Establishes the payment of certain volunteer firefighter and volunteer ambulance worker death benefits shall be within ninety days of the filing of application to receive such death benefit

2 Co-sponsors

• Marc Panepinto
• Joseph E. Robach

BILL NUMBER:S888A

Title of bill

An act to amend the volunteer firefighters' benefit law and the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law, in relation to the payment of death benefits

Purpose or general idea of the bill

To establish the payment of certain volunteer firefighter and volunteer ambulance worker death benefits to be paid within ninety days of the filing of application to receive such death benefits.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill establishes the payment of certain volunteer firefighter death benefits shall be within ninety days of the filing of application to receive such death benefit

Section 2 of the bill establishes the payment certain volunteer ambulance worker death benefits shall be within ninety days of the filing of application to receive such death benefit.

Sections 1 and 2 of the bill both require the workers' compensation board to conduct outreach and support services to persons entitled to the death benefit payable under Section 7 of the VFBL and the VAWBL.

Section 3 sets forth an immediate effective date.

Justification

Section 7 of the Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit Law (VFBL) provides a death benefit of $50,000 for volunteer firefighters who die in the line of duty. Over the years, there have been a number of instances in which payment of the VFBL death benefits were delayed. These delays only cause significant hardship (financial and otherwise) for the beneficiary of the volunteer firefighter. It has been documented that in certain cases beneficiaries have waited over 6 months to receive payment of benefit. In at least one instance, a widow had to wait two and a half years before being compensated and almost lost her house as a result. This legislation will assist surviving spouses and beneficiaries through the claims process and mandate that payment of benefits be made available within 90 days upon the filing of application.

This legislation will also provide this same protection under Section 7 of the Volunteer Ambulance Workers' Benefit Law (VAWBL).

This measure will also encourage communication and coordination among the workers' compensation board, volunteer fire and ambulance service organizations, volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers and their families. While it is clear that some period of time is required in order to determine whether a death or injury occurred in the line of duty, excessive delays in payment only create significant frustration and anguish to the family of the volunteer firefighter. By including these minor additional parameters to the VFBL and VAWBL, this legislation will encourage communication among the interested parties and will ensure timely payment of allowable benefits.

Legislative history

2015, A.1061 (Cahill) 2013-14, S.683/A.1152 (Cahill) 2011-12, S. 7196/A.0123 (Cahill) 2009-10, A.0963 (Cahill) 2007-08, A.7854 (Cahill) 2005-06, S.602 (Bonacic)/A.7247 (Cahill) 2003-04, S.6539 (Bonacic)/A.10852 (Cahill)

Fiscal implications

None

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately