10-2-118. State scholarship for eligible armed forces medal recipients -- special revenue account. (1) There is a state scholarship program for eligible recipients of a purple heart or a higher medal for combat-related service in the armed forces.

(2) The board shall administer the program pursuant to this section.

(3) A person is eligible for the scholarship provided for in subsection (4) if the person:

(a) is a recipient of the purple heart or a higher medal for combat-related service in the armed forces as verified by an authentic department of defense form 214 (DD 214) or other authentic military discharge form listing awards;

(b) did not receive a dishonorable or other than honorable discharge;

(c) is a resident of Montana; and

(d) has been enrolled for a full academic year as a full-time or part-time student at an accredited public university, public vocational or technical school, or tribal college located in Montana either prior to or after military service, has maintained a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 grade point scale, and has reenrolled to continue the student's higher education at the educational institution.

(4) (a) Except as provided in subsection (4)(b), each student who meets the criteria set forth in subsection (3) is eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship as provided in subsection (5).

(b) An eligible student who does not have any out-of-pocket costs for tuition because the student is a recipient of U.S. department of veterans affairs education benefits is not eligible for a scholarship under this section.

(5) (a) The educational institution in which the eligible student is enrolled shall verify the student's eligibility and apply to the board, on a form prescribed by the board, for the scholarship. Except as provided in subsection (6), upon receipt of the scholarship application, the board shall pay the scholarship money to the educational institution.

(b) The educational institution shall provide the scholarship money to the eligible student in the form of a voucher that the eligible student may apply toward the cost of tuition, books, transportation, or housing.

(6) The scholarship may be paid only to the extent that funding is available. Scholarship awards must be paid in the order that the applications are received by the board. An eligible recipient may receive one scholarship a year for each year the recipient meets the criteria established in subsection (3).

(7) There is a special revenue account to the credit of the department of military affairs for the purposes of this section. Money in the account may be used only to administer the scholarship program and to pay scholarships to eligible recipients under this section.