Hurley Passes Bill to Help Children of Fallen First Responders Attend College

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Children of first responders killed or disabled in the line of duty will be eligible to receive education grants for up to the maximum rate for tuition and fees at any Illinois public college or university under legislation introduced by state Rep. Fran Hurley, D-Chicago.

“Law enforcement, firefighters and emergency workers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,” Hurley said. “While the loss of an officer in the line of duty impacts the entire community, the pain is undoubtedly felt most strongly by the fallen officer’s family members. This legislation provides critical assistance to children of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Under current law, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) awards up to eight semesters of full tuition and fee waivers at any state university or private university in Illinois for the child of a police or fire officer killed or disabled in the line of duty. Hurley’s House Bill 4467 clarifies that the child does not need to have been born prior to their parent’s death or disablement in order to receive the Line of Duty waiver. The measure passed out of the Illinois House with bipartisan support.

“It’s important that our state law is updated to ease the financial burden on the families of our community’s fallen heroes,” said Hurley. “We owe it to our first responders to support them throughout as well as after their service.”