53-17a-101. Fallen Officer Memorial Scholarship Program -- Rulemaking.

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Effective 10/14/2025

(1)As used in this section:

(a)"Child" means an individual who:

(i)is a natural or adopted child of a public safety officer or a firefighter who died in the line of duty; and

(ii)was under 25 years old at the time of the public safety officer's or firefighter's death.

(b)"Died in the line of duty" means a death that is classified as a line-of-duty death under the provisions of Section 49-14-102 , 49-15-102 , 49-16-102 , or 49-23-102 .

(c)"Educational-related expenses" includes tuition, fees, books, and other expenses related to obtaining an education.

(d)"Firefighter" means the same as that term is defined in Section 34A-3-113 .

(e)"Public safety officer" means an individual who:

(i)is employed as:

(A)a law enforcement officer in accordance with Section 53-13-103 ;

(B)a correctional officer in accordance with Section 53-13-104 ; or

(C)a special function officer in accordance with Section 53-13-105 ; and

(ii)in the course of the individual's employment, put the individual's life or personal safety at risk.

(2)This section creates the Fallen Officer Memorial Scholarship Program, to be administered by the department.

(3)Subject to legislative appropriations and Subsection

(6), the department shall provide $5,000 per year for up to four years to an applicant who:

(a)is a child of a public safety officer or a firefighter who died in the line of duty;

(b)is 17 years old or older;

(c)certifies, on a form provided by the department, that the applicant agrees to use the funds entirely for educational-related expenses; and

(d)fulfills any other application requirement established by the department.

(4)Nothing in this section affects a child's ability to obtain a tuition waiver under Section 53H-11-306 .

(a)In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act , the department may make rules necessary to administer this section, including:

(i)setting deadlines for receiving applications and supporting documentation; and

(ii)establishing the application process and an appeal process for the Fallen Officer Memorial Scholarship Program.

(b)The department shall include a disclosure on all applications and related materials that the amount of funds provided may be subject to funding or be reduced, in accordance with Subsection

(6).

(a)Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall make an annual appropriation from the Income Tax Fund to the department for the costs associated with the Fallen Officer Memorial Scholarship Program authorized under this section.

(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, if the appropriation under this section is insufficient to cover the costs associated with the Fallen Officer Memorial Scholarship Program, the department may:

(i)reduce the amount of funds distributed to an applicant; or

(ii)distribute funds on a pro rata basis to all eligible applicants who submitted a complete application before the application deadline.

Amended by Chapter 9 , 2025 Special Session 1