HB234 Summary

• Expands the definition of "firefighter" to include wildland firefighters employed by the Alabama Forestry Commission who are certified as meeting National Wildfire Coordinating Group training standards, making them eligible for state death benefits.

• Creates the Peace Officers' and Firefighters' Death Benefit Fund with an automatic annual appropriation of $350,000 from the General Fund, with a maximum accumulated balance of $1,000,000.

• Requires the state Comptroller to transfer annual appropriations to the fund within one week of each fiscal year's commencement, subject to gubernatorial approval.

• Directs all compensation awards for injuries or deaths occurring in the performance of duties to be paid from the new fund, with any exhausted funds reverting to the Board of Adjustment's general appropriations.

• Takes effect on the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval.