CHAPTER 258
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 621
AS AMENDED BY HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1 AND SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 34, PART I, TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION; AND PROVIDING CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE DELAWARE NATIONAL GUARD.
WHEREAS, the Army and Air National Guard of the United States are important to the national defense; and
WHEREAS, the Delaware Army National Guard and the Delaware Air National Guard render valuable services to the people of the State of Delaware, especially during natural disasters and other emergencies; and
WHEREAS, the interests of the State of Delaware and its citizens are best served by the recruitment and retention of highly-qualified and highly-motivated men and women into the Delaware National Guard; and
WHEREAS, to foster recruitment and the retention of personnel and to enhance the professional educational qualifications of members of the Delaware National Guard, it is the policy of the State to encourage members of the Delaware National Guard to continue their education in their chosen fields of endeavor.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section I. Amend Chapter 34, Part I, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the title of said chapter and substituting in lieu thereof the following:
"CHAPTER 34. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION"
Section 2. Amend Chapter 34, Part I, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by designating all of the present chapter as new Subsection I, which new sub- section shall be entitled as follows:
"SUBSECTION 1. HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS"
Section 3. Amend Chapter 34, Part I, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by adding thereto a new subsection, designated as Subsection II, which new sub- section shall read as follows:
"SUBSECTION II. DELAWARE NATIONAL GUARD; EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
§3411. National Guard; Financial Assistance for Education
Any person serving in Delaware National Guard shall, upon written application therefor to the Adjutant General, be eligible for educational financial assistance under the provisions of this subsection. The State shall provide, to each person entitled thereto, financial assistance toward such person's education at any State college or university. Such financial aid each year shall be limited to fifty percent (50%) of the tuition charged such person by the college or university each year, or payment of five hundred dollars
($500) whichever is less. All educational benefits to any member of the Delaware National Guard under this subsection shall not exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000).
§3412. Direct Payment of Financial Assistance
Each person desiring assistance under the provisions of this subchapter shall make application to the Adjutant General. Union approval, payments shall he made by the Delaware National Guard in the amount specified for each such request from funds appropriated to the National Guard. The sum total of all such payments shall not exceed that amount appropriated in the Annual Budget Appropriations Act, or amendments thereto, as provided for in Section 4 of this subchapter."
Section 4. No appropriation of funds from the General Fund of this State shall be made for purposes of this Act prior to the Budget Appropriation Act next following the effective date of this Act. Whether or not financial assistance is provided under this Act, and the amount provided, shall he determined each year and shall he set forth annually in each Budget Appropriation Act, or amendment thereto.
Approved June 12, 1980