HB 911 — An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in employees, providing for law enforcement officer benefits for surviving family members.

PRINTER'S NO.   961

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                           HOUSE BILL
                           No. 911
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY MEHAFFIE, CERRATO, CIRESI, DEASY, DONAHUE AND
        D. WILLIAMS, MARCH 17, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MARCH 17, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in employees, providing for law
 3      enforcement officer benefits for surviving family members.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.      Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 7   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 8   § 2182.    Law enforcement officer benefits for surviving family
 9                   members.
10      (a)    Death.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, if
11   a full-time law enforcement officer dies in the line of duty:
12             (1)   The surviving spouse of the law enforcement officer
13      shall be entitled to receive full health benefits for the
14      remainder of the life of the spouse.
15             (2)   Each eligible dependent of the law enforcement
16      officer shall be entitled to receive full health benefits
17      until reaching 26 years of age if the dependent is not
18      eligible for coverage under another eligible employer-
 1      sponsored health plan.
 2      (b)   Disability.--If a full-time law enforcement officer is
 3   disabled from an accident occurring as a result of the
 4   performance of duties while employed:
 5            (1)   The law enforcement officer and the law enforcement
 6      officer's spouse shall be entitled to receive full health
 7      benefits for the remainder of the life of the law enforcement
 8      officer.
 9            (2)   Each eligible dependent of the law enforcement
10      officer shall be entitled to receive full health benefits
11      until reaching 26 years of age if the dependent is not
12      eligible for coverage under another eligible employer-
13      sponsored health plan.
14      (c)   Line-of-duty death investigation and determination.--
15            (1)   If an investigation is needed prior to making a
16      line-of-duty death determination regarding a law enforcement
17      officer for the purposes of this section, existing health
18      benefits of the law enforcement officer shall be
19      uninterrupted for the duration of the investigation.
20            (2)   The following may make a line-of-duty death
21      determination regarding a law enforcement officer for the
22      purposes of this section:
23                  (i)    The police department or regional police
24            department that employed the law enforcement officer.
25                  (ii)    The Department of General Services in
26            accordance with the act of June 24, 1976 (P.L.424,
27            No.101), referred to as the Emergency and Law Enforcement
28            Personnel Death Benefits Act.
29                  (iii)    The Bureau of Justice Assistance within the
30            United States Department of Justice in accordance with 34

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 1             U.S.C. Ch. 101 Subch. XI Pt. A (relating to death
 2             benefits).
 3      (d)    Assistance.--A municipality shall assist a surviving
 4   spouse with navigating the process of claims and payments under
 5   this section.
 6      (e)    Termination of benefits.--All health benefits under this
 7   section shall cease upon the recipient of the health care
 8   benefits reaching 65 years of age.
 9      (f)    Construction.--If a collective bargaining agreement
10   provides equal or greater health benefits than those provided
11   under this section, the collective bargaining agreement shall
12   govern.
13      (g)    Applicability.--In addition to applying to all law
14   enforcement officers that died in the line of duty, subsections
15   (a) and (b) apply to a surviving spouse of a law enforcement
16   officer that was widowed before the effective date of this
17   subsection.
18      (h)    Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
19   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
20   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
21      "Law enforcement officer."     As the term "police officer" is
22   defined in section 2162 (relating to definitions).
23      "Municipality."     A county, city, borough, incorporated town
24   or township.
25      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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