This bill modifies educational assistance for the children and spouses of veterans in Minnesota by amending several sections of the Minnesota Statutes and repealing a specific statute related to educational assistance for dependents of prisoners of war or missing in action individuals. Key changes include the definition of "deceased veteran," which now specifies that such a veteran must have died as a result of military service and was a resident of Minnesota either within six months of entering the armed forces or for the six months preceding their death. The definitions of "eligible child" and "eligible spouse" have been expanded to include additional criteria, such as being a resident student and applying for assistance before the end of the academic term.

The bill also establishes new requirements for the commissioner of veterans affairs regarding the provision of educational assistance stipends, which must now be awarded on a funds-available basis. It mandates that eligible institutions submit annual reports detailing program activity, enrollment, and graduation data for students receiving benefits. Additionally, the bill repeals the previous statute that provided educational assistance specifically for dependents of prisoners of war or missing in action individuals, thereby consolidating the educational assistance framework under the revised provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 197.75, 197.791, 197.752