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For Immediate Release
October 9, 2009
Contact: Sally Kohr
(717) 787-4651

Alloway Supports Measure to Extend Death Benefits for First Responders 

HARRISBURG – The Senate approved legislation today that would provide additional benefits for the surviving spouse or child of a first responder who is killed in the line of duty, according to Senator Richard Alloway II (R-33).

Under current law, the family of a law enforcement officer or first responder who is killed in the line of duty can receive a $100,000 death benefit. Death benefits are paid to the surviving spouse or minor child of the decedent. Under current law, death benefit payments are made to municipalities to be distributed to beneficiaries.

Senate Bill 369 would mandate that the survivors of any paid first responder would also receive the sum of one month’s salary in addition to the $100,000 death benefit. The legislation would also mandate that payments be sent directly from the Commonwealth to the beneficiaries to reduce the time needed for families to receive the benefits.

Senate Bill 369 would also increase the amount of time an employer has to certify the death from 30 days to 90 days.

"Losing any of our first responders is a tragedy, and the families of those killed in the line of duty should not have to deal with the added stress of how to pay the bills following this loss," Alloway said. "This bill would streamline the process for paying benefits and provides additional financial benefits to help the individuals who these heroes might leave behind."