(A) The grant applicant must show proof of the following:
(1) The applicant is a member of the South Carolina National Guard or a South Carolina resident who is a member of another United States Armed Forces Reserve component, applying on behalf of the applicant's family or is a family member of that member. Proof of residency for military members consists of information obtained from the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Proof of a familial relationship also consists of information obtained from DEERS.
(2) The South Carolina National Guard or Reserve component member was on active military duty for at least thirty consecutive days as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Proof of active duty consists of a copy of the orders issued by an authorized headquarters ordering the member to this duty and documentation showing that this duty was actually performed. Eligible active duty includes any active duty since September 11, 2001.
(3) The South Carolina National Guard or Reserve component member holds a pay grade no higher than O-3, if a commissioned officer, or W-2, if a warrant officer. Individuals or families are eligible for the grant based upon rank at the time of mobilization. Proof of pay grades consists of information obtained from DEERS.
(B) The following members are ineligible to receive grants:
(1) all commissioned and warrant officers with pay grades of O-4 and W-3, or higher;
(2) personnel serving in Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) or similar full-time unit support programs unless called to Title 10 service;
(3) members who are unmarried and who have no family members enrolled in DEERS;
(4) members who receive a punitive discharge or an administrative discharge with service characterized as Under Other Than Honorable Conditions.
HISTORY: 2004 Act No. 308, Section 1.B; 2019 Act No. 26 (H.3438), Section 3, eff July 1, 2019.
Editor's Note
2019 Act No. 26, Section 4, provides as follows:
"SECTION 4. (A) All classified or unclassified personnel employed by these offices on the effective date of this act, either by contract or by employment at will, shall become employees of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, with the same compensation, classification, and grade level, as applicable. The Department of Administration shall cause all necessary actions to be taken to accomplish this transfer in accordance with state laws and regulations.
"(B) Regulations promulgated by the Division of Veterans' Affairs as it formerly existed under the Department of Administration are continued and are considered to be promulgated by the newly created Department of Veterans' Affairs.
"(C) The Code Commissioner is directed to change or correct all references to Division of Veterans' Affairs within the Department of Administration in the 1976 Code, to reflect the transfer of it to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. References to the Division of Veterans' Affairs in the 1976 Code or other provisions of law are considered to be and must be construed to mean appropriate reference to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. This authority shall not be construed to remove any authority from the Department of Administration for approval of statewide policies, procedures, regulations, rates and fees, or specific actions requiring Department of Administration approval."
Effect of Amendment
2019 Act No. 26, Section 3, reenacted the section with no apparent change.