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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- THE MILITARY CHILD ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Fellela, Kennedy, Shallcross Smith, Abney,
Donovan, Felix, Hull, Solomon, and Hopkins

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2025

     Referred To: House Veterans` Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 30 of the General Laws entitled "MILITARY AFFAIRS AND

DEFENSE" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 30.3

THE MILITARY CHILD ACT

     30-30.3-1. Short title.

     This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Military Child Act."

     30-30.3-2. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter:

     (1) “Military-connected student” means a student who is the dependent of either a person

in the active military service of the United States or in a full-time status during active service with

a force of the Rhode Island national guard.

     30-30.3-3. Advance enrollment.

     A military-connected student whose parent or guardian is being relocated to this state under

military orders and is transferred to or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state,

shall be deemed to be a resident pupil of a school system of a city or town for the purposes of

enrollment. The Rhode Island board of education shall permit military-connected students to enroll

preliminarily by remote registration without charge and shall not require the parents or guardians

of the military-connected student or the student himself or herself to physically appear at a location

within the district to register the student, if the parents or guardians present evidence of military

orders that a parent or guardian will be stationed in this state during the current or following school

year. The parents or guardians may use an address within the school district where the military-

connected student is to be enrolled of a temporary on-base billeting facility, a purchased or leased

home or apartment, or federal government or public-private venture off-base military housing.

Proof of required residency shall not be required at the time of the remote registration but shall be

required within ten (10) days of the student’s attendance in the school system of the city or town

where the student resides. Such advance enrollment policies related to a child of a military family

member shall also apply if the enrolling student is transferring with a Section 504 plan, an

individualized family service plan, or an individualized education plan.

     30-30.3-4. Open enrollment.

     (a) Military-connected students who are the dependent children of a member of the active

uniformed military services of the United States on full-time active-duty status and students who

are the dependent children of a member of the military reserve on active duty orders shall be eligible

for admission to the school district of their choice regardless of the capacity of the district.

     (b) Students shall be eligible if:

     (1) At least one parent of the student has a Department of Defense-issued identification

card; and

     (2) At least one parent can provide evidence that the parent will be on active duty status or

active duty orders, meaning the parent will be temporarily transferred in compliance with official

orders to another location in support of combat, contingency operation or a natural disaster

requiring the use of orders for more than thirty (30) consecutive days.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- THE MILITARY CHILD ACT

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     This act would define "military-connected student" and would provide advance enrollment

and open enrollment school registration procedures to give the military connected student

flexibility in choosing a school district.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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