MS HB1124

Creates the First Responders Funeral Benefits Trust Fund in the State Treasury to provide funeral expense payments to survivors of law enforcement officers, firefighters (including volunteers), and emergency medical technicians killed in the line of duty.

Department of Public Safety must make funeral benefit payments within three days of a covered individual's death, up to a maximum of $15,000 for actual funeral expenses, excluding deaths by suicide.

Payments go to beneficiaries designated in writing by the first responder, or if none exists, to surviving next of kin in order of priority: spouse, children, parents, siblings, or the person arranging the funeral at the Commissioner's discretion.

Trust fund receives an initial appropriation of $150,000 and may accept additional legislative appropriations, donations, and contributions; investment and unexpended balances are managed by the State Treasurer under Public Employees' Retirement System guidelines.

Department of Public Safety administers the fund and must adopt rules allowing electronic submission of funeral expense documentation to expedite benefit payments; benefits are in addition to workers' compensation or pension benefits and are protected from creditors' claims.