upon existing Federal 
requirements to minimize delays and reduce barriers for highly-mobile 
students with special education needs.
     Inclusion of Military Spouse Attorneys in Licensing 
Portability Under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act. While the 
solution proposed is not within the purview of states to consider, the 
Department continues to engage with state bar examiners to facilitate 
military spouse admission, including the issuing of a license within 30 
days with minimal documentation requirements.
     Improvements to the MyCAA Program. We appreciate feedback 
submitted regarding the MyCAA program indicating the desire for 
additional face-to-face options, online courses, and an expansion of 
curricula beyond health careers.
    Eight comments were received which were not germane to the request 
for input and did not identify an issue for potential inclusion as a 
State Policy Priority. We respond to the comments as follows:
     Thank you for your advocacy for our military families. It 
is both valued and recognized. Thank you very much for your 
contributions.
    Each fiscal year, the DoD considers numerous vital state policy 
issues, with the aim of selecting those that hold the most promise for 
positively impacting the lives of Service members and their families. 
It is within this competitive and discerning framework that we 
evaluate, research, and assess all proposed state policy solutions to 
resolve challenges for military families.
    We are committed to a rigorous examination of these issues, among 
others. Our process is designed to ensure that we advance the most 
impactful and viable initiatives to support our military families 
effectively.
    As always, our team at the Defense-State Liaison Office, who manage 
state government relations for the Office of the Secretary of Defense 
on personnel and readiness issues, stand ready to fully support state 
policymakers and the military community. Thank you once again for 
bringing these important issues to our attention.

    Dated: August 1, 2024.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2024-17412 Filed 8-6-24; 8:45 am]
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