Bill > S1438

This bill establishes a Public Service Scholarship Program to provide financial aid for undergraduate studies at public or independent higher education institutions in the Commonwealth, specifically benefiting children and widowed spouses of deceased public safety employees who died in the line of duty, children of prisoners of war or service members missing in action in Southeast Asia, and surviving children of veterans killed in action or who died as a result of their service. Eligible surviving children admitted to a public institution of higher education will receive a full scholarship covering tuition, mandatory fees, and on-campus room and board, provided they apply for federal student aid and accept any awarded federal grants, with the full scholarship amount being reduced by the value of these federal grants. This full scholarship is contingent on the student remaining enrolled full-time, maintaining satisfactory academic progress, and not having previously earned a degree, and the deceased parent must have been a resident of the Commonwealth at the time of their service. Additionally, the bill amends existing law to include deputy sheriffs within the definition of public safety employees for the purposes of these benefits and repeals a related section of law, with the scholarship program provisions taking effect for the 2015-2016 school year.