173.260.  Public service officers and employees disabled or killed in the line of duty, survivor's and disabled employee's educational grant program, requirements, limitations. — 1.  As used in this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms mean:

  (1)  "Air ambulance pilot", a person certified as an air ambulance pilot in accordance with sections 190.001 to 190.245 and corresponding regulations applicable to air ambulances adopted by the department of health and senior services;

  (2)  "Air ambulance registered professional nurse", a person licensed as a registered professional nurse in accordance with sections 335.011 to 335.096 and corresponding regulations adopted by the state board of nursing, 20 CSR 2200-4, et seq., who provides registered professional nursing services as a flight nurse in conjunction with an air ambulance program that is certified in accordance with sections 190.001 to 190.245 and the corresponding regulations applicable to such programs;

  (3)  "Air ambulance registered respiratory therapist", a person licensed as a registered respiratory therapist in accordance with sections 334.800 to 334.930 and corresponding regulations adopted by the state board for respiratory care, who provides respiratory therapy services in conjunction with an air ambulance program that is certified in accordance with sections 190.001 to 190.245 and corresponding regulations applicable to such programs;

  (4)  "Board", the coordinating board for higher education;

  (5)  "Eligible child", the natural, adopted or stepchild of a public safety officer or employee, as defined in this section, who is less than twenty-four years of age and who is a dependent of a public safety officer or employee or was a dependent at the time of death or permanent and total disability of a public safety officer or employee;

  (6)  "Emergency medical technician", a person licensed in emergency medical care in accordance with standards prescribed by sections 190.001 to 190.245 and by rules adopted by the department of health and senior services under sections 190.001 to 190.245;

  (7)  "Employee", any full-time employee of the department of transportation engaged in the construction or maintenance of the state's highways, roads and bridges;

  (8)  "Flight crew member", an individual engaged in flight responsibilities with an air ambulance licensed in accordance with sections 190.001 to 190.245 and corresponding regulations applicable to such programs;

  (9)  "Grant", the public safety officer or employee survivor grant as established by this section;

  (10)  "Institution of postsecondary education", any approved public or private institution as defined in section 173.205^*;

  (11)  "Line of duty", any action of a public safety officer, whose primary function is crime control or reduction, enforcement of the criminal law, or suppression of fires, is authorized or obligated by law, rule, regulation or condition of employment or service to perform;

  (12)  "Public safety officer", any firefighter, uniformed employee of the office of the state fire marshal, emergency medical technician, police officer, capitol police officer, parole officer, probation officer, state correctional employee, water safety officer, park ranger, conservation officer or highway patrolman employed by the state of Missouri or a political subdivision thereof who is killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty or any emergency medical technician, air ambulance pilot, air ambulance registered professional nurse, air ambulance registered respiratory therapist, or flight crew member who is killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty;

  (13)  "Permanent and total disability", a disability which renders a person unable to engage in any gainful work;

  (14)  "Spouse", the husband, wife, widow or widower of a public safety officer or employee at the time of death or permanent and total disability of such public safety officer;

  (15)  "Tuition", any tuition or incidental fee or both charged by an institution of postsecondary education, as defined in this section, for attendance at that institution by a student as a resident of this state.

  2.  Within the limits of the amounts appropriated therefor, the coordinating board for higher education shall provide, as defined in this section, a grant for either of the following to attend an institution of postsecondary education:

  (1)  An eligible child of a public safety officer or employee killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty; or

  (2)  A spouse of a public safety officer killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty.

  3.  An eligible child or spouse may receive a grant under this section only so long as the child or spouse is enrolled in a program leading to a certificate, or an associate or baccalaureate degree.  In no event shall a child or spouse receive a grant beyond the completion of the first baccalaureate degree or, in the case of a child, age twenty-four years, except that the child may receive a grant through the completion of the semester or similar grading period in which the child reaches his twenty-fourth year.  No child or spouse shall receive more than one hundred percent of tuition when combined with similar funds made available to such child or spouse.

  4.  The coordinating board for higher education shall:

  (1)  Promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this section;

  (2)  Determine minimum standards of performance in order for a child or spouse to remain eligible to receive a grant under this program;

  (3)  Make available on behalf of an eligible child or spouse an amount toward the child's or spouse's tuition which is equal to the grant to which the child or spouse is entitled under the provisions of this section;

  (4)  Provide the forms and determine the procedures necessary for an eligible child or spouse to apply for and receive a grant under this program.

  5.  An eligible child or spouse who is enrolled or has been accepted for enrollment as an undergraduate postsecondary student at an approved institution of postsecondary education shall receive a grant in an amount not to exceed the least of the following:

  (1)  The actual tuition, as defined in this section, charged at an approved institution where the child or spouse is enrolled or accepted for enrollment; or

  (2)  The amount of tuition charged a Missouri resident at the University of Missouri for attendance as a full-time student, as defined in section 173.205^*.

  6.  An eligible child or spouse who is a recipient of a grant may transfer from one approved public or private institution of postsecondary education to another without losing his entitlement under this section.  The board shall make necessary adjustments in the amount of the grant.  If a grant recipient at anytime withdraws from the institution of postsecondary education so that under the rules and regulations of that institution he is entitled to a refund of any tuition, fees, or other charges, the institution shall pay the portion of the refund to which he is entitled attributable to the grant for that semester or similar grading period to the board.

  7.  If an eligible child or spouse is granted financial assistance under any other student aid program, public or private, the full amount of such aid shall be reported to the board by the institution and the eligible child or spouse.

  8.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as a promise or guarantee that a person will be admitted to an institution of postsecondary education or to a particular institution of postsecondary education, will be allowed to continue to attend an institution of postsecondary education after having been admitted, or will be graduated from an institution of postsecondary education.

  9.  A public safety officer who is permanently and totally disabled shall be eligible for a grant pursuant to the provisions of this section.

  10.  An eligible child of a public safety officer or employee, spouse of a public safety officer or public safety officer shall cease to be eligible for a grant pursuant to this section when such public safety officer or employee is no longer permanently and totally disabled.