(a) Children.--The children of members of the Pennsylvania National Guard who were killed or die as a result of injuries received while performing duty in an official duty status authorized under Federal or State law shall be entitled to a waiver of all tuition costs and fees remaining after receipt of other scholarships and education benefits and Federal and State grants, including, but not limited to, educational gratuities for which the children are or may be eligible under the act of December 16, 1998 (P.L. 980, No. 129),¹ known as the Police Officer, Firefighter, Correction Employee and National Guard Member Child Beneficiary Education Act, at all Pennsylvania State-owned colleges or universities, approved trade schools, State-related institutions of higher learning or community colleges in this Commonwealth for a period not exceeding eight semesters or four years, whichever is greater. In order to be eligible for waiver of tuition and fees under this section, the member of the Pennsylvania National Guard must have been a bona fide resident of Pennsylvania at the time of his death, and the member's children must be bona fide residents of Pennsylvania, eligible for resident tuition at the institution to which they have applied, at the time they apply for the tuition and fee waiver.

(a.1) Spouses.--The spouse of a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard who was killed or dies as a result of injuries received while performing duty in an official duty status authorized under Federal or State law shall be entitled to a waiver of all tuition costs and fees remaining after receipt of other scholarships and education benefits and Federal and State grants at any Pennsylvania State-owned college or university, approved trade school, State-related institution of higher learning or community college in this Commonwealth for a period not exceeding eight semesters or four years, whichever is greater. A spouse shall be eligible for a waiver of all tuition costs and fees remaining after receipt of other scholarships and education benefits and Federal and State grants under this subsection for a period not to exceed ten years from the date the member is killed or dies as a result of injuries while in Federal or State active duty or until the spouse remarries, whichever occurs first. In order to be eligible for waiver of tuition and fees under this section, the member of the Pennsylvania National Guard must have been a bona fide resident of Pennsylvania at the time of his death, and the member's spouse must be a bona fide resident of Pennsylvania, eligible for resident tuition at the institution to which the spouse has applied, at the time the spouse applies for the tuition and fee waiver.

(b) Department to administer program.--The department shall adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section and shall administer the tuition cost and fee waiver program established under this section.