Bill > HB365

This bill modifies the Line of Duty Compensation Act, which provides financial compensation to survivors of public safety officers who die in the line of duty. The bill increases the compensation amount from $25,000 to $100,000 for deaths occurring on or after the bill's effective date, with an annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index starting in 2026. The bill defines various types of public safety officers, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and air ambulance personnel. To receive compensation, survivors must file a claim with the Division of Workers' Compensation within one year of the officer's death, providing detailed information about the circumstances of death. The compensation is distributed to surviving family members in a specific order of priority: first to a spouse and/or children, then to designated beneficiaries, parents, or other qualifying individuals. The bill emphasizes that this compensation is in addition to any other benefits and cannot be garnished or assigned. A Line of Duty Compensation Fund is created to support these payments, and the program is set to be reauthorized and continue until December 31, 2031, unless further legislative action is taken.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB365&year=2025&code=R