§ 608-a. Military enhanced recognition, incentive and tribute
("MERIT") scholarships. 1. Eligible persons. a. Children, spouses and
financial dependents of members of the armed forces or state organized
militia who at any time on or after the second day of August, nineteen
hundred ninety, while in service in the armed forces of the United
States, as defined by subdivision eight of section one of the military
law, or in a force of the state organized militia, as defined by
subdivision nine of section one of the military law: (i) while a legal
resident of New York state, died, became severely and permanently
disabled or was classified as missing in action in a combat theater or
combat zone of operations as part of military operations related to such
military service or died as a result of injury or illness suffered or
incurred during such military service; or (ii) while a legal resident of
New York state, died or became severely and permanently disabled as a
result of injury or illness suffered or incurred during military
training operations in preparation for duty in a combat theater or
combat zone of operations.

b. A member of the armed forces of the United States who: (i) became
severely and permanently disabled as a result of service in the armed
forces of the United States, as defined by subdivision eight of section
one of the military law, in a combat theater or combat zone of
operations as part of military operations at any time on or after the
second day of August, nineteen hundred ninety; and (ii) was a legal
resident of New York state at the time of military service.

c. A member of the armed forces of the United States who: (i) became
severely and permanently disabled as a result of injury or illness
suffered or incurred during military training operations in preparation
for duty in a combat theater or combat zone of operations; and (ii) was
a legal resident of New York state at the time of military service.

d. A member of the state organized militia who: (i) became severely
and permanently disabled as a result of injury or illness suffered or
incurred during active military service, as defined in subdivision six
of section one of the military law; and (ii) was a legal resident of New
York state at the time of military service.

2. Awards under this section shall be payable for each of not more
than four academic years of undergraduate study or five years if a
program normally requires five years, as defined by the commissioner
pursuant to this article.