HCS HB 580 -- LINE OF DUTY COMPENSATION ACT

SPONSOR:  Bruns

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Public
Safety by a vote of 12 to 0.

This substitute establishes the Line of Duty Compensation Act
which allows a claim to be filed with the Division of Workers'
Compensation within the Department of Labor and Industrial
Relations on behalf of a law enforcement officer, emergency
medical technician, or firefighter who was killed in the line of
duty.  The claim must be filed no later than one year from the
date of the death by the spouse, dependent, or other specified
person.  The amount of compensation for the claim will be
$15,000, subject to appropriations, for deaths occurring on or
after August 28, 2009.

The provisions of the substitute will expire six years from the
effective date.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on General Revenue Fund in FY 2010, FY
2011, and FY 2012.  Estimated Cost on Other State Funds of
$187,500 in FY 2010, Unknown greater than $225,000 in FY 2011,
and Unknown greater than $225,000 in FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that benefit levels for law
enforcement officers and emergency medical technicians are so low
that qualified individuals are deterred from entering these
professions.  The bill will increase these benefits to at least
cover the funeral expenses for these public servants when they
are killed in the line of duty.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Bruns and Fischer
(107); Sherwood Smith, Missouri State Council of Firefighters;
Deborah Tatoian; Pattonville Fire Protection District; Missouri
State Fraternal Order of Police; Metropolitan Ambulance Services
Trust; Ambulance District Association of Missouri; Missouri Fire
Service Alliance; Missouri Sheriffs Association; Missouri
Ambulance Association; Frank Foster, EMS Legal Services; and
Water Patrol Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:25 am