JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – As Republicans take a victory lap following Wednesday’s passage of a sweeping public safety bill, more safety-related legislation is passing through the Missouri Legislature.

Freshly-passed Senate Bill 71 would create a scholarship program for existing first responders. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. David Gregory, R-St. Louis County, said there’s a public safety crisis already underway: there aren’t as many people who want to be a police office or firefighter as there was a decade ago.

“We constantly have a problem with recruiting and retaining police and firefighters,” Gregory said in an interview with Nexstar Media. “It’s a big problem.”

Gregory believes his proposal is a solid first step in addressing the retention and recruitment issues plaguing ambulance districts, sheriff’s departments and even state law enforcement.

“We’re going to provide college tuition, free college tuition for all of our police officers, firefighters and paramedics as well as their dependents,” the freshman senator said. “That’s really exciting.”

Gregory says his bill isn’t about politics, but rather it’s designed to protect all Missourians by incentivizing the men and women who put their lives on the line to serve their communities. He believes retaining Missouri’s first responders is a bipartisan issue.

“We’re seeing a burnout rate with these (first responders),” Gregory said. “And they’re leaving.”

The Senate-approved bill would grant free scholarships to state colleges and universities for any qualifying first responder or dependent. The bill states that qualified recipients can get up to 100 percent of their tuition toward a degree related to their field of work.

“After six years of service, they would qualify for free tuition themselves, then after 10 years of service, their dependents and their children will qualify for free college tuition in a state school here in Missouri,” Gregory said in an interview in his Capitol office.

The bill quickly moved through the Senate legislative process and was fully voted out of the upper chamber Thursday morning.

It was one of several measures that passed out of the House and Senate this week. Gregory’s bill will now head to the House for their consideration.

The senator says he has been impressed by the Legislature and the governor’s commitment to public safety.

“Our governor made it clear (public safety) is his top priority,” the Republican lawmaker said. “Cracking down on crime, making things safe in our communities is a number one priority that we’ve all been talking about.”

The efficiency from both chambers has been noticeable as the Legislature heads to its one-week spring recess.

“To see these things coming through, to see them happening as quickly as they are, is just proof,” Gregory said. “It’s proof that we are committed to it and we’re going to get it done.”

A news conference with Gov. Mike Kehoe and other GOP leaders is set to be held Thursday afternoon outside on the Capitol steps.

FOX 2 News will have complete coverage of Kehoe’s address as well as more in Gregory’s bill tonight.