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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
SENATE BILL 58 By: Weaver
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to higher education; creating the
First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act;
providing short title; defining terms; creating the
First Responder Recruitment and Retention Program;
providing purpose; providing eligibility criteria;
requiring submission of application; providing
contents of application; providing eligibility
retention criteria; allowing program tuition waiver
for certain time period; directing program tuition
waivers to be applied after exhaustion of certain
other assistance; providing for promulgation of
rules; providing for codification; providing an
effective date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3260 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “First
Responder Recruitment and Retention Act”.
B. As used in this act:
1. “Degree program” means a program offered at an Oklahoma
educational institution that leads to the award of an associate’s
degree or a baccalaureate degree;
2. “Eligible student” means:
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a. a peace officer as defined by Section 648 of Title 21
of the Oklahoma Statutes,
b. a volunteer or a permanent salaried professional
member of any fire department in this state, and
c. a volunteer or employed emergency medical technician
who is licensed pursuant to Section 1-2505 of Title 63
of the Oklahoma Statutes;
3. “Oklahoma educational institution” means an institution of
higher education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher
Education; and
4. “Program” means the First Responder Recruitment and
Retention Program.
C. There is hereby created the First Responder Recruitment and
Retention Program to provide a waiver of resident tuition for
eligible students who meet the requirements of subsection D of this
section.
D. To be eligible to apply for the program, an eligible student
shall:
1. Have satisfied admission standards as determined by the
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for first-time entering
students for the appropriate type of institution;
2. Have secured admission to and enrolled in an Oklahoma
educational institution; and
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3. Pursue a degree program that relates to a career as a peace
officer as defined by Section 648 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma
Statutes, a salaried professional member of any fire department in
this state, or an employed emergency medical technician who is
licensed pursuant to Section 1-2505 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma
Statutes.
E. An eligible student seeking a program tuition waiver shall
submit an application on a form prescribed by the Oklahoma State
Regents for Higher Education. The application shall include:
1. A verification that the person applying meets the definition
of eligible student as provided for in subsection B of this section;
and
2. Proof that the individual is:
a. a peace officer as defined by Section 648 of Title 21
of the Oklahoma Statutes,
b. a volunteer or a permanent salaried professional
member of any fire department in this state, or
c. a volunteer or employed emergency medical technician
who is licensed pursuant to Section 1-2505 of Title 63
of the Oklahoma Statutes.
F. To retain eligibility for the program, a student shall:
1. Maintain good academic standing and satisfactory academic
progress according to standards of the Oklahoma educational
institution in which the eligible student is enrolled; and
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2. Maintain the requirements for retention and degree
completion as established by the Oklahoma educational institution in
which the eligible student is enrolled.
G. An eligible student may receive a program tuition waiver for
up to five (5) years or until completion of the degree program,
whichever occurs first.
H. Program tuition waivers awarded pursuant to this act shall
apply after all other state or federal assistance has been
exhausted.
I. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this act.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
60-1-820 EB 1/19/2025 5:39:08 AM