Topeka ? Starting July 1, Kansas residents who are the children or spouses of dead and missing soldiers and prisoners of war will be able to attend a public college or university without paying tuition.

The new law is designed to help the families of both the U.S. armed forces and the Kansas National Guard, but it would not cover about 10 percent of the Guard’s 7,600 members who live outside the state.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed a bill granting the tuition break, her office announced Wednesday. She also signed another bill designed to ensure that military families don’t lose health insurance coverage after soldiers return from active duty.

Both measures are part of a proposed “Kansas Military Bill of Rights.” Last week, Sebelius signed another bill, exempting the recruiting, sign-up or retention bonuses paid to soldiers from Kansas income tax.

Still pending is a bill to provide $250,000 to the family of each Kansas National Guard member killed while on active duty. The proposal would provide coverage even when a Guard member’s family lives outside Kansas, but legislators haven’t decided whether it would apply only when a death is caused by enemy fire.

“This is inherently a line-drawing exercise,” Schmidt said.