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68th Legislature 2023 SB 289.1
1 SENATE BILL NO. 289
2 INTRODUCED BY C. FRIEDEL
3
4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT ALLOWING THE BOARD OF REGENTS TO WAIVE TUITION AND
5 FEES FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF MONTANA FIREFIGHTERS OR PEACE OFFICERS
6 WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY; AND AMENDING SECTION 20-25-421, MCA.”
7
8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
9
10 Section 1. Section 20-25-421, MCA, is amended to read:
11 "20-25-421. Charges for tuition -- waivers. (1) The regents may prescribe tuition rates, matriculation
12 charges, and incidental fees for students in institutions under their jurisdiction.
13 (2) The regents may utilize waivers in tuition and fees to aid in the recruitment of students to units
14 of the university system and to promote the policy of assisting the categories of students specified in this
15 subsection. The regents may:
16 (a) waive or discount nonresident tuition for selected and approved nonresident students, including
17 nonresident students who enroll under provisions of any WICHE-sponsored state reciprocal agreements that
18 provide for the payment, when required, of the student support fee by the reciprocal state;
19 (b) waive resident tuition for students at least 62 years of age;
20 (c) waive tuition and fees for:
21 (i) persons who have one-fourth Indian blood or more or are enrolled members of a federally
22 recognized Indian tribe located within the boundaries of the state of Montana and who have been bona fide
23 residents of Montana for at least 1 year prior to enrollment in the Montana university system;
24 (ii) persons designated by the department of corrections pursuant to 52-5-112 or 53-1-214;
25 (iii) residents of Montana who served with the armed forces of the United States in any of its wars
26 and who were honorably discharged from military service;
27 (iv) children of residents of Montana who served with the armed forces of the United States in any
28 of its wars and who were killed in action or died as a result of injury, disease, or other disability incurred while in
-1- Authorized Print Version – SB 289
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68th Legislature 2023 SB 289.1
1 the service of the armed forces of the United States;
2 (v) the spouses or children of residents of Montana who have been declared to be prisoners of war
3 or missing in action; or
4 (vi) the spouse or children of a Montana national guard member who was killed or died as a result
5 of injury, disease, or other disability incurred in the line of duty while serving on state military duty; or
6 (d)(vii) waive tuition charges for qualified survivors of Montana firefighters or peace officers killed in
7 the course and scope of employment. For purposes of this subsection (2)(c)(vii), a qualified survivor is a person
8 who meets the entrance requirements at the state university or college of the person's choice and is the
9 surviving spouse or child of any of the following who were killed in the course and scope of employment:
10 (i)(A) a paid or volunteer member of a municipal or rural fire department firefighter as described in 7-
11 33-4107;
12 (ii)(B) a law enforcement officer as defined in 7-32-201; or
13 (iii)(C) a full-time highway patrol officer."
14 - END -
-2- Authorized Print Version – SB 289
Statutes affected: SB0289_1.pdf: 20-25-421
SB0289_2.pdf: 20-25-421
Amended: 20-25-421
Introduced: 20-25-421