1. (1) "Academic year" means the calendar year starting July 1 and ending June 30. For degree-granting institutions, this includes Fall, Summer, and Spring semesters of the corresponding academic year.
2. (2) "Board" means the Utah Board of Higher Education described in Section 53H-1-203.

3. (3) "Eligible institution" means:

   1. (a) an institution of higher education as defined in Section 53H-1-102; or
   2. (b) a private postsecondary institution that enters into an agreement with the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education to participate in this grant program.

4. (4) "First Responder" means an individual who works in Utah as:

   1. (a) a law enforcement officer, as defined in Section 53-13-103;
   2. (b) an emergency medical technician, as defined in Section 53-2e-101;
   3. (c) an advanced emergency medical technician, as defined in Section 53-2e-101;
   4. (d) a paramedic, as defined in Section 53-2e-101;
   5. (e) a firefighter, as defied in Section 34A-3-113;
   6. (f) a dispatcher, as defined in Section 53-6-102;
   7. (g) a correctional officer, as defined in Section 53-13-104;

   8. (h) a special function officer, as defined in Section 53-13-105, employed by a local sheriff;

      1. (i) a search and rescue worker under the supervision of a local sheriff;
   9. (j) a forensic interviewer or victim advocate employed by a children's justice center established in accordance with Section 67-5b-102;

   10. (k) a credentialed criminal justice system victim advocate as defined in Section 77-38-403 who responds to incidents with a law enforcement officer;

       1. (l) a crime scene investigator technician;
   11. (m) a wildland firefighter;
   12. (n) an investigator or prosecutor of cases involving sexual crimes against children; or
   13. (o) a civilian employee of a first responder agency who has been authorized to view or otherwise access information concerning crimes, accidents, or other traumatic events.
5. (5) "First responder agency" means the same as that term in defined in Section 53-21-101.

6. (6) "First responder volunteer" means:

   1. (a) an individual who donates services as a first responder to a first responder agency located in Utah without pay or other compensation except:

      1. (i) expenses that the individual actually and reasonably incurs as the supervising first responder agency approves; and
      2. (ii) health insurance that a participant in the Volunteer Emergency Medical Service Personnel Health Insurance Program described in Section 26-8a-603 receives; or

   2. (b) a volunteer firefighter who is not regularly employed as a firefighter service employee, but who:

      1. (i) has received training in firefighter techniques and skills;
      2. (ii) continues to receive regular firefighting training; and
      3. (iii) is on the rolls of a legally organized volunteer fire department that provides ongoing training and serves a political subdivision of the state.
7. (7) "Retiree" means the same as that term is defined in Section 49-11-102.
8. (8) "OCHE" means the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.
9. (9) "Scholarship staff" means OCHE staff assigned to administer state scholarships on behalf of the board.

KEY: Utah Board of Higher Education, First Responder Mental Health Services Grant. Student Financial Aid

Date of Last Change: January 14, 2026

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 53H-11-411