SB 1156
Initials JH/SR Page 1 Government
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-seventh Legislature
First Regular Session
Senate: FIN DP 6-1-0-0 | APPROP 10-0-0-0 | 3
rd
Read: 24-3-2-0
SB 1156: death benefits; burial costs
Sponsor: Senator Gowan, LD 19
Committee on Government
Overview
Increases, from $5,000 to $10,000, the amount of burial expenses paid for a worker's
compensation death benefit.
History
In the event of a loss sustained on account of injury or death specified employees and their
dependents are entitled to receive compensation. These employees include but are not
limited to: 1) all persons in the service of the state of Arizona and its municipalities including
police and fire departments; 2) specified lessees of mining property; 3) firefighters, volunteer
firefighters, policemen and voluntary policemen; 4) members of the Department of Public
Safety reserve; and 5) members of a volunteer sheriff's reserve (A.R.S. §§ 23-901, 23-1021).
In the case of an injury involving death the following compensation amounts are prescribed
in statute: 1) burial expenses of $5,000; and 2) differing percentages of the average monthly
wage of the deceased individual based on the existence of a surviving spouse or dependent
kin. A surviving spouse's benefits terminate upon their death or remarriage. The benefits
for surviving children cease upon the child's eighteenth birthday, unless they are incapable
of self-support (A.R.S. § 23-1046).
Provisions
1. Increases the death benefit for burial expenses from no more than $5,000 to no more than
$10,000. (Sec. 1)
2. Applies this act retroactively to January 1, 2024, to the spouses of first responders. (Sec.
2)
3. Defines first responder. (Sec. 2)
4. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note