AG U96-01.

• Case Date: March 07, 1996
• Court: Rhode Island

Rhode Island Attorney General Opinions 1996. AG U96-01. UNOFFICIAL OPINION U96-01March 7, 1996Leslie Giordano-SingletonBoard of Relief for Policemen 610 Manton Avenue Providence, R.I. 02909 Dear Ms. Giordano-Singleton: You have requested an advisory opinion concerning whether the Board must grant tuition benefits to the daughter of a disabled officer under the following circumstances. The Board granted the police officer's application for accidental disability retirement on September 30, 1992. In January, 1996, the officer's daughter sought tuition benefits pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-19-4.1(a). The former officer has refused to sign the application form and has written to the Board stating that he is currently gainfully employed. On October 18, 1993, I issued Unofficial Opinion No. U93-60 advising that the application procedure for tuition benefits was not statutory and was a matter of policy to be set by the Board. This case differs from that in Opinion U93-60 only in that the disabled officer indicates that he is gainfully employed. R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-19-4.1(a) provides for tuition benefits to children of deceased or totally and permanently disabled police officers. The terms "totally and permanently disabled" is defined "for purposes of [that] section" as meaning "any impairment of mind or body making it impossible for one to follow continuously a gainful occupation."...