[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9869 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9869

   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.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 27, 2024

Mr. LaLota (for himself and Mr. Panetta) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition 
  to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

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                                 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) 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) 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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