Req. No. 5241 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) HOUSE BILL 1795 By: Osburn AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to Higher Education; creating the Sergeant CJ Nelson Legacy Act; amending 70 O.S. 2021 , Section 3218.7-1, which relates to waiver of room and board fees for children of commissioned members of Oklahoma Law Enforcement; directing for the waiver of room and board fees for sur viving children of first responders who have given their lives in the line of duty; setting time period; defining terms; directing for waiver of career technology district fees for surviving children of first re sponder who have given their lives in the line of duty; setting time period; defining terms; providing for noncodification; and providing an effecti ve date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows: This act shall be kn own and may be cited as "The Sergeant CJ Nelson Legacy Act". SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 3218.7-1, is amended to read as follows : Req. No. 5241 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Section 3218.7-1 A. Within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, no fees nor room and board shall be charged t o the children: 1. Children of Oklahoma peace officers as defined by Section 648 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Stat utes who have given their lives in the line of duty; 2. Children of Oklahoma firefighters who have given t heir lives in the line of duty; 3. Children of commissioned members of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System , who have given their lives in the line of duty; and 4. Children of Oklahoma emergency medical techn icians who have given their lives in the line of duty. B. Such waiver of room and board shal l be limited to a period of five (5) years. C. Such waiver of room and board shall be a servic e benefit of a commissioned member of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement R etirement System. D. For purposes of this section: 1. "Firefighter" means a volunteer firefighter or a permanent salaried professional member of any fire department within the State of Oklahoma; and 2. "Emergency medical technician " means a person volunte ering or employed as an emergency medical technician and who is licen sed Req. No. 5241 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 as an emergency medical technician pursuant to Section 1-2505 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statute s. SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 14-134.1 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. Within the system of career technology districts, no fees shall be charged to: 1. Children of Oklahoma peace officers as defin ed by Section 648 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes who have given their lives in the line of duty; 2. Children of Oklahoma firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty; 3. Children of commissioned members of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, who have given their lives in the line of duty; and 4. Children of Oklahom a emergency medical technicians who have given their lives in the line of duty. B. Such waiver of room and board shall be limited to a period of five (5) years. C. Such waiver of room and board sha ll be a service benefit of a commissioned member of the O klahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System. D. For purposes of this section: Req. No. 5241 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. "Firefighter" means a volunteer fi refighter or a permanent salaried professional member of any fire department within th e State of Oklahoma; and 2. "Emergency medical technician " means a person volunteering or employed as an emergency medical technician and who is licensed as an emergency medical technician pursu ant to Section 1-2505 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statute s. SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. 59-1-5241 MJ 01/16/23