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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | November 19, 2013 02:21 PM |
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| From: | Representative Jesse White |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Tuition Waivers for Children of Volunteer Firefighters |
| In the near future, I am planning to introduce legislation to provide tuition waivers for the children of active volunteer firefighters. Such waivers would apply to tuition and fees at community colleges and State-owned institutions in this Commonwealth at which such children are enrolled as students on a full-time basis. This bill is intended to assist in the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters by offering this incentive to assist in providing postsecondary education to their children. In order to qualify for this program, active volunteer firefighters would have to serve for three (3) years in order to earn one (1) year of tuition waiver credit. The earning of such credits would occur in three-year (3) increments, and would be capped at twelve (12) total years of service - or the equivalent of four years of college (or eight semesters) for the child/student. The discount would be for the full amount of tuition and fees owed to the community college or State-owned institution. Currently, under Act 129 of 1998, the Commonwealth provides educational waivers for the children of deceased volunteer firefighters, as well as other classes of individuals. Such waivers are for tuition and fees, as well as room and board. This program is designed to assist the children of those who have died in the line of duty and paid the ultimate sacrifice. By contrast, my bill establishes a program that will provide waivers on tuition and fees, but not on room and board. I believe this establishes an appropriate distinction by recognizing that those volunteer firefighters who have died in the line of duty deserve to have their children’s postsecondary education fully provided for, since their children will no longer be receiving the financial support they may otherwise have received had their parent not died in serving his/her community. In addition, consistent with Act 129 of 1998, the child would have to meet all admission requirements of the community college or state-owned or institution to which application is made. Further, the student could only be pursuing undergraduate studies leading to an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree. Additionally, the child would only become eligible for this benefit after he or she has applied for available scholarships and Federal and State grants to cover tuition costs. |
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| View Attachment | ||
Introduced as HB1926