HSB 626

For purposes of applying the code based on a nexus between the offense and the military forces of the state, the bill provides that only a commanding officer holding a position in the grade of 0-6 and above may impose nonjudicial punishment for an offense and the military forces of the state shall have the burden to show the existence of a nexus by a preponderance of the evidence.86, concerning national guard service scholarship programs, is amended.86A, created in the bill. The Code section is further amended to require the adjutant general to submit a report to the governor and the general assembly by December of each year listing the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-related career fields the adjutant general plans to focus on in providing educational incentives using funds available for that fiscal year.86A establishes two recruitment and incentive programs to recruit or retain individuals who have completed or are pursuing training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-related military occupational specialties or air force specialty codes. _____ subsection 6, to recruit or retain individuals by offering either a student loan repayment program or a master’s degree scholarship award program that is in compliance with the federal Edith Nourse Rogers STEM scholarship program. The bill establishes a national guard student loan repayment program to be administered by the college student aid commission and establishes requirements for applicants and for loan repayment awards. The bill also establishes requirements for the master’s degree scholarship program.