PRINTER'S NO. 961
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.911
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MEHAFFIE, CERRATO, CIRESI, DEASY, DONAHUE AND
D. WILLIAMS, MARCH 17, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MARCH 17, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in employees, providing for law
enforcement officer benefits for surviving family members.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 2182. Law enforcement officer benefits for surviving family
members.
(a) Death.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, if
a full-time law enforcement officer dies in the line of duty:
(1) The surviving spouse of the law enforcement officer
shall be entitled to receive full health benefits for the
remainder of the life of the spouse.
(2) Each eligible dependent of the law enforcement
officer shall be entitled to receive full health benefits
until reaching 26 years of age if the dependent is not
eligible for coverage under another eligible employer-
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18 sponsored health plan.
(b) Disability.--If a full-time law enforcement officer is
disabled from an accident occurring as a result of the
performance of duties while employed:
(1) The law enforcement officer and the law enforcement
officer's spouse shall be entitled to receive full health
benefits for the remainder of the life of the law enforcement
officer.
(2) Each eligible dependent of the law enforcement
officer shall be entitled to receive full health benefits
until reaching 26 years of age if the dependent is not
eligible for coverage under another eligible employer-
sponsored health plan.
(c) Line-of-duty death investigation and determination.--
(1) If an investigation is needed prior to making a
line-of-duty death determination regarding a law enforcement
officer for the purposes of this section, existing health
benefits of the law enforcement officer shall be
uninterrupted for the duration of the investigation.
(2) The following may make a line-of-duty death
determination regarding a law enforcement officer for the
purposes of this section:
(i) The police department or regional police
department that employed the law enforcement officer.
(ii) The Department of General Services in
accordance with the act of June 24, 1976 (P.L.424,
No.101), referred to as the Emergency and Law Enforcement
Personnel Death Benefits Act.
(iii) The Bureau of Justice Assistance within the
United States Department of Justice in accordance with 34
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30 U.S.C. Ch. 101 Subch. XI Pt. A (relating to death
benefits).
(d) Assistance.--A municipality shall assist a surviving
spouse with navigating the process of claims and payments under
this section.
(e) Termination of benefits.--All health benefits under this
section shall cease upon the recipient of the health care
benefits reaching 65 years of age.
(f) Construction.--If a collective bargaining agreement
provides equal or greater health benefits than those provided
under this section, the collective bargaining agreement shall
govern.
(g) Applicability.--In addition to applying to all law
enforcement officers that died in the line of duty, subsections
(a) and (b) apply to a surviving spouse of a law enforcement
officer that was widowed before the effective date of this
subsection.
(h) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Law enforcement officer." As the term "police officer" is
defined in section 2162 (relating to definitions).
"Municipality." A county, city, borough, incorporated town
or township.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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