HB 573, HCA 1, 2 -- PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER DEATH AND BURIAL
BENEFITS

SPONSOR:  Pryor

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Public
Safety and Law Enforcement by a vote of 16 to 0.

This bill establishes a death and burial benefit for certain
public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty.
Payment of the benefit will be given first to the spouse of the
officer.  If no spouse exists, the benefit will be given to any
eligible child.

The amount of the death benefit will be a lump sum of $50,000.
The amount of burial benefit will be up to $10,000.  Both
amounts are subject to appropriation.

HCA 1 -- Increases the death benefit to $100,000, which is tax
free.

HCA 2 -- Makes the executor of the public safety officer's
estate eligible for the burial and death benefits if the public
safety officer has no spouse or eligible children.

FISCAL NOTE:  Cost to General Revenue Fund of $0 to $180,000 in
FY 2000, $0 to $180,000 in FY 2001, and $0 to $180,000 in FY
2002.  These amounts are subject to appropriations.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that in gratitude for the service
law enforcement officers have provided to the state, it is
appropriate to provide these benefits to officers' families when
a family member is killed in the line of duty.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Pryor; Concerns of
Police Survivors; Missouri Deputy Sheriffs' Association; and
Missouri Sheriffs' Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Sarah Madden, Legislative Analyst

HB 573 -- Public Safety Officer Death and Burial Benefit

Sponsor:  Pryor

This bill establishes a death and burial benefit for certain
public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty.
Payment of the benefit will be given first to the spouse of the
officer.  If no spouse exists, the benefit will be given to any
eligible child.

The amount of the death benefit will be a lump sum of $50,000.
The amount of burial benefit will be up to $10,000.  Both
amounts are subject to appropriation.