House Bill 36

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-107-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE THE COSTS OF BOOKS IN THE SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDED TO DEPENDENTS OF A MISSISSIPPI LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, FULL-TIME FIRE FIGHTER OR VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER WHO SUFFERS OR HAS SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES OR WOUNDS OR BECOME PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED AS A RESULT OF INJURIES OR WOUNDS WHICH OCCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OFFICIAL DUTIES; TO EXPAND THE USE OF SUCH FUNDS TO ALLOW SUCH A DEPENDENT TO ATTEND A PRIVATE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY/JUNIOR COLLEGE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE AMOUNT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED FOR ATTENDANCE AT A PRIVATE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY/JUNIOR COLLEGE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT AWARDED FOR ATTENDANCE AT A STATE-SUPPORTED COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY/JUNIOR COLLEGE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-107-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-107-1. If any Mississippi law enforcement officer, full-time fire fighter or volunteer fire fighter shall suffer or has suffered fatal injuries or wounds or become permanently and totally disabled as a result of injuries or wounds which occurred in the performance of the official and appointed duties of his or her office, his or her spouse, child or children shall be entitled to an eight-semester scholarship, inclusive of books, without cost, exclusive of * * * food, school supplies, materials and dues or fees for extracurricular activities, at any state-supported or private college, university or community/junior college of his or her choice within this state. The amount of the scholarship awarded for attendance at a private college or university shall not exceed the amount awarded for attendance at a state-supported college, university or community/junior college. No child shall be entitled to receive benefits during any semester or quarter when said child has reached the age of twenty-three (23) years on the first day of said semester or quarter. However, any child who has begun the process of acquiring college credits under the provisions of this section prior to attaining the age of twenty-three (23) years shall be entitled to the full eight-semester scholarship if his or her college instruction was interrupted for any reason.

Scholarship benefits shall not accrue hereunder to any person if the wounds or injuries suffered by any law enforcement officer, full-time fire fighter or volunteer fire fighter are self-inflicted or if his death is self-induced.

SECTION 2. The following shall be codified as Section 37-107-11, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-107-11. The provisions of this chapter and any rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning implementing the provisions of this chapter shall be included in any handbook issued to a law enforcement officer, full-time fire fighter or volunteer fire fighter.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.