2014 -- H 7043

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LC003053

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELIEF OF INJURED AND DECEASED

FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS

     Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Casey, Guthrie, Silva, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: January 09, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 45-19-12.1 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:

     45-19-12.1. Tuition to children of deceased or disabled fire fighters. -- (a) If an active

member of the fire force of a city or town or crash rescue crew persons of the state of Rhode

Island is killed or 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 performance related heart

condition, or dies of performance related respiratory ailments, or dies of any conditions derived

from performance related hypertension, 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 fire fighters. The benefits shall be extended to the children 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, that the child has entered the institution while between the ages of

sixteen (16) and twenty-one (21) twenty-five (25); and provided, further, that the aid granted in

this section is available to the child for a period of time that equals the normal time for

completing the courses regularly offered by the institution, but in no case more than four (4)

years.

      (b) For the purposes of this section, the words "members of fire force" mean and include

any member of a fire force or crash rescue crew persons of any city or town regularly employed

at a fixed salary or wage; this includes auxiliary and volunteer fire fighters and crash rescue crew

persons of any city, town, or state fire fighting department.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELIEF OF INJURED AND DECEASED

FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS

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     This act would extend the age limit within which the child of a deceased or disabled

firefighter is entitled to have tuition paid by the Rhode Island general fund from age twenty-one

(21) to twenty-five (25).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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