20-3-466. Eligibility; amount of grant; application; regulation.

As used in this Code section, the term:#

1. (1)

   “Academic year” means a period of time, typically nine months, in which a full-time student is expected to complete the equivalent of at least nine or more credit hours per term or semester or in which a part-time student is expected to complete the equivalent of eight or fewer credit hours per term or semester.#

2. (2)

   “Act of violence” means a willful act of violence.#

3. (3)

   “Approved school” shall have the same meaning as the term “eligible postsecondary institution” as set forth in Code Section 20-3-519.#

4. (4)

   “Authority” means the Georgia Student Finance Authority.#

5. (5)

   “Eligible student” means a person who qualifies for an educational grant under this Code section.#

6. (6)

   “In the line of duty” means while on duty and performing services for and receiving compensation from the local education agency which employs such public school teacher or public school employee.#

7. (7)

   “Local education agency” shall have the same meaning as set forth in subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-167.1.#

8. (8)

   “Permanent disability” means disability due to:#

   1. (A)

      Loss of both eyes or blindness in both eyes with only light perception;#

   2. (B)

      Loss or loss of use of both hands;#

   3. (C)

      Loss or loss of use of both legs;#

   4. (D)

      Loss of a lower extremity or residuals of organic disease or injury which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without resort to a wheelchair; or#

   5. (E)

      Organic brain damage resulting from direct physical trauma incurred after July 1, 2001, which so affects the mental capacity as to preclude the ability to function productively in any employment.#

9. (9)

   “Public school employee” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 20-2-910.#

10. (10)

    “Public school teacher” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 20-2-880.#

There is granted to each eligible student attending an approved school the sum of no more than $18,000.00 per academic year. No person shall be eligible to receive grant assistance provided under this Code section in excess of $72,000.00. Grant assistance to eligible students under this Code section shall be payable during the period of a summer school quarter or semester. The payment of grants to eligible students under this Code section shall be contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the General Assembly for the purposes of this Code section in annual appropriations Acts of the General Assembly.#

No grants shall be payable to any person under this Code section who fails to meet any of the following qualifications or restrictions:#

1. (1)

   Such person shall be the child, either natural or adopted, or the spouse of a public school teacher or public school employee who has been killed by an act of violence in the line of duty or who has a permanent disability due to an act of violence in the line of duty. If such person is the adopted child of any such public school teacher or public school employee, such person shall have been adopted and any final order of adoption issued prior to the act of violence causing the death or permanent disability of such parent;#

2. (2)

   Such person shall have been a citizen of this state for a period of at least 12 months immediately prior to the date of registration in an approved school and shall remain a citizen of this state while receiving funds under this Code section;#

3. (3)

   The parent or spouse of such person shall have been a public school employee or public school teacher on the date of the act of violence from which death or permanent disability resulted; and#

4. (4)

   Any person otherwise meeting the conditions of this Code section shall be eligible to receive a grant even though the act of violence causing the death or permanent disability of such person’s parent or spouse occurred prior to July 1, 2025.#

Any person meeting the conditions of this Code section may apply to the authority for a grant. Such application shall be submitted in writing on forms prescribed by the authority for such purpose. The applicant shall furnish such information as may be required by the authority for determination of eligibility for the grant. The authority shall approve grant renewals only upon receipt of the recipient’s application therefor and upon a finding that the recipient has successfully completed the work of the preceding school period and presents evidence that he or she is a student in good standing, that he or she remains a citizen of this state, and that he or she remains otherwise qualified to receive such grant under this Code section.#

The authority is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary or convenient for administration of this Code section and to establish procedures for determination of eligibility of applicants. The authority is also authorized to establish standards and procedures for verifying the death or permanent disability of the applicant’s parent or spouse and for such purpose is authorized to require a physical examination and to pay for the cost of such examination from funds appropriated for use by the authority for the purposes of this Code section.#