HB 926 Summary

• Increases death benefits from the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death Benefits Trust Fund from $65,000 to $100,000 for law enforcement officers and firefighters killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.

• Establishes a special trust fund in the State Treasury with an initial appropriation of $200,000, to be managed by the Department of Public Safety for disbursement of death benefits.

• Increases the state assessment funding the death benefits trust fund from $0.50 to $1.50 per violation across multiple violation categories (traffic violations, implied consent law violations, game and fish violations, and other misdemeanor and felony violations).

• Specifies that death benefits are paid to designated beneficiaries, or if none exist, to surviving spouse and children in equal portions, then parents, then the estate.

• Extends coverage to volunteer firefighters in addition to full-time and part-time law enforcement officers and firefighters employed by state and local government agencies.