The bill proposes the repeal of section 287.243 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri and enacts a new section under the title "Line of Duty Compensation Act." This new section defines various terms related to public safety officers, including "air ambulance pilot," "firefighter," and "public safety officer," and outlines the criteria for compensation claims for survivors of public safety officers killed in the line of duty. Compensation is set at $100,000 for deaths occurring on or after June 19, 2009, and specifies the distribution of funds among surviving spouses, children, and other designated beneficiaries. Additionally, the bill includes provisions that ensure the compensation is not subject to subrogation rights, attachment, or garnishment, and establishes the "Line of Duty Compensation Fund" to manage the financial resources for these claims. Notably, the new section will not be subject to the Missouri sunset act, which previously mandated automatic termination unless reauthorized. This change aims to provide ongoing support for the families of public safety officers who lose their lives in the line of duty without the risk of the program expiring.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (5648H.01): 287.243