Mo. Rev. Stat. § 173.2655 — MO Code / Chapter 173 / Section 173.2655
173.2655 Citation — definitions — tuition awards, eligibility, amounts — legal ...
Status: in_force

173.2655. Citation — definitions — tuition awards, eligibility, amounts — legal dependent award — application procedure — rules — fund created, use of moneys. — 1. This section and section 173.2660 shall be known and may be cited as the "Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act".

2. For purposes of this section and section 173.2660 , unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms mean:

(1) "Advanced emergency medical technician" , as such term is defined in section 190.100 ;

(2) "Department" , the department of higher education and workforce development;

(3) "Emergency medical technician" , as such term is defined in section 190.100 ;

(4) "Firefighter" , any officer or employee of a fire department who is employed for the purpose of fighting fires, excluding volunteer firefighters and anyone employed in a clerical or other capacity not involving fire-fighting duties;

(5) "Institution of higher education" , a public community college, state college, or state university located in Missouri; or an approved private institution, as such term is defined in section 173.1102 , that chooses to accept any tuition award money pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection 7 of this section; or an emergency medical services training entity accredited or certified by the Missouri department of health and senior services pursuant to the provisions of section 190.131 ;

(6) "Legal dependent" , as such term is defined by the United States Department of Education for purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid * ;

(7) "Line of duty" , any action that public safety personnel is authorized or obligated by law, rule, or regulation to perform, related to or as a condition of employment or service;

(8) "Open seat" , a vacant position in a class, course, or program that is available for enrollment, and which may become available when a student drops out or transfers, or when a class, course, or program has unused capacity, allowing new students to register or enroll;

(9) "Paramedic" , as such term is defined in section 190.100 ;

(10) "Police officer" , any person who, by virtue of office or public employment, is vested by law with the power and duty to make arrests for violation of the laws of the state of Missouri or ordinances of any municipality thereof, while acting within the scope of his or her authority as an employee of a public law enforcement agency, as such term is defined in section 590.1040 ;

(11) "Public safety personnel" , includes any police officer, firefighter, paramedic, telecommunicator first responder, emergency medical technician, or advanced emergency medical technician who is trained and authorized by law or rule to render emergency medical assistance or treatment;

(12) "Telecommunicator first responder" , as such term is defined in section 650.320 ;

(13) "Tuition" , the charges and cost of tuition as set by the governing body of an institution of higher education, including fees such as course fees, activity fees, technology fees, and mandatory fees charged by such institution to all full-time students as a condition of enrollment, but excluding the costs of room, board, books, and any other educational materials, equipment, or supplies.

3. Subject to appropriation, public safety personnel with at least six years of service shall be entitled to an award worth up to one hundred percent of the resident tuition charges of an institution of higher education if the individual:

(1) Possesses one of the following:

(a) A current, valid license issued by the department of health and senior services authorizing such person to serve as an emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, or paramedic;

(b) A current, valid license issued by the peace officer standards and training commission authorizing such person to serve as a peace officer pursuant to the provisions of chapter 590 ;

(c) A current, valid certificate issued by the division of fire safety authorizing such person to serve as a firefighter; or

(d) A current, valid certificate confirming successful completion of any ongoing training requirements pursuant to section 650.340 ; and

(e) For all public safety personnel, a certificate of verification signed by the individual's supervisor or employer verifying that such individual is currently employed full-time as public safety personnel and trained and authorized by law or rule to render emergency medical assistance or treatment;

(2) Meets all admission requirements of the institution of higher education;

(3) Has not already earned a baccalaureate degree;

(4) Pursues studies leading to a license or certification issued by a training entity accredited or certified pursuant to the provisions of section 190.131 , an associate degree or baccalaureate degree in one of the following academic subject areas:

(a) For police officers, eligible subjects include forensic science, fisheries and wildlife, political science, psychology, history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, global studies, Spanish, journalism, advertising, public relations, nutrition and health sciences, communication sciences and disorders, and criminal justice;

(b) For firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and advanced emergency medical technicians, eligible subjects include biology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, nutrition and health sciences, communication sciences and disorders, Spanish, advertising, public relations, paramedicine, fire science, fire technology, fire administration, fire management, communications, homeland security, emergency management, disaster management, and crisis management; and

(c) For telecommunicator first responders, eligible subjects include any subject specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this subdivision;

(5) Submits verification of the professional license or certificate and the certificate of verification required by subdivision (1) of this subsection to the department, in a form and manner as prescribed by the department;

(6) Files with the department documentation showing proof of employment as public safety personnel and proof of residence in Missouri each year such individual or such individual's legal dependent applies for and receives the tuition award;

(7) First applies for all other forms of federal and state student financial aid before applying for a tuition award, including, but not limited to, filing the United States Department of Education Free Application for Federal Student Aid and, if applicable, applying for financial assistance pursuant to the provisions of 38 U.S.C. Section 3301, et seq.; and

(8) Submits a document to the department confirming that the public safety personnel has satisfied the provisions of subdivision (7) of this subsection, to be submitted in a form and manner as prescribed by the department.

4. Public safety personnel may receive the tuition award pursuant to subsection 3 of this section for up to five years if they otherwise continue to be eligible for the tuition award. The five years of tuition award eligibility starts once the individual applies for and receives the tuition award for the first time and is available to such individual for the next five consecutive years or the individual's achievement of one hundred twenty credit hours, whichever occurs first.

5. Subject to appropriation, a legal dependent of public safety personnel with at least ten years of service shall be entitled to a tuition award worth up to one hundred percent of the resident tuition charges of an institution of higher education for an associate or baccalaureate degree program if such public safety personnel satisfies the provisions of subdivisions (1), (5), and (6) of subsection 3 of this section and the legal dependent:

(1) Executes an agreement with the department in accordance with the provisions of section 173.2660 ;

(2) Has not previously earned a baccalaureate degree;

(3) Meets all admission requirements of the institution of higher education;

(4) First applies for all other forms of federal and state student financial aid before applying for a tuition award, including, but not limited to, filing the United States Department of Education Free Application for Federal Student Aid and, if applicable, applying for financial assistance pursuant to the provisions of 38 U.S.C. Section 3301, et seq.;

(5) Submits a document to the department confirming that the legal dependent has satisfied subdivision (4) of this subsection, to be submitted in a form and manner as prescribed by the department;

(6) Submits the verification required pursuant to subsection 8 of this section to the department; and

(7) Pursues studies leading to a license or certification issued by a training entity accredited or certified pursuant to the provisions of section 190.131 , an associate degree or baccalaureate degree in any one of the subject areas specified in paragraphs (a) to (c) of subdivision (4) of subsection 3 of this section.

6. A legal dependent may receive the tuition award for up to five years if the public safety personnel and the legal dependent continue to be eligible for such tuition award. The five years of tuition award eligibility starts once the legal dependent applies for and receives the tuition award for the first time and is available to such legal dependent for the next five consecutive years or the legal dependent's achievement of one hundred twenty credit hours, whichever occurs first.

7. The tuition award shall be worth:

(1) Up to one hundred percent of the public safety personnel's or the legal dependent's tuition remaining due after subtracting awarded federal financial aid grants and state scholarships and grants for the eligible public safety personnel or legal dependent during the time the public safety personnel or legal dependent is enrolled. To remain eligible, the public safety personnel or legal dependent shall comply with all requirements of the institution for continued attendance and award of an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree; or

(2) In the case of tuition at an approved private institution, up to one hundred percent of the public safety personnel's or the legal dependent's tuition remaining due after subtracting awarded federal financial aid grants and state scholarships and grants for the eligible public safety personnel or legal dependent during the time the public safety personnel or legal dependent is enrolled, up to a maximum amount that is equal to the total cost of tuition and mandatory fees charged to a Missouri resident at the public community college, state college, or state university with the highest combined tuition and mandatory fee cost in the state at the time a tuition grant is awarded, as determined by the department. A private institution that chooses to accept as a tuition payment any tuition award money pursuant to this subdivision shall not charge the recipient of the tuition award any tuition that exceeds the maximum combined tuition and mandatory fee cost as determined by the department prior to the application of the tuition award.

8. (1) An application for a tuition award shall include a verification of the public safety personnel's satisfaction of the requirements of subdivisions (1), (5), and (6) of subsection 3 of this section. The public safety personnel shall include such verification when he or she or his or her legal dependent is applying to the department for a tuition waiver.

(2) The death of public safety personnel in the line of duty which occurs after submission of an application for a tuition award shall not disqualify such individual's otherwise eligible legal dependent from receiving the tuition award. In such case, in lieu of submitting the certificate of verification provided for in subdivision (1) of this subsection, the legal dependent shall submit a statement attesting that:

(a) At the time of death, such public safety personnel satisfied the requirements of subdivision (1) of this subsection; and

(b) Such public safety personnel died in the line of duty.

9. The department shall provide a tuition award to public safety personnel and legal dependents who satisfy the provisions of this section and section 173.2660 , if applicable, and apply for an open seat at an institution of higher education, but shall not provide a tuition award if doing so would require the institution to create additional seats exceeding class, course, or program capacity.

10. All applicants for a tuition award shall submit their applications to the department no later than December fifteenth annually. No later than March first annually, the department shall send written notice of the applicant's eligibility or ineligibility for the tuition award and state whether the application has been approved or denied. If the applicant is determined not to be eligible for the tuition award, the notice shall include the reason or reasons for such determination. If the application is denied, the notice shall include the reason or reasons for the denial.

11. The department shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section and section 173.2660 . Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010 , that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028 . This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2025, shall be invalid and void.

12. (1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Fund", which shall consist of moneys appropriated by the general assembly or any gifts, donations, or bequests for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this section and section 173.2660 . The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund. In accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180 , the state treasurer may approve disbursements. The fund shall be a dedicated fund and money in the fund shall be used solely by the department of higher education and workforce development for the purpose of granting tuition awards as provided in this section and section 173.2660 .

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund.

(3) The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.

13. In any year in which moneys in the public safety recruitment and retention fund are insufficient to fully fund tuition awards for all eligible applicants, tuition awards shall be awarded in the following order of priority; provided that, in the event of a tie in eligibility, available funds shall be distributed on a pro rata basis:

(1) Priority class one shall include public safety personnel, in the following order:

(a) Public safety personnel in departments located wholly or partially in counties or cities not within a county with the highest crime rate per capita, as determined by the most recent uniform crime reporting statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and

(b) Public safety personnel with the most years of service; and

(2) Priority class two shall include dependents of public safety personnel, in the following order:

(a) Dependents of public safety personnel in departments located wholly or partially in counties or cities not within a county with the highest crime rate per capita, as determined by the most recent uniform crime reporting statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and

(b) Dependents of public safety personnel with the most years of service.

14. The tuition awards provided for in this section and section 173.2660 are subject to appropriation. If there are no moneys in the fund established in subsection 12 of this section, no tuition awards shall be granted.

(L. 2025 H.B. 225 merged with H.B. 419 merged with S.B. 71) *Words "Student Financial Aid" appear in original rolls of H.B. 419, 2025.