Bill No.: SF0121                  Drafter:  JWL

LSO No.:  07LSO-0541              Effective Date:  7/1/2007

Enrolled Act No.:  SEA0047

Chapter No.:       96

Prime Sponsor:     Senator Barrasso

Catch Title:       Peace officers-dependents' tuition.

Subject:  Expands free tuition program for survivors of peace officers killed while acting within scope of duties.

Summary/Major Elements:  Current law provides free university or community college tuition for surviving dependents of peace officers killed in the scope of their employment.  This act:

· Expands the free tuition program to the dependents of peace officers who suffer a qualifying disability;

· Defines qualifying disability for purposes of the dependent tuition program as a physical or mental injury, occurring at a definite time or place, which renders the officer unable to perform a peace officer's duties and which entitles the officer to specified retirement or worker's compensation benefits.

Comments:

· Coordination with other legislation:  This act contains an alternative section coordinating its provisions with a new statutory section, W.S. 21-16-1501, created by 2007 House Bill 112 (2007 Wyoming Laws, Chapter 91).  House Bill 112  consolidates existing free tuition statutes for surviving dependents of a variety of public servants into a single new provision, W.S. 21-16-1501.