2025 -- S 0363
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LC001234
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- MILITARY CHILD ACT
Introduced By: Senators Felag, Raptakis, Appollonio, Burke, Euer, Bissaillon, and Lauria
Date Introduced: February 21, 2025
Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 30 of the General Laws entitled "MILITARY AFFAIRS AND 1
DEFENSE" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 2
CHAPTER 30.3 3
THE MILITARY CHILD ACT 4
30-30.3-1. Short title. 5
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Military Child Act." 6
30-30.3-2. Definitions. 7
As used in this chapter: 8
(1) “Military-connected student” means a student who is the dependent of either a person 9
in the active military service of the United States or in a full-time status during active service with 10
a force of the Rhode Island national guard. 11
30-30.3-3. Advance enrollment. 12
A military-connected student whose parent or guardian is being relocated to this state under 13
military orders and is transferred to or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state, 14
shall be deemed to be a resident pupil of a school system of a city or town for the purposes of 15
enrollment. The Rhode Island board of education shall permit military-connected students to enroll 16
preliminarily by remote registration without charge and shall not require the parents or guardians 17
of the military-connected student or the student himself or herself to physically appear at a location 18
within the district to register the student, if the parents or guardians present evidence of military 19
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orders that a parent or guardian will be stationed in this state during the current or following school 1
year. The parents or guardians may use an address within the school district where the military-2
connected student is to be enrolled of a temporary on-base billeting facility, a purchased or leased 3
home or apartment, or federal government or public-private venture off-base military housing. 4
Proof of required residency shall not be required at the time of the remote registration but shall be 5
required within ten (10) days of the student’s attendance in the school system of the city or town 6
where he or she resides. 7
30-30.3-4. Open enrollment. 8
(a) Military-connected students who are the dependent children of a member of the active 9
uniformed military services of the United States on full-time active-duty status and students who 10
are the dependent children of a member of the military reserve on active duty orders shall be eligible 11
for admission to the school district of their choice regardless of the capacity of the district. 12
(b) Students shall be eligible if: 13
(1) At least one parent of the student has a Department of Defense-issued identification 14
card; and 15
(2) At least one parent can provide evidence that he or she will be on active duty status or 16
active duty orders, meaning the parent will be temporarily transferred in compliance with official 17
orders to another location in support of combat, contingency operation or a natural disaster 18
requiring the use of orders for more than thirty (30) consecutive days. 19
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 20
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- MILITARY CHILD ACT
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This act would define "military-connected student", "advance enrollment" and "open 1
enrollment" to give the military connected student flexibility in choosing a school district. 2
This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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