§ 45-19-12.1. Tuition to children of deceased or disabled fire fighters. (a) If an active member of the fire force of a city or town or crash rescue crew persons of the state of Rhode Island is killed or 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 performance-related heart condition, or dies of performance-related respiratory ailments, or dies of any conditions derived from performance-related hypertension or dies as a victim of homicide while still a member while not in the performance of his or her duty as 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 fire fighters. The benefits shall be extended to the children 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 in this section is available to the child for a period of time that equals the normal time for completing the courses regularly offered by the institution, but in no case more than four (4) years.

(b) For the purposes of this section, the words "members of fire force" mean and include any member of a fire force or crash rescue crew persons of any city or town regularly employed at a fixed salary or wage; this includes auxiliary and volunteer fire fighters and crash rescue crew persons of any city, town, or state fire fighting department.

(c) In the instance of a member who dies as a victim of homicide while still a member while not in the performance of his or her duty as a member, each and every benefit of this section shall be available to the children commencing from the date of the homicide.

History of Section. (P.L. 1979, ch. 267, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 202, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 333, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 277, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 519, § 1.)