(a) If any Arkansas law enforcement officer, full-time or volunteer fire fighter, emergency medical technician, state highway employee, state correction employee, Department of Community Correction employee, state parks employee, teacher, or state forestry employee suffers fatal injuries or wounds or becomes permanently and totally disabled as a result of injuries or wounds that occurred in the performance of a hazardous duty within the scope of his or her employment or that occurred en route to or returning from a location where a hazardous situation existed, his or her children and spouse shall be entitled to a total of eight (8) semesters, or the equivalent thereof, of scholarship awards without cost, exclusive of books, food, school supplies, materials, and dues or fees for extracurricular activities, at any state-supported college, university, or technical institute of his or her choice within this state. Up to four (4) semesters, or the equivalent thereof, may be taken at a technical institute.

(b) Scholarship benefits shall not accrue under this subchapter to any person if the wounds or injuries suffered by any law enforcement officer, fire fighter, emergency medical technician, state highway employee, state correction employee, Department of Community Correction employee, state parks employee, teacher, or state forestry employee are self-inflicted or if the death is self-induced.

(c) Unless § 6-82-504(e) is applicable, the Arkansas State Claims Commission shall award any scholarship benefit provided by this subchapter at the same time that any death benefit or total and permanent disability benefit is awarded by the commission under the provisions of § 21-5-701 et seq.