PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 428                       PRINTER'S NO. 2081

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No. 385 Session of 1975

        INTRODUCED BY MESSRS. A. K. HUTCHINSON, ZELLER AND BRADLEY,
           FEBRUARY 11, 1975

        AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF
           REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JULY 22, 1975

                                     AN ACT

     1  Providing for the payment of death benefits to the surviving
     2     spouse or children of firemen or law enforcement officers
     3     killed in the performance of their duties.

     4     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     5  hereby enacts as follows:
     6     Section 1.  The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and every A       <--
     7  political subdivision shall pay to the surviving spouse, or, if
     8  there is no surviving spouse, the minor children, of a fireman
     9  or law enforcement officer OF THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION killed    <--
    10  in the performance of his duties the sum of $25,000. THE BENEFIT  <--
    11  SHALL BE PAYABLE WHETHER OR NOT THE OFFICER WAS KILLED WITHIN
    12  THE CORPORATE BOUNDARIES OF THE EMPLOYING MUNICIPALITY.
    13     THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA SHALL PAY TO THE SURVIVING
    14  SPOUSE, OR, IF THERE IS NO SURVIVING SPOUSE, THE MINOR CHILDREN
    15  OF A STATE POLICEMAN OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE
    16  COMMONWEALTH KILLED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES THE SUM OF
    17  $25,000. THE BENEFIT SHALL BE PAYABLE WHETHER OR NOT THE OFFICER
    18  WAS KILLED WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.

     1     Upon payment of this death benefit by a political
     2  subdivision, the political subdivision shall apply to the State
     3  Treasurer and be reimbursed for the total amount by the
     4  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Payments by the Commonwealth or
     5  reimbursement to the political subdivisions shall be made out of
     6  the General Fund of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
     7     Section 2.  "Fireman or law enforcement officer" means a
     8  fireman, peace officer as defined in 18 Pa.C.S.§501 (relating to
     9  definitions), public servant concerned in official detention as
    10  defined in 18 Pa.C.S.§5121 (relating to escape) or other law
    11  enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or of
    12  any political subdivision thereof.
    13     Section 3.  This act shall take effect immediately.












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