SB 7098 (Senator Ed Hooper) and HB 7105 (Representative Alex Andrade) is the implementing language from the constitutional amendment passed during the 2018 election guaranteeing surviving family members of law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers a death benefit included in s.112.19 Florida Statutes.
The bill expands the death benefits currently provided to law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers; setting the new amount of the benefits as follows:
- $75,000 law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer is accidentally killed or receives accidental bodily injury that results in the loss of the individual’s life.
- An additional $75,000 law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer is accidentally killed in the above manner and meets additional requirements, such as the accidental death occurs as a result of the response to an emergency.
- $225,000 law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer is unlawfully and intentionally killed or dies as a result of an unlawful and intentional act while engaged in the performance of official duties
The bill expands death benefits, found in s. 112.19 (3) Florida Statutes, for educational expenses of surviving spouses and children by providing them to law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and correctional probation officers who are accidentally killed or receive accidental bodily injury resulting in loss of life.
The legislation takes effect July 1, 2019.
Matt Puckett
Executive Director
matt@flpba.org
