An Act ENROLLED HOUSE BILL NO. 1795 By: Osburn, George, Stinson, Roberts, Miller, Duel, Roe, Rosencrants, Harris, and Wolfley of the House and Thompson (Kristen), Hicks, Treat, and Stephens of the Senate An Act relating to higher education; creating the Sergeant CJ Nelson Legacy Act; amen ding 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 surviving child ren 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 responders who have given their lives in the line of duty; providing for noncodification; and providing an e ffective date. SUBJECT: Higher education 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 : ENR. H. B. NO. 1795 Page 2 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 Secti on 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 Retiremen t System, who have given their lives in the line of duty; and 4. Children of Oklahoma emergency medical technicians who have given their lives in the line of duty. B. Such waiver of fees and room and board shall be limited to a period of five (5) years. C. Such waiver of fees and room and board shall be a servic e benefit of a commissioned member of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement 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 volunteering or employed as an emergency medical technician and who is licen sed as an emergency medical technician pursuant to Section 1-2505 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statute s. SECTION 3. NEW LAW A n ew 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: ENR. H. B. NO. 1795 Page 3 1. Children of Oklahoma peace officers as defined 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 Oklahoma emergency medical technicians who have given their lives in the line of duty. B. Such waiver of fees shall be limited to a period of five (5) years. C. Such waiver of fees shall be a service benefit of a commissioned member of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System. D. For purposes of this section: 1. "Firefighter" means a volunteer fi refighter or a permanent salaried professional member of any fire dep artment within the 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 pursuant to Section 1-2505 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes. SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024. ENR. H. B. NO. 1795 Page 4 Passed the House of Representatives the 29th day of May, 2024. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives Passed the Senate the 30th day of May, 2024. Presiding Officer of the Senate OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________ day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M. By: _________________________________ Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____ day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M. _________________________________ Governor of the State of Oklahoma OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE Received by the Office of t he Secretary of State this __________ day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M. By: _________________________________