This bill amends the Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act to extend death benefits to the surviving spouse, children, or parents of corrections officers who die as a result of their duties. The amendments include the insertion of "corrections officers" in various sections, replacing the previous exclusive mention of firefighters, ambulance service members, law enforcement officers, and National Guard members. Additionally, the bill introduces definitions for "correctional institution" and "corrections officer," clarifying the scope of the new benefits.

The bill also makes editorial changes to ensure consistency in language, such as replacing gender-specific pronouns with gender-neutral terms like "the individual." It maintains the existing benefits structure, which includes a $100,000 payment and ongoing monthly payments based on the deceased's salary, adjusted for inflation. The provisions of the act are retroactive to January 1, 1976, ensuring that the benefits apply to all eligible deaths occurring from that date forward. The act will take effect in 60 days following its passage.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 2299 (Sep 10, 2025): P.L.424, No.101