Relates to regents awards for children of deceased police officers, firefighters and volunteer firefighters

Justification

: Presently, the education law, provides that every child of a deceased police officer, fireman, volunteer firefighter and correction officer, shall be eligible to receive an annual scholarship award of four hundred fifty dollars for each of not more than four academic years of undergraduate study or five academic years if a program normally requires five years.

This bill would increase this $450 to the full amount of tuition at a State University of New York. Few occupational efforts are as selfless or more important than being a police officer, a fireman, a volunteer firefighter or a correction officer.

The individuals who serve in these capacities ensure not only our public safety but also preserve our quality of life. They represent the personal embodiment of bravery, community service and civic commitment. Without their dedicated efforts, countless lives and property would be jeopardized and imperiled.

The work of these individuals is dangerous. Every time they go to work, they place their very lives in peril. The hazards they face are real and substantial, and their bravery, training and commitment are the principal factors of their survival and success.

Our state must recognize the importance of the service of our uniformed public servants. We must recognize and commend them for all the protection they provide. We must especially, however, stand prepared to assist their spouses and children when, in the course of the performance of such service, they are killed in the line of duty.

This bill would recognize and reward the service of our state's police officers, firemen, volunteer firefighters and correction officers, by permitting their children to be awarded an annual scholarship grant equal to the annual cost of a State University of New York school year, when such child's uniformed public servant parent is killed in the line of duty. In so doing, this bill would not only recognize the public sacrifice made by these dedicated men and women, but also help their surviving children by assisting them to obtain a college education.

By increasing this benefit from a $450 annual scholarship, to cover the entire annual cost of tuition at a State University of New York, this bill would ensure that the children of these brave individuals would not have to sacrifice their education as well as lose a parent.

It should be noted that this bill would also provide a valuable recruitment and retention incentive for police officers, firemen, volunteer firefighters and correction officers, since it would guarantee that if they are subject to a horrible tragedy in which they lose their life in the line of duty, they can at least have the repose that their children will have their college education paid for.

Prior legislative history

: 2008 - S.3111 Referred to Standing Committee on Higher Education.

Fiscal implications

: The increase in cost to the state would depend on the number of police officers, firemen, volunteer firefighters and correction officers killed in the line of duty, whether they have children, and whether those children choose to attend college.

Effective date

: This act would take effect immediately.