As used in this act, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them herein: (a) “Prisoner of war” and “person missing in action” shall mean any person who was a resident of the state of Kansas at the time he entered service of the United States armed forces and who, while serving in said U.S. armed forces, has been declared to be a prisoner of war or to be a person missing in action, as established by the U.S. secretary of defense, after January 1, 1960, or any person who, while serving in said U.S. armed forces, has been declared to be a prisoner of war or to be a person missing in action, as established by the U.S. secretary of defense, after January 1, 1960, and who has a dependent actually living in Kansas on the effective date of this act; and

(b) “Dependent” shall mean any child born before or during the period of time such child’s father served as a prisoner of war or was declared to be a person missing in action, or any child legally adopted or in the legal custody of any person prior to and during the time such person served as a prisoner of war or was declared to be a person missing in action.