MS HB1323

Removes the exclusion for suicide deaths from Mississippi's Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death Benefits Trust Fund, allowing beneficiaries to receive the $150,000 death benefit regardless of whether the death was self-inflicted

Updates the referenced federal law from the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act of 1976 to the 2022 version, aligning state eligibility with current federal standards

Maintains existing benefit structure: $150,000 base payment plus $25,000 per child of the deceased (capped at $250,000 total), plus up to $15,000 for funeral expenses

Applies to law enforcement officers (including auxiliary, reserve, and part-time) and firefighters (including volunteers) employed by state or local government entities

Takes effect July 1, 2026