(1) It is hereby declared to be a policy of the state to provide educational opportunity at state expense for the dependent children of any servicemember who died or suffered a service-connected 100-percent total and permanent disability rating for compensation as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or who has been determined to have a service-connected total and permanent disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States Armed Services, in the Iranian rescue mission known as Operation Eagle Claw, which servicemember was residing in the state on April 25, 1980. A certified copy of a death certificate, a valid identification card issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in accordance with s. 295.17, a letter certifying the service-connected 100-percent total and permanent disability rating for compensation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or a letter certifying the service-connected total and permanent disability rating of 100 percent for retirement pay from any branch of the United States Armed Services shall be prima facie evidence of the fact that the dependent children of the servicemember are eligible for such benefits.
(2) The provisions of ss. 295.03, 295.04, 295.05, and 1009.40 shall apply.
History.—s. 1, ch. 81-275; s. 3, ch. 83-71; s. 12, ch. 87-356; s. 22, ch. 88-290; s. 27, ch. 89-207; s. 244, ch. 95-148; s. 950, ch. 2002-387; s. 53, ch. 2020-2.