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An Act To Provide an Honorary Diploma to Veterans
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §4012  is enacted to read:
§ 4012. Honorary secondary school diploma for veterans
 
1.  Honorary secondary school diploma for veterans.     The department, with the assistance of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services, shall issue an honorary secondary school diploma to a qualified veteran of the United States Armed Forces under this section. An honorary secondary school diploma awarded under this section must include a statement that the diploma is awarded in recognition of the veteran's military service and fulfillment of civic duty and indicate the veteran's secondary school of attendance.
 
2.  Criteria.     A veteran of the United States Armed Forces may receive an honorary secondary school diploma under this section if the veteran:
 
A.  Is a resident or former resident of the State;
 
B.  Was honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces or was killed while serving in the United States Armed Forces; and
 
C.  Did not complete the veteran's secondary school education.
 
An honorary secondary school diploma under this section may be awarded posthumously.
 
3.  Application.     The department shall issue an honorary secondary school diploma upon application by a veteran qualified under subsection 2 or an interested party on a qualified veteran's behalf. The department shall develop an application form and procedures to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
 
4.  Issuance of diplomas; ceremony.     The department shall mail an honorary secondary school diploma to a veteran approved for an honorary secondary school diploma under subsection 3 or the family of the veteran if the veteran is deceased or award the diploma in a graduation ceremony on or around Veterans Day organized in collaboration with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services.
 
5.  Rules.     The department may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Department of Education with assistance from the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services to issue honorary secondary school diplomas to qualifying veterans of the United States Armed Forces who did not finish secondary school.