Section NEW-NEW - [Newly enacted section not yet numbered] [Eligible national guard members to receive assistance](a) On or before July 1 of each academic year, the adjutant general shall select up to 100 eligible national guard members who applied to the program to receive assistance from such program. The number of eligible guard members in the program shall not exceed 200 eligible guard members in any one school year.(b)(1) In order to qualify for participation in the Kansas national guard EMERGE program, an eligible national guard member shall agree, in writing, to complete such member's current service obligation in the Kansas national guard and serve actively in good standing with the Kansas national guard or in a duty status affiliated with the Kansas national guard for not less than 48 months upon completion of the last semester for which the member receives assistance under the program.(2) Prior to becoming eligible for participation in the program, each eligible guard member shall submit the free application for federal student aid and apply for any other federal tuition assistance that such member also may be eligible to receive.(c) In order to remain eligible for participation in the program, an eligible guard member shall remain in good standing at the Kansas educational institution where such member is enrolled, make satisfactory progress toward completion of the requirements of such member's master's degree program, maintain a grade point average of not less than 2.75 and maintain satisfactory participation in the Kansas national guard.(d)(1) Upon failure of any eligible guard member who received payments under the Kansas national guard EMERGE program to satisfy the agreement to continue service in the Kansas national guard as provided by subsection (a), such person shall pay to the state of Kansas an amount to be determined as follows: (A) Determine the total amount of assistance paid to such member under the program;(B) divide the amount determined under subsection (d)(1)(A) by 48; and(C) multiply the amount determined under subsection (d)(1)(B) by the number of months such member did not serve as required by subsection (a). The resulting product is the total amount of recoupment to be paid by such member.(2) All amounts paid to the state under this subsection shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the Kansas national guard EMERGE program repayment fund created by section 6, and amendments thereto.(e) Any eligible guard member that received payments under the program but has failed to satisfy the agreement to continue service in the Kansas national guard as provided by subsection (a) by reason of extenuating circumstances or extreme hardship may request a waiver from recoupment under subsection (d). Such request shall be in writing and submitted through such member's chain of command to the Kansas national guard education services office. The chief of staff of the Kansas army national guard or the director of staff for the Kansas air national guard shall review all requests for a waiver from recoupment and the decision to issue such waiver shall be made by either officer as such officer deems appropriate.Added by L. 2024, ch. 77,§ 5, eff. 7/1/2024.