H.P. 1197 - L.D. 1707
An Act to Extend Certain Survivor Benefits to the Spouses and Children of Emergency Medical Services Providers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §12551, as amended by PL 1997, c. 160, §1, is further amended to read:
In recognition of the indispensable public service role that firefighters and, law enforcement officers and emergency medical services persons play in the well-being of the people of this State, it is the purpose of this chapter to provide for assistance to the children and spouse spouses of firefighters and, law enforcement officers and emergency medical services persons who are killed in the line of duty so that these children and spouses may have the opportunity to pursue a degree at one of the state postsecondary educational institutions.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §12552, sub-§§1-B and 1-C are enacted to read:
1-B. Emergency medical service. "Emergency medical service" means a nonprofit, incorporated ambulance service or nontransporting emergency medical service licensed under Title 32, chapter 2-B receiving full or partial financial support from or officially recognized by the State, a municipality or county or an entity created under Title 30-A, chapter 115 or 119 except when the emergency medical service is acting outside the scope of activities expressly authorized by the State, municipality, county or entity created under Title 30-A, chapter 115 or 119.
1-C. Emergency medical services person. "Emergency medical services person" means a person who is licensed to provide emergency medical treatment under Title 32, chapter 2-B and is serving a public agency in an official capacity as an officially recognized or designated employee or member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew, with or without compensation, or who is an employee of an emergency medical service as defined in subsection 1-B.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §12552, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:
2-A. Public agency. "Public agency" means a governmental entity as defined in Title 14, section 8102, subsection 2 or a political subdivision as defined in Title 14, section 8102, subsection 3.
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §12553, first ¶, as amended by PL 1997, c. 160, §3, is further amended to read:
The child or spouse of a firefighter or, law enforcement officer or emergency medical services person who has been killed or who has received an injury during the performance of that firefighter's or, law enforcement officer's or emergency medical services person's duties, which results in death, may attend, as provided in this section, any state postsecondary educational institution free of tuition charges.
Sec. 5. 20-A MRSA §12553, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 160, §3, is further amended to read:
1. Eligibility of a child. The child of a firefighter or, law enforcement officer or emergency medical services person is eligible for tuition waiver under this chapter if the child is:
A. The natural or legally adopted child of a firefighter or, law enforcement officer or emergency medical services person;
B. Is less than 21 years old at the time of the death of the parent who is a firefighter or, law enforcement officer or emergency medical services person;
C. A Maine resident;
D. A high school graduate or has attained equivalent certification; and
E. Accepted for admission to a state postsecondary educational institution.
Sec. 6. 20-A MRSA §12553, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 160, §3, is amended to read:
1-A. Eligibility of a spouse. The spouse of a firefighter or, law enforcement officer or emergency medical services person is eligible for tuition waiver under this chapter if the spouse is:
A. Legally married to the firefighter or, law enforcement officer or emergency medical services person at the time of the firefighter's or, law enforcement officer's or emergency medical services person's death;
B. A Maine resident;
C. A high school graduate or has attained equivalent certification; and
D. Accepted for admission to a state postsecondary educational institution.
Effective September 18, 1999, unless otherwise indicated.
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