Introduced By: Senators Damiani, Fogarty, Kells, Tocco and Igliozzi
Date Introduced : February 4, 1999
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 45-19-4.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-19 entitled "Relief of Injured and Deceased Fire Fighters and Police Officers" is hereby amended to read as follows:
45-19-4.1. Tuition to children of police officers dying
or disabled as a result of service. -- (a) If an active
member of the police force of a city or town is killed, dies,
or becomes totally and permanently disabled from injuries received
while in the performance of his or her duty as a member, or dies
of a heart condition or any condition derived from hypertension
while still a member, there shall be paid out of the general fund
of the state of Rhode Island the charges for the tuition of children
of the deceased or totally and permanently disabled police officer
{ADD and/or the spouse of a {DEL deceased DEL} police officer killed in the
line of duty ADD}. The benefits shall be extended to the children
{ADD and/or spouse ADD} who are attending or may attend the university
of Rhode Island, Rhode Island college, or any other college or
university operated by the state; provided, the child shall have
entered the institution while between the ages of sixteen (16)
and twenty-one (21); and provided, further, that the aid therein
granted shall be available to the child {ADD and/or spouse ADD} for
such period of time as shall equal the normal time for completing
the courses regularly offered by the institution, but in no case
more than four (4) years.
(b) For the purpose of this section, the words "police officer" shall mean and include any member of the state police, any correctional officer within the department of corrections, or the police of any city or town regularly employed at a fixed salary or wage. Furthermore, this shall exclude auxiliary and volunteer police officers of city, town, or state police. For the purpose of this section, the words "totally and permanently disabled" mean any impairment of mind or body making it impossible for one to follow continuously a gainful occupation.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall be applied retroactively to February 3, 1994.
