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H 7157Cities & Towns

Towns and Cities - Relief of Injured and Deceased Fire Fighters and Police Officers

This bill removes a strict definition of disability used to determine if police families qualify for free college tuition.

Held for study
Population
Affected
8
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 16, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends an existing law regarding tuition benefits for the families of police and correctional officers. Currently, the state pays tuition for the children and spouses of officers who are killed or become "totally and permanently disabled" in the line of duty. This bill removes a specific, restrictive definition of "totally and permanently disabled" from the text, which previously defined it as an impairment making it impossible to follow <i>any</i> gainful occupation. By removing this strict definition, the bill likely broadens eligibility for these tuition waivers.

For younger readers

Rhode Island has a rule that helps the families of police officers who get hurt very badly while doing their job. If an officer gets hurt so badly they can't work, the state pays for their children or husband/wife to go to college for free. Before, the rule had a very strict description of what "hurt badly" meant. It said the officer couldn't do any job at all. This bill erases that strict description, which might make it easier for these families to get help with paying for school.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Police OfficersCorrectional OfficersSpouses and Children of Disabled OfficersState Colleges (URI, RIC, CCRI)State Taxpayers
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Strengthens the social safety net for families of public servants who face financial hardship due to a breadwinner's life-altering injury.
  • Increases access to higher education for children and spouses who might otherwise be unable to afford college due to the loss of family income.
  • Removes a restrictive legal barrier that may have unfairly denied benefits to disabled workers based on a technicality regarding their theoretical ability to hold a different job.
  • Expands special benefits exclusively for law enforcement families while other essential workers and vulnerable populations do not receive free tuition.
  • Allocates public funds to a specific group, potentially diverting resources from broader educational programs or universal financial aid.
  • Reinforces a two-tiered system where police officers receive preferential treatment and protections compared to the general public and other civil servants.
For Conservatives
  • Demonstrates strong support for law enforcement officers and their families, honoring their sacrifice and service to the community.
  • Fulfills a moral obligation to care for the dependents of those who are permanently disabled while protecting public safety.
  • Encourages retention and recruitment in law enforcement by ensuring officers know their families will be provided for if a tragedy occurs.
  • Removes a clear standard for disability, potentially allowing for abuse of the system where individuals capable of working still receive taxpayer-funded benefits.
  • Increases the financial burden on the state and taxpayers by likely expanding the number of people eligible for free tuition without a funding mechanism.
  • Creates an entitlement expansion without strict oversight or definitions, potentially leading to long-term fiscal irresponsibility.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 1 addition · 3 deletions

SECTION 1. Section 45-19-4.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-19 entitled "Relief of Injured and Deceased Fire Fighters and Police Officers" is hereby amended to read as follows: 45-19-4.1. Tuition to children of police officers dying or disabled as a result of service.

(a) If an active member of the police force of a city or town is killed, dies, or becomes totally and permanently disabled from injuries received while in the performance of his or her duty as a member, or dies of a heart condition or any condition derived from hypertension while still a member, there shall be paid out of the general fund of the state of Rhode Island the charges for the tuition of children of the deceased or totally and permanently disabled police officer and/or the spouse of a police officer killed in the line of duty. The benefits are extended to the children and/or spouse who are attending or may attend the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, or any other college or university operated by the state; provided, that the child has entered the institution while between the ages of sixteen (16) and twenty-one (21); and provided, further, that the aid granted is available to the child and/or spouse for the period of time that may equal the normal time for completing the courses regularly offered by the institution, but in no case more than four (4) years.

(b) For the purpose of this section, the words “police officer” mean and include any member of the state police, any correctional officer within the department of corrections, or the police of any city or town regularly employed at a fixed salary or wage. Furthermore, this excludes auxiliary and volunteer police officers of city, town, or state police. For the purpose of this section, the words “totally and permanently disabled” mean any impairment of mind or body making it impossible for one to follow continuously a gainful occupation.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.