Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §12551, as amended by PL 1997, c. 160, §1, is further amended to read:

§12551. Purpose

In recognition of the indispensable public service role that firefighters and, law enforcement officers and emergency medical services persons play in the well-being of the people of this State, it is the purpose of this chapter to provide for assistance to the children and spouse spouses of firefighters and, law enforcement officers and emergency medical services persons who are killed in the line of duty so that these children and spouses may have the opportunity to pursue a degree at one of the state postsecondary educational institutions.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §12552, sub-§5, is enacted to read:

5.__Emergency medical services person.__"Emergency medical services person" means a person licensed to provide emergency medical treatment under Title 32, chapter 2-B and is employed or affiliated with a municipality or nonprofit organization.

Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §12553, first ¶, as amended by PL 1997, c. 160, §3, is further amended to read:

The child or spouse of a firefighter or, law enforcement officer or emergency medical services person who has been killed or who has received an injury during the performance of that firefighter's or, law enforcement officer's or emergency medical services person's duties, which results in death, may attend, as provided in this section, any state postsecondary educational institution free of tuition charges.

Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §12553, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 160, §3, is further amended to read:

1. Eligibility of a child. The child of a firefighter or, law enforcement officer or emergency medical services person is eligible for tuition waiver under this chapter if the child is:

A. The natural or legally adopted child of a firefighter or, law enforcement officer or emergency medical services person;

B. Is less than 21 years old at the time of the death of the parent who is a firefighter or, law enforcement officer or emergency medical services person;