Bill > S669

This bill expands eligibility for the Public Service Scholarship Program in Massachusetts, which provides scholarships to students pursuing undergraduate studies at institutions of higher education within the commonwealth. Previously, this program offered scholarships to children and widowed spouses of police officers, firefighters, and correction officers who died in the line of duty, as well as to children of prisoners of war or missing in action service members whose wartime service was credited to Massachusetts. This legislation adds to these categories by also including children of veterans who were killed in action or died as a result of their service, provided that service was credited to the commonwealth. The bill also clarifies that the scholarships are awarded by a council based on established guidelines, which must include a waiver of mandatory fees.