(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this part to the contrary, a student who is a Tennessee citizen and a dependent child of a full-time religious worker shall be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship as an entering freshman if the student meets all eligibility requirements for the scholarship, except that, while the parent is serving in another nation as a religious worker, the student does not reside in Tennessee immediately preceding the date of application for financial assistance and the student does not meet the requirements of § 49-4-905(b)(2). To be eligible under this section, the student shall:

(1) Graduate from a high school in the foreign nation where the student's parent is a religious worker that is accredited by a regional accrediting association as defined by § 49-4-902 and meet the academic eligibility requirements of § 49-4-907(3); or

(2) Complete high school in a home school in the foreign nation where the student's parent is a religious worker and meet the academic eligibility requirements of § 49-4-908(a)(3).

(b) As used in this section:

(1) “Dependent child” means a natural or adopted child or stepchild whom the parent who is a religious worker claims as a dependent for federal income tax purposes; provided, however, that the child is under twenty-one (21) years of age and resides in another nation only while the parent is actively engaged in full-time religious work; and

(2) “Religious worker” means a person sent to another country by a church, religious denomination or other religious organization to spread its faith or to do social or medical work.

(c) This section shall only apply to dependent children of religious workers who are engaged in full-time religious work in another nation for more than one (1) year and who were Tennessee residents before leaving the United States to do religious work and intend to return to Tennessee upon completion of their assignment as a religious worker.