FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2009
Contact:
Mark Meyer
717-787-1398
Back to News

Emergency Responder Benefits Bill Passes Senate

HARRISBURG- - The state Senate has unanimously approved state Senate Bill 369 that would ensure that the families of public safety employees killed in the line of duty receive death benefits.

The bill, co-sponsored by Senator Rafferty, now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Sen. Rafferty said, "This measure provides peace of mind and solid assurance to our officers that their loved one will receive adequate and full survivor benefits. I am proud to have co-sponsored this legislation.

"I am pleased and heartened by the bipartisan unanimous support for my legislation," said Senator Sean Logan (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland). "I am hopeful the House will soon act and send this bill to the governor for enactment."

The bill would guarantee killed-in-service-death benefits to all spouses or minor children of a paid firefighter, law enforcement officer and ambulance service or rescue squad member equal to the amount of the decedent's monthly salary. Under current law, pension and workers’ compensation payments now provide death benefits that cover a portion of the salaries of troopers, officers, firefighters and emergency personnel in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and third-class cities who are killed in the line of duty.  Under the bill, the state would pick up the remaining share.

Boroughs and townships currently pay the entire cost of benefits for their police.  Senate Bill 369 would shift these costs to the state.  A Senate actuarial study estimates the annual cost to the state to be $9,000 for each officer killed in the line of duty.

Since 2002, 32 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty.  Of these officers, nine were members of the current pension plans providing the killed-in-service benefit.  The surviving beneficiaries of the remaining 23 law enforcement officers and an additional 15 firefighters were not eligible for the benefit because these public safety employees were not members of the Act 600 pension plan.

Senator Jane C. Orie, Majority Whip (R-Allegheny) added, "I am pleased to join this bipartisan effort that assures adequate financial protection for families of fallen police officers and other emergency responders."

Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) added, "With the disturbing rash of police officer shooting deaths in our cities, I am pleased to see this reasonable legislative gesture that demonstrates the unwavering support and commitment from Pennsylvania's citizens for all emergency responders."