Introduced Version






HOUSE BILL No. 1079

_____


DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL



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.





Frizzell




    January 8, 2002, read first time and referred to Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures.







Introduced

Second Regular Session 112th General Assembly (2002)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
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HOUSE BILL No. 1079



    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

    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.


    Sec. 13. (a) The department and governing bodies are encouraged but are not required to hold a ceremony to present a diploma that is issued under the program.
    (b) Upon request of a governing body, the department, in cooperation with the department of veterans' affairs, shall assist the governing body to develop a variety of formats for appropriate ceremonies at which to award diplomas under the program.
    Sec. 14. (a) The board shall design a unique commemorative diploma for the board to issue to eligible veterans who:
        (1) attended a public high school and express in the application a preference for receiving a diploma that the board issues; or
        (2) attended a nonpublic high school.
    (b) The board shall design a unique commemorative diploma that a governing body may choose to issue under the program.
    Sec. 15. (a) A governing body may design a unique commemorative diploma for the governing body to issue under the program.
    (b) A governing body that issues a diploma under the program shall issue one (1) of the following types of diplomas:
        (1) The diploma described in subsection (a).
        (2) The diploma designed by the board under section 14(b) of this chapter.
        (3) The same diploma that the governing body issues to current graduates.
    Sec. 16. The department and the department of veterans' affairs shall work cooperatively to jointly administer this chapter.
    Sec. 17. A fee may not be charged to process an application or to award a diploma under this chapter.
    Sec. 18. The department and the department of veterans' affairs may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this chapter.