Bill > HB569

This bill amends the Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act to include coroners as eligible recipients of death benefits. Specifically, the bill expands the existing law to provide death benefits to the surviving spouse, children, or parents of coroners who die in the line of duty, similar to current provisions for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other emergency personnel. The bill defines "coroner" to include elected or appointed coroners, deputy coroners, and medical examiners. Under the new provisions, if a coroner dies while performing duties as outlined in Pennsylvania's legal code (specifically Chapter 139), their survivors would be eligible for a $100,000 lump sum payment and continued monthly payments based on the coroner's salary, less any workers' compensation or pension benefits. The bill also clarifies that heart attacks or strokes occurring while on duty or within 24 hours of physical training or emergency response are presumed to be line-of-duty deaths. The changes aim to broadly construe the act to provide benefits for coroners who die in the performance of their professional responsibilities. The bill will take effect 60 days after enactment.

Labor and Employment

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=569