ATLANTA – The Georgia General Assembly gave final passage last week to House Bill 54, the Fallen Hero Bill, sponsored by State Representative Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta). The Fallen Hero Bill would increase college tuition assistance for the children of fallen public service officials.
“This legislation has been years in the making, and I am so grateful to see its passage,” said Rep. Waites. “The cost of college expenses rises every year, and unfortunately for the children of some of our fallen public service officials, the additional funds just aren’t there. Through the Fallen Hero Bill, we will be able to offer additional resources to the children of our state’s most brave men and women as a small token of our appreciation for their sacrifice.”
The Fallen Hero Bill would supplement the existing Georgia Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission by providing additional funding to cover any tuition expenses not provided by the grant. Under this legislation, the increased cost would be funded by adding a voluntary donation option to the filing forms for Georgia Income Tax forms and Georgia Motor Vehicle Driver’s License forms.
The Fallen Hero Bill will now go to Governor Nathan Deal for consideration.
For more information on HB 54, please click here.
Representative Keisha Waites represents the citizens of District 60, which includes portions of Clayton and Fulton counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2012, and currently serves on the Interstate Cooperation, Juvenile Justice, Public Safety & Homeland Security, Special Rules, and Transportation committees.
###