AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- MILITARY CHILD ACT (Defines "military-connected student" and permits military-connected students to enroll by remote registration upon presentation of military orders confirming the parent or guardian be stationed in this state during the current or following school year.)

S2756

2026 -- S 2756
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LC005878
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- MILITARY CHILD ACT

Introduced By:
Senators Felag, Burke, Tikoian, Raptakis, Appollonio, Euer, Britto,
Bissaillon, Ciccone, and E Morgan

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 30 of the General Laws entitled "MILITARY AFFAIRS AND
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DEFENSE" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 30.4
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THE MILITARY CHILD ACT
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30-30.4-1. Short title.
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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Military Child Act."
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30-30.4-2. Definitions.
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As used in this chapter:
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(1) “Military-connected student” means a student who is the dependent of either a person
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in the active military service of the United States or in a full-time status during active service with
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a force of the Rhode Island national guard.
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30-30.4-3. Advance enrollment.
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A military-connected student whose parent or guardian is being relocated to this state under
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military orders and is transferred to or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state,
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shall be deemed to be a resident pupil of a school system of a city or town for the purposes of
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enrollment. The Rhode Island board of education shall permit military-connected students to enroll
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preliminarily by remote registration without charge and shall not require the parents or guardians
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of the military-connected student or the student to physically appear at a location within the district
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to register the student, if the parents or guardians present evidence of military orders that a parent

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or guardian shall be stationed in this state during the current or following school year. The parents
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or guardians may use an address within the school district where the military-connected student is
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to be enrolled of a temporary on-base billeting facility, a purchased or leased home or apartment,
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or federal government or public-private venture off-base military housing. Proof of required
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residency shall not be required at the time of the remote registration, but shall be required within
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ten (10) days of the student’s attendance in the school system of the city or town where the student
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resides.
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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 -- MILITARY CHILD ACT
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This act would define "military-connected student" and permit military-connected students
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to enroll by remote registration upon presentation of military orders confirming that the parent or
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guardian shall be stationed in this state during the current or following school year.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005878 - Page 3 of 3