Bill > H0666

This bill, known as "Jessica's Law," aims to extend the same $80,000 monetary survivor benefit currently available to the families of firefighters and emergency medical personnel to the survivors of law enforcement officers. It achieves this by amending existing law to include "law enforcement officers" within the definition of "emergency personnel" eligible for these benefits, clarifying what constitutes "line of duty" for law enforcement officers, and ensuring the Emergency Personnel Survivors Benefit Review Board, which makes decisions on these claims, includes a representative from the law enforcement community. The bill also updates definitions for "child" and "parent" to be more inclusive and specifies that the benefit can be applied for within 24 months of the death, with potential for extensions at the Board's discretion, and that the Treasurer has up to one year to disburse the funds.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.666