Bill > H2364

This bill proposes to extend line-of-duty death benefits, which are a one-time payment of $150,000 to the family of a deceased public employee, to all public employees, not just those in public safety roles. Previously, these benefits were specifically for "public safety employees," a term that typically refers to police officers, firefighters, and similar emergency responders. The bill amends Chapter 32, Section 100A, by removing the existing subsection (c) and replacing it with language that defines a "deceased public employee" broadly to include anyone working for state or county government, public higher education institutions, municipalities, public school departments, school districts, or public authorities who dies as a direct result of an incident, accident, or violence while performing their duties. Additionally, the bill replaces every instance of "public safety employee" with "public employee" in subsection (d) of the same section, further broadening the scope of who is eligible for these benefits.