Missouri HB 1525: Creates the "Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act" to provide free college tuition for public safety personnel

Bill Text

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 1525
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE CHRIST.
3073H.02I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 173, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to college tuition
for public safety personnel.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
SectionA. Chapter173,RSMo,isamendedbyaddingtheretotwonewsections,tobe
2 known as sections 173.2655 and 173.2660, to read as follows:
173.2655. 1. This section and section 173.2660 shall be known and may be cited
2 as the "Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act".
3 2. For purposes of this section and section 173.2660, unless the context clearly
4 indicates otherwise, the following terms mean:
5 (1) "Advancedemergencymedicaltechnician",assuchtermisdefinedinsection
6 190.100;
7 (2) "Department", the department of higher education and workforce
8 development;
9 (3) "Emergency medical dispatcher", as such term is defined in section 190.100;
10 (4) "Emergency medical technician", as such term is defined in section 190.100;
11 (5) "Firefighter", any officer or employee of a fire department who is employed
12 for the purpose of fighting fires, excluding volunteer firefighters and anyone employed
13 in a clerical or other capacity not involving fire-fighting duties;
14 (6) "Legal dependent", as such term is defined by the United States Department
15 of Education for purposes of the Free Application for Student Financial Aid;
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.

16 (7) "Line of duty", any action that public safety personnel is authorized or
17 obligated by law, rule, or regulation to perform, related to or as a condition of
18 employment or service;
19 (8) "Openseat",avacantpositioninaclass,course,orprogramthatisavailable
20 for enrollment, and which may become available when a student drops out or transfers,
21 or when a class, course, or program has unused capacity, allowing new students to
22 register or enroll;
23 (9) "Paramedic", as such term is defined in section 190.100;
24 (10) "Police officer", any person who, by virtue of office or public employment,
25 is vested by law with the power and duty to make arrests for violation of the laws of the
26 state of Missouri or ordinances of any municipality thereof, while acting within the
27 scopeofhis orherauthority asanemployeeofapublic lawenforcementagency,assuch
28 term is defined in section 590.1040;
29 (11) "Public institution of higher education", a public community college, state
30 college, or state university;
31 (12) "Public safety personnel", includes any police officer, firefighter,
32 paramedic, emergency medical dispatcher, emergency medical technician, or
33 advanced emergency medical technician who is trained and authorized by law or rule
34 to render emergency medical assistance or treatment;
35 (13) "Tuition", the charges and cost of tuition as set by the governing body of a
36 public institution of higher education, including fees such as course fees, activity fees,
37 technology fees, and mandatory fees charged by such institution to all full-time students
38 as a condition of enrollment, but excluding the costs of room, board, books, and any
39 other educational materials, equipment, or supplies.
40 3. Subject to appropriation, public safety personnel with at least six years of
41 service shall be entitled to an award worth up to one hundred percent of the resident
42 tuition charges of a public institution of higher education if the individual:
43 (1) Possesses one of the following:
44 (a) A current, valid license issued by the department of health and senior
45 servicesauthorizingsuch person toserveasan emergencymedical technician,advanced
46 emergency medical technician, or paramedic;
47 (b) A current, valid license issued by the peace officer standards and training
48 commission authorizing such person to serve as a peace officer pursuant to the
49 provisions of chapter 590;
50 (c) A current, valid certificate issued by the division of fire safety authorizing
51 such person to serve as a firefighter; or
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52 (d) A current, valid certificate confirming successful completion of an
53 emergency medical dispatcher course and any ongoing training requirements
54 pursuant to section 650.340; and
55 (e) For all public safety personnel, a certificate of verification signed by the
56 individual'ssupervisororemployerverifyingthatsuchindividualiscurrentlyemployed
57 full-time as public safety personnel and trained and authorized by law or rule to render
58 emergency medical assistance or treatment;
59 (2) Meets all admission requirements of the public institution of higher
60 education;
61 (3) Has not already earned a baccalaureate degree;
62 (4) Pursues studies leading to an associate degree or baccalaureate degree in one
63 of the followin