This legislative bill amends the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska to enhance protections and benefits for first responders, now explicitly including correctional officers and youth detention officers. It redefines "first responder" to encompass law enforcement officers, professional firefighters, correctional officers, and youth detention officers, while also introducing new definitions for "eligible disabled person" and "qualifying child." The bill establishes a tuition waiver program for first responders and eligible disabled persons attending state educational institutions, with waivers available for up to five years, and outlines a phased implementation for correctional officers and youth detention officers starting July 1, 2027. Additionally, it mandates partial reimbursement for certain tuition waivers and streamlines the legal framework by repealing outdated sections.

The bill further amends the First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act to include a tuition waiver program for the qualifying children of first responders and eligible disabled persons, requiring verification from a superior officer for eligibility. In the event of a first responder's death in the line of duty, their qualifying child can still receive the waiver. The legislation also imposes a five-year residency requirement in Nebraska for waiver recipients and mandates timely notification of eligibility status from educational institutions. The Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education is responsible for reimbursing state universities for a portion of the granted waivers, and the bill updates terminology from "legal dependents" to "qualifying children."

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 44-314, 85-2601, 85-2602, 85-2603, 85-2603.01, 85-2605
Final Reading: 44-314, 85-2601, 85-2602, 85-2605, 85-2604, 85-2606, 85-2607, 85-2608
Slip Law: 44-314, 85-2601, 85-2602, 85-2605, 85-2604, 85-2606, 85-2607, 85-2608