House panel advances idea to add spouses to Georgia Public Safety Memorial Grant; committee asks for part‑time option

Chairman Petrie told the Georgia House Higher Education Committee that HB 56 (LC 394449) would add spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and correctional officers who die in the line of duty to eligibility for the Georgia Public Safety Memorial Grant.

The grant currently provides tuition assistance to children of eligible public safety officers at institutions in the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia. Petrie told the committee that in 2024 about 403 students received the grant totaling $658,902 and that the program has roughly $3.8 million in reserves. "This measure very simply, seeks to add the spouses of those individuals, to the eligibility," he said.

Committee members focused their questions on two implementation issues: whether surviving spouses should be required to be full‑time students, and whether volunteer firefighters are covered by the bill's definitions. Several members urged allowing spouses to enroll part time to accommodate adults caring for families. Representative Clydes asked specifically about off‑duty deaths and volunteer coverage; Petrie said the language may need a closer read by legislative counsel to ensure volunteer firefighters would not be left out.

Haley Corbett, who the committee identified as representing the Georgia Student Finance Commission, said the commission "would welcome guidance from the General Assembly" on whether to allow part‑time spouses and that the commission could implement changes once the law is clarified. Representative Glaze and Representative Jackson echoed support for making the benefit usable by adult spouses who cannot attend full time.

There was no formal committee vote recorded on HB 56. Committee members indicated a general sense that the author should return with amendment language (a sub) that would permit spouses to qualify as part‑time students and that legislative counsel should clarify the volunteer firefighter language. Petrie said he would work with legislative counsel and bring the bill back with the proposed changes.

The discussion took place during the House Higher Education Committee's hearing on two bills; HB 56 was presented first and then held over for further drafting and clarification. No final action or recorded vote on HB 56 was entered at the hearing.