JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency management officials are coming to the state Capitol Thursday to lobby for a bill to increase the death benefits for first responders from $65,000 to $100,000.
Death benefits were last increased in 2007 from $40,000 to $65,000.
When a firefighter or law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty, the benefits are paid to a spouse or family members.
State Rep. Tom Miles, D-Forest, tells The Clarion-Ledger (https://on.thec-l.com/1jXA9BN ) that his bill is the least the state should do to make sure their first responders’ families are taken care of.
The benefit is paid by the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death Benefits Trust Fund, which is funded largely by an assessment attached to traffic violations.
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Information from: The Clarion-Ledger, https://www.clarionledger.com
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