(Columbia) Dec. 9, 2003 - South Carolina military families could get some extra help under a bill pre-filed Tuesday by state Senator John Courson.
     
The South Carolina Military Family Relief Fund is intended to help families with the cost of food, housing, utilities, medical services or other expenses that occur when a wage-earner has temporarily left his or her job to be placed on active military duty.

If passed, the fund would appear on your income tax form with other groups like the Endangered Wildlife Fund, DARE and First Steps. Taxpayers can choose to make voluntary donations. The idea for the military relief fund started in Illinois.

Lieutenant Colonel Pete Brooks with the South Carolina National Guard says the money won't make up for lost income, but is instead a relief program for unexpected costs that come up. The money would be divided into grants ranging from $500 to $2000 for National Guard and Army Reserve families with a loved one deployed, some based on status, some on need, and some on service-related injuries.

Brooks says there are 9200 people in the Army Guard and more than 1200 in the Air Guard in South Carolina. Of those, 2100 have been deployed.
     
The bill would provide grants to families of those South Carolina National Guard members and residents serving in the Reserves of the US Armed Forces who were called to active duty after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001.
     
Lawmakers will discuss the bill when the General Assembly reconvenes next month.

By Megan Hughes
Posted 8:33pm by BrettWitt with AP