This bill, introduced by Delegate Akers at the request of the Department of Homeland Security, aims to amend and reenact section 15-11-2 of the West Virginia Code regarding the payment of funeral expenses for law enforcement, safety, and emergency workers who die in the line of duty. The proposed changes include modifying the language to align with current code for survivor benefit payments, specifically changing the term "killed" to "who dies" and updating the effective date for eligibility from January 1, 1999, to January 1, 2026. Additionally, the bill specifies that the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security will direct payment of up to $8,000 for reasonable funeral expenses upon written request from an employer or head of a volunteer organization.

The bill also clarifies that funds will not be expended for funeral expenses that are already covered by other benefit programs and ensures that if other funds are provided that total less than $8,000, the state funds will supplement the difference to meet the $8,000 threshold. The definition of "law-enforcement, safety, or emergency worker" is expanded to include various categories of personnel, such as correctional employees, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and probation officers. Overall, the bill seeks to ensure that the language and provisions regarding funeral expenses for first responders are consistent and up-to-date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-11-2