Bill > SB860

This bill modifies existing West Virginia law to ensure consistency in how funeral expenses are paid for first responders, specifically law enforcement, safety, and emergency workers who die in the line of duty. It clarifies that the "law-enforcement, safety, and emergency worker funeral expense payment fund," administered by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, will cover reasonable funeral and burial expenses up to $8,000 for eligible individuals who die on or after January 1, 2026, as a direct result of performing their official duties. The bill also updates the language to reflect that the payment is for those who "die" rather than those who are "killed" and ensures that if other funeral expense benefits are less than $8,000, this fund will supplement them to reach that amount, while excluding expenses already covered by other programs like workers' compensation (W.Va. Code §23-4-1 et seq.) or those requiring employee contributions.

Budget and Finance, Military Affairs and Security

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=860&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill