Rhode Island House Bill H5767

Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/26/25
• Refer: 2/26/25

Caption

Removes the definition of "totally and permanently disabled" from the general law affording college tuition paid by the state to the spouse and children of active members of the police force who are killed or disabled during duty.

Impact

The proposed change in the definition directly impacts the eligibility of dependents of police officers for tuition payments made by the state. Should the bill pass, it could mean that fewer recipients would qualify for state-funded education benefits, potentially leaving children and spouses of affected officers without the financial support needed for their education. This amendment could drastically affect the lives of families who lose a primary breadwinner or who have a family member incapacitated due to their service.

Summary

House Bill H5767 proposes a modification to existing laws regarding the relief provided to the children and spouses of police officers who are either killed or totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty. Specifically, the bill seeks to remove the definition of 'totally and permanently disabled' from the general law that governs the provision of college tuition assistance, effectively altering the criteria under which such benefits are granted to eligible beneficiaries.

Contention

Critics of the bill may raise concerns about the implications it has for the families of police officers who make significant sacrifices in serving their communities. By removing the specific language that helps define disability in the context of tuition support, there are fears that the bill could weaken the overall support framework that aids these families during difficult times. Proponents of the bill might argue the need for clearer definitions that restrict benefits to cases that are unequivocally aligned with severe and lasting disabilities.