SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By NM House Republicans
The House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 55, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Rep. Tim Lewis (R-Rio Rancho) to increase scholarship benefits for children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty. The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Patricio Ruiloba (D-Albuquerque) and Sen. Bill O’Neill (D-Albuquerque).
HB 55 expands the benefits currently available to eligible survivors to include room and board support for students as well as assistance paying for books and supplies. It also adds a year to the benefit, increasing funding from five academic years to six.
In addition, the bill would make students attending out-of-state public institutions eligible for the scholarship. The bill caps the scholarship amount at the average cost of attendance for a New Mexico in-state institution.
“These families have already made the ultimate sacrifice by losing a family member while that loved one was performing their public service duties,” said Rep. Lewis. “We should help them move forward with their educational plans and allow them to attend the school of their choice. It’s the least we can do for these families.”
Allyson Harris, the daughter of Sergeant Joseph Harris, a Sandoval County Sheriff’s Officer who was killed in the line of duty in 2009, wrote in support of the legislation. She is currently attending Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado.
“When I was twelve, two years after the tragic loss of my dad, my mom and I both decided it was best for me to be away from New Mexico, away from the memories, and away from the aura of sadness and loss that surrounded me,” wrote Harris. “When the prospect of college came around about two years ago, I was faced with the difficult news that although I am the child of a fallen New Mexico police officer and hero, I have been restricted from benefits that I was promised due to my move to Colorado.”
She added, “I am not asking for extra money, nor am I asking for anything I was not previously promised to receive. All I propose is that you honor the financial benefit I could have received if I had gone to school in New Mexico so that I can continue my pursuit of higher education free of the burden of debt.”
