Senate Bill 2716

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; TO ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIVING AN AWARD UNDER THE PROGRAM; TO AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI POSTSECONDARY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BOARD TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY FIRE COORDINATORS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Mississippi Volunteer Firefighter Tuition Assistance Program for the purposes of encouraging service as a volunteer firefighter and to provide tuition assistance to those who volunteer, their spouses and children.

(2) For the purposes of this section, these words are defined as follows:

(a) "Applicant" means any volunteer firefighter or the spouse or child of a volunteer firefighter.

(b) "Recipient" or means an applicant who is qualified to receive tuition assistance under the program.

(c) "Volunteer firefighter" means a person who has provided at least five (5) years of continuous service as a firefighter to a Mississippi Volunteer Fire Department.

(3) The Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board established under Section 37-106-9 shall administer the program. The fire coordinator in each county is authorized to serve as a liaison to the board for the program. The board is authorized to establish the rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.

(4) Applicants will apply in writing to the board for tuition assistance under this section. The board shall make inquiries into each application and shall confirm the applicant's eligibility for tuition assistance with the county fire coordinator.

(5) The award under the program shall be at least fifty percent (50%) of the recipient's tuition at any state institution of higher learning, any state community or junior college, the Mississippi State Fire Academy or any state workforce training program.

(6) Applicants for assistance under the program must meet the following initial eligibility requirements:

(a) Residency in the state of Mississippi, which shall be determined in the same manner as resident status for tuition purposes in Sections 37-103-1 through 37-103-29, with the exception of Section 37-103-17;

(b) Completion of a high-school education; and

(c) Acceptance for enrollment at any state institution of higher learning, any state community or junior college, the Mississippi State Fire Academy or any state workforce training program.

(7) The board shall evaluate eligibility for renewal of program awards at the end of each academic year.

(a) Unless an award recipient is enrolled in a workforce training program, as a condition for renewal, a recipient shall:

(i) Make steady academic progress toward a certificate or degree;

(ii) Maintain continuous enrollment for not less than two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters in each successive academic year, unless granted an exception for cause by the board; and

(iii) Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 calculated on a 4.0 scale at the end of each academic year.

(b) The board is authorized to establish rules on the evaluation for renewal for award recipients enrolled in workforce training programs

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.