PHOENIX - Children and spouses of correctional officers or National Guard members injured in the line of duty could go to college for free under a bill passed by the Legislature.

Sponsored by Sen. Jim Waring, R-Phoenix, SB1158 has a strike-everything amendment that requires Arizona's universities to waive those groups' tuition.

The bill, which was already approved by the Senate, passed uncontested from the House of Representatives and now heads to the governor's desk.

Universities currently waive tuition for police, firemen and paramedics killed in the line of duty.

The bill specifies that eligibility for waivers is restricted to families of National Guardsmen who received a Purple Heart citation on or after Sept. 11, 2001, or who were medically discharged due to injury suffered during federal status with the Armed Forces, in weekend training, annual training or in response to a gubernatorial-declared emergency.

A floor amendment passed last week added correctional officers' families to the list.

Waring crafted the legislation after hearing the story of a National Guard soldier who, after being wounded in Iraq and medically discharged, lost her benefits, which included money for college tuition.

"That didn't strike me as right. ... People join the National Guard not only to defend their country but also because of the benefits, one of which is education," Waring said.

"It didn't seem to me that because she was shot in the arm by an Iraqi that she should lose out on those benefits."

While university lobbyists usually oppose additional mandates on their funding allocation, the small number of people expected to benefit from the change and the fact that these jobs entail selflessness for the greater good, earned the Arizona Board of Regents' support.

"The universities actually supported the bill," said regents spokeswoman Cathy McGonigle. "And they thought it was just the right thing to do."

Tuition waivers are limited to children who are 30 years old or younger, or a spouse who has not remarried.