Citations Affected:
IC 20-10.1-30.
Synopsis: High school diplomas for certain veterans. Establishes the
high school diploma program for eligible veterans. Provides that
certain veterans who because of military service left a public or
nonpublic high school without graduating in order to perform military
service may receive a high school diploma. Provides that a spouse or
other relative may apply to have a diploma issued to a deceased
veteran. Allows a choice between a diploma issued by the state board
of education or a diploma from the school corporation (or its successor)
where the veteran attended high school. Provides for program
administration by the department of education and the department of
veterans' affairs.
Effective: July 1, 2002.
January 8, 2002, read first time and referred to Committee on Rules and Legislative
Procedures.
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education.
SECTION 1.
IC 20-10.1-30
IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2002]:
Chapter 30. High School Diploma Program for Eligible
Veterans
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "department of veterans' affairs"
refers to the Indiana department of veterans' affairs established by
IC 10-5-1-3.
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "diploma" refers to a high school
diploma.
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "eligible veteran" refers to an
individual who has the following qualifications:
(1) Served as a member of the armed forces of the United
States at any time during at least one (1) of the following
periods:
(A) Beginning April 6, 1917, and ending November 11,
1918 (World War I).
(B) Beginning December 7, 1941, and ending December 31,
1946 (World War II).
(C) Beginning June 27, 1950, and ending January 31, 1955
(Korean Conflict).
(D) Beginning August 5, 1964, and ending May 7, 1975
(Viet Nam Conflict).
(2) Before the military service described in subdivision (1):
(A) attended public or nonpublic high school in Indiana;
and
(B) was a student in good standing at the high school
described in clause (A).
(3) Did not graduate or receive a diploma because of leaving
the high school described in subdivision (2) for the military
service described in subdivision (1).
(4) Was honorably discharged from the armed forces of the
United States.
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "program" applies to the high
school diploma program for eligible veterans established by section
6 of this chapter.
Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "school corporation" includes a
successor school corporation serving the area where a high school
that no longer exists was once located.
Sec. 6. The high school diploma program for eligible veterans is
established to provide for the issuance of high school diplomas to
certain veterans.
Sec. 7. The department and the department of veterans' affairs
shall jointly design a form for the application for issuance of a
diploma under the program. The application form shall require at
least the following information about an eligible veteran:
(1) Personal identification information.
(2) Military service information, including a copy of the
eligible veteran's honorable discharge.
(3) High school information, including the following:
(A) Name and address, including county, of the last high
school attended.
(B) Whether the high school was a public or nonpublic
school.
(C) Years attended.
(D) Year of leaving high school to begin military service.
(E) Year in which the veteran would have graduated if the
veteran had not left high school to begin military service.
(4) If the high school attended was a public school, whether
the veteran prefers receiving a diploma issued by:
(A) the board; or
(B) the governing body of the school corporation governing
the high school.
Sec. 8. The department of veterans' affairs shall do the following
for individuals that the department of veterans' affairs has reason
to believe may be eligible to apply for a diploma under the
program:
(1) Give notice of the program.
(2) Describe the application procedure.
(3) Furnish an application form.
Sec. 9. The following individuals may apply for the issuance of
a diploma to an eligible veteran under the program:
(1) An eligible veteran, including an eligible veteran who has
received a general education development diploma or a
similar diploma.
(2) An individual who is:
(A) the surviving spouse of; or
(B) otherwise related to;
an eligible veteran who is deceased.
Sec. 10. An applicant for a diploma under the program must
submit a completed application form to the department of
veterans' affairs.
Sec. 11. Upon receipt of an application, the department of
veterans' affairs shall do the following:
(1) Verify the accuracy of the information in the application,
in consultation with the department, if necessary.
(2) Forward the verified application to the department.
Sec. 12. Upon receipt of a verified application, the department
shall do the following:
(1) If the applicant:
(A) expresses a preference in the application to receive a
diploma issued by the board; or
(B) attended a nonpublic high school before leaving high
school for military service;
the department shall present a diploma issued by the board.
(2) If the applicant expresses a preference for receiving a
diploma from the governing body of the school corporation
containing the public high school that the eligible veteran left
for military service, the department shall direct the governing
body of the affected school corporation to issue and present
the diploma.