Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Scholarship

PURPOSE: This rule sets forth the policies of the Coordinating Board for Higher Education regarding institutional and student eligibility for student financial assistance under the Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Scholarship program. (1) Definitions. (A) Academic year shall be from July 1 of any year through June 30 of the following year. (B) Applicant means a student who has filed a complete and accurate application by December 15 to receive a Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Scholarship as prescribed by the department. (C) Application deadline shall be December 15 for applicants intending to enroll in the upcoming academic year. (D) Department shall mean the Department of Higher Educa tion and Workforce Development. (E) Governmental sources of funding shall mean federal, state, and any other governmental grant or scholarship aid excluding federal work-study and aid classified as a loan and any other aid that can be converted to a loan. (F) Initial recipient shall mean any applicant who qualifies under section 173.2655, RSMo, has filed an accurate and complete application by the deadline of December 15, and has not received a Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Scholarship in any prior academic year. (G) Institution of higher education shall mean a public com munity college, state college, or state university located in Missouri as defined in section 173.1102, RSMo; or an approved private institution, as such term is defined in section 173.1102, RSMo, that chooses to accept any tuition award money pursu ant to section 173.2655.7(2), RSMo; or an emergency medical services training entity accredited or certified by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services pursuant to the pro visions of section 190.131, RSMo. (H) Legal dependent shall mean a biological child, stepchild, or adopted child consistent with how such term is defined by the United States Department of Education for purposes of the Free Application for Student Financial Aid. (I) Line of duty shall mean any action that public safety personnel is authorized or obligated by law, rule, or regulation to perform, related to or as a condition of employment or service. (J) Open seat shall mean a vacant position in a class, course, or program that is available for enrollment, and which may become available when a student drops out or transfers, or when a class, course, or program has unused capacity, allowing new students to register or enroll. (K) Public safety personnel shall mean any police officer, firefighter, paramedic, telecommunicator first responder, emergency medical technician, or advanced emergency medical technician who is trained and authorized by law or rule to render emergency medical assistance or treatment as further defined below. 1. Advanced emergency medical technician, as such term is defined in section 190.100, RSMo. 2. Emergency medical technician, as such term is defined in section 190.100, RSMo. 3. Firefighter, any officer or employee of a fire department who is employed for the purpose of fighting fires, excluding volunteer firefighters and anyone employed in a clerical or other capacity not involving fire-fighting duties. 4. Paramedic, as such term is defined in section 190.100, RSMo. 5. Police officer, any person who, by virtue of office or public employment, is vested by law with the power and duty to make arrests for violation of the laws of the state of Missouri or ordinances of any municipality thereof, while acting within the scope of his or her authority as an employee of a public law enforcement agency, as such term is defined in section 590.1040, RSMo. 6. Telecommunicator first responder, as such term is de fined in section 650.320, RSMo. (L) Renewal recipient shall mean any applicant who received a Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Scholarship, meets the requirements set forth in section 173.2655, RSMo, meets the institution’s requirements for satisfactory academic progress, and has filed an accurate and complete application by the deadline of December 15. (M) Satisfactory academic progress shall mean meeting the requirements established by the approved institution in which the student is enrolled for students at the approved institution to receive assistance under Title IV financial aid programs included in the Higher Education Act of 1965. For institutions that do not administer federal student aid, students must be completing coursework on a time frame that will result in graduation within the expected time frame. (N) Tuition shall mean the charges and cost of tuition as set by the governing body of an institution of higher education, including fees such as course fees, activity fees, technology fees, and mandatory fees charged by such institution to all full-time students as a condition of enrollment, but excluding the costs of room, board, books, and any other educational materials, equipment, or supplies. (2) Responsibilities of Education Providers. (A) Institutions and training providers participating in the program must meet the institutional responsibilities set forth in 6 CSR 10-2.140(5). (B) Before requesting disbursement for an initial or renewal recipient, the enrolling institution must verify— 1. The recipient has met the eligibility requirements listed in section (3) of this rule; 2. The amount of the reimbursement request, including the number of hours in which the eligible student is enrolled and the credit hour rate for those hours; 3. The eligible student is a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or lawfully present in accordance with section 173.1110, RSMo; 4. The recipient is enrolled in an eligible program, as defined in section 173.2655, RSMo, and as outlined by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education; and 5. Governmental sources of non-loan aid are applied correctly to tuition and fees. (3) Eligibility Policy. (A) To qualify for a Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Scholarship, an initial and renewal recipient, at the time of application and throughout the period during which the recipient receives the award, must meet the requirements set forth in section 173.2655, RSMo. (4) Application and Evaluation Policy. (A) Applicants must submit a completed application by December 15 annually to be considered for the upcoming ac ademic year, which begins on July 1 of the following calendar year for the Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Scholar ship. (B) In addition to the application, the public safety personnel must submit the following annually to be considered for the scholarship: 1. Verification of the professional license or certificate; 2. Certificate of verification signed by the individual’s su pervisor or employer verifying that such individual is currently employed full-time as public safety personnel and trained and authorized by law or rule to render emergency medical assis tance or treatment; 3. Proof of Missouri residence, as outlined by the Depart ment of Revenue to determine Missouri residence for a drivers license, which may include but is not limited to utility bills, federal/state/local government documents, financial docu ments, insurance policies/medical documents, educational/ professional licensing documents; and 4. Initial recipients must provide documentation showing proof of service as public safety personnel for at least six (6) years from all eligible employers; this can include full-time employment, but excludes volunteer service. (C) In addition to the application, the legal dependent(s) of public safety personnel must submit the following annually to be considered for the scholarship: 1. Verification of the professional license or certificate of the parent, who is a public safety personnel and claims the applicant as a dependent on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, as defined by the United States Department of Education; 2. Certificate of verification signed by the supervisor or employer of the parent verifying that such individual is currently employed full-time as public safety personnel and trained and authorized by law or rule to render emergency medical assistance or treatment; 3. Proof of Missouri Residence; 4. Initial recipients must provide documentation showing proof of service of the parent as public safety personnel for at least ten (10) years from all eligible employers, which can include full-time employment, but excludes volunteer service; and 5. Loan documentation is required for legal dependents of public safety personnel because the scholarship can potentially convert to a loan requiring repayment if the dependents fail to meet the residency requirements as outlined in subsection (6) (B) of this rule. Such documents are required for the processing of the award, which include— A. Application disclosure, which includes information about potential repayment and estimated interest rates; must be completed at the time of application, or the application is considered incomplete; B. Approval disclosure, in which students can accept, deny, or reduce the award amount; must be completed and returned to the department within ten (10) business days, or the award will not be disbursed; and C. Promissory note, or agreement that the student agrees to repay the award if the scholarship converts to a loan; must be completed and returned to the department within ten (10) business days, or the award will not be disbursed. (D) A dependent may still qualify for the scholarship following the death of a public safety personnel in the line of duty if, in lieu of the documentation required in subsection (4)(C), the dependent submits a statement attesting that— 1. At the time of death, the public safety personnel satisfied the requirements of subsection (4)(C); and 2. The public safety personnel died in the line of duty, which means any action of an employee directly connected to their employment as public safety personnel who is authorized or obligated by law, rule, regulation, or condition of employment or service to perform such function. (E) The department shall notify applicants by no later than March 1 annually of the applicant’s eligibility or ineligibility for the tuition award in the upcoming academic year, and state whether the application has been approved or denied. If the applicant is determined not to be eligible for the tuition award, the notice shall include the reason or reasons for such determination. If the application is denied, the notice shall include the reason or reasons for the denial. (5) Award Policy. (A) The Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Scholarship will be allotted for one (1) award year. (B) Subject to appropriation, the scholarship awards will be based on prioritization, which the department will determine by March 1 for the upcoming academic year. The awards shall be made in the following order of priority: 1. Priority class one shall include public safety personnel in the following order: A. Public safety personnel in departments located wholly or partially in counties or cities not within a county with the highest crime rate per capita, as determined by the most recent uniform crime reporting statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and B. Public safety personnel with the most years of service; and C. Renewal applicants will be prioritized over initial students; 2. Priority class two shall include dependents of public safety personnel, in the following order: A. Dependents of public safety personnel in departments located wholly or partially in counties or cities not within a AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT county with the highest crime rate per capita, as determined by the most recent uniform crime reporting statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and B. Dependents of public safety personnel with the most years of service; and C. Renewal applicants will be prioritized over initial students; and 3. In the event of a tie, the available funds shall be distributed on a pro rata basis considering the total tuition and fee cost of each individual that is tied. (C) Student eligibility for the Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Scholarship expires at the earliest of the following, except a student who is eligible at the beginning of an enrollment or payment period may receive the award for the full enrollment or payment period in which the expiration criterion is met: 1. Receipt of a bachelor’s degree; 2. Receipt of the grant for five (5) consecutive award years; or 3. Achievement of one hundred twenty (120) credit hours. (D) The applicant’s award will be sent to the approved insti tution to be delivered to the student’s account. (E) No Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Scholarship award will be made retroactive to a previous academic year. An award may be made retroactive to a previous semester only upon the sole discretion of the department. (F) A student may transfer the Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Scholarship award from one (1) approved institution of higher education to another without losing eligibility for assistance, but the department shall make any necessary adjustments in the amount of the award. (G) An initial or renewal applicant’s failure to provide an ac curate and complete application or any additional information by the deadline established in statute or by the department may result in the loss of the Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Scholarship for the period covered by the deadline. (6) Grant Maintenance. (A) The five- (5-) year residency requirement begins once the legal dependent applies for and receives the tuition award for the first time and continues until the tuition award recipient’s— 1. Completion of the five- (5-) year tuition award eligibility period; 2. Completion of a baccalaureate degree at an institution of higher education; 3. Completion of an associate degree at a public community college and notification to the department that such recipient does not intend to pursue a baccalaureate degree or additional associate degree using tuition awards pursuant to the Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act; or 4. Notification to the department that such recipient does not plan to use additional tuition awards pursuant to the Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act. (B) The grant shall remain a grant and repayment will not be required if the dependent(s) of public safety personnel— 1. Graduates from an approved institution with a bachelor’s degree; 2. Resides in the state of Missouri for a period of five (5) years following the use of the award, and files state income taxes in Missouri; 3. Completes an associate degree at a Missouri public community college and notifies the department that the dependent does not intend to pursue additional education using the tuition awards under this program; or 4. Notifies the department that the dependent does not plan to use additional tuition awards under this program. (C) The recipient shall annually provide certification to the department that the recipient meets the residency requirements by providing a copy of their Missouri state tax return. (D) The recipient may apply to the department for a waiver of the conversion of the scholarship to a loan due to the total and permanent disability or death of the recipient or if such recipient or recipient’s spouse is providing service to any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and is transferred out of state and is no longer able to maintain Missouri residency as a result of such service. The disability must be certified as permanent and total by the recipient’s physician. In the event of the death of the recipient, the executor or other custodian of the deceased recipient’s estate may submit an application. (E) Recipients may defer conversion of the scholarship to a loan if their qualified employment is interrupted for one (1) of the following reasons: 1. Service by a recipient or a recipient’s spouse in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States; or 2. A temporary disability resulting from an injury or illness that renders the recipient unable to be employed. The recipient’s physician must certify the nature of the disability, the date the disability began, and the expected duration of the recovery period, not to exceed twelve (12) months. (F) The deferment shall begin on the date the recipient ceases to be a Missouri resident. The length of the deferment will be at the department’s discretion based on individual circumstances. The recipient must notify the department at the beginning and end of the deferment period and provide any requested supporting documentation. The recipient must also return to Missouri residency following the interruption. (G) Recipients must promptly report to the department any change of mailing address during the required residency period, including any period of deferment. If the scholarship converts to a loan, recipients must continue to promptly report any change of mailing address to the department until the loan is repaid in full or discharged. (7) Loan Conversion/Repayment Policy. (A) If the recipient fails to satisfy any of the criteria for the award to remain a scholarship, the total aggregate scholarship awarded shall convert to a loan and the recipient shall repay the total grant funds received from the state with interest. (B) Recipients must notify the department within thirty (30) days of a change in enrollment status that would trigger repayment. (C) Interest shall be charged on the unpaid balance of the amount received from the date the recipient ceases to reside in Missouri until the amount received is paid back to the state. The interest rate shall be adjusted annually and shall be equal to one (1) percentage point over the prevailing United States prime rate in effect on January first of such year. (D) The department shall mail a repayment schedule to the recipient. (E) The payment amount will vary depending on the total amount received plus accrued interest. Under no circum stances shall the minimum monthly payment be less than fifty dollars ($50) or the minimum annual payment be less than six hundred dollars ($600). (F) The repayment schedule shall be based on a ten- (10-) year repayment plan unless the minimum monthly payment amount results in a shorter repayment period. (G) The recipient shall make the first payment no later than the last day of the month in which the repayment schedule is dated. Subsequent payment dates will be specified on the repayment schedule. Payments are delinquent if not received by the department within ten (10) business days of the payment due date. (H) Payments shall be applied first to accrued interest with any remaining amount applied to principal. (I) Recipients shall not be subject to penalty for early repay ment. (J) Recipients may defer principal and interest payments for a period approved by the department for the following reasons: 1. Experiencing economic hardship as determined by the department; 2. Medical condition limiting the recipient’s ability to continue repayment including, but not limited to, illness, disability, or pregnancy, as certified by the recipient’s physician; or 3. Service by a recipient or a recipient’s spouse in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States. (K) The recipient must notify the department at the beginning and end of the deferment period and submit to the department any requested supporting documentation. (L) Interest will not accrue during a deferment period. (M) Payments made during a deferment period will be applied first to any interest accrued prior to the deferment period and then to principal. (N) In the event a recipient becomes totally and permanently disabled as certified by a physician or dies, the requirements of the recipient to make any further payment of principal and interest will be discharged immediately upon department approval of the request for discharge. The recipient must apply to the department for loan discharge and provide any requested supporting documentation. In the event of the death of the recipient, the executor or other custodian of the deceased recipient’s estate may submit an application. (8) Default. (A) A recipient’s account will be in a default status when the recipient has failed to make three (3) consecutive scheduled payments. (B) The department will notify the recipient of the default status by certified mail sent to the recipient’s last known mailing address. (C) Upon default, principal and interest are due in full imme diately, unless— 1. The recipient makes satisfactory repayment arrange ments within thirty (30) days from the date of the certified notice; and 2. The recipient makes three (3) consecutive on-time payments that are at least the minimum amount provided on the repayment schedule, resulting in the removal of default status. (D) All loans in repayment, deferment, or default status will be monitored. All available legal remedies may be pursued to ensure full repayment of loans. The borrower may be responsible for reasonable collection costs, including but not limited to attorney fees, court costs, and other fees. (9) Information Sharing Policy. (A) All information on an individual’s Public Safety Recruit ment and Retention Scholarship application will be shared with the financial aid office of the institution to which the individual has applied or is attending, to permit verification of data submitted. Information may be shared with federal finan cial aid offices if necessary to verify data furnished by the state or federal governments. AUTHORITY: sections 173.2655–173.2660, RSMo Supp. 2025.* Original rule filed Dec. 2, 2025, effective July 30, 2026. *Original authority: 173.2655-173.2660, see Revised Statutes of Missouri, 2016 and Supp. 2025.