CHAPTER 291
SB 169-FN-A – FINAL VERSION
03/15/07 0501s
03/29/07 0898s
16May2007… 1528h
2007 SESSION
09/10
SENATE BILL 169-FN-A
AN ACT establishing a death benefit to be paid to the family of a police officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty and establishing a committee to study the eligibility for and award of the benefit.
SPONSORS: Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Clegg, Dist 14; Sen. Letourneau, Dist 19; Sen. DeVries, Dist 18; Sen. Foster, Dist 13; Sen. Hassan, Dist 23; Sen. Estabrook, Dist 21; Sen. Janeway, Dist 7; Sen. Sgambati, Dist 4; Sen. Gottesman, Dist 12; Sen. Reynolds, Dist 2; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24; Sen. Burling, Dist 5; Sen. Downing, Dist 22; Sen. Gallus, Dist 1; Sen. Barnes, Dist 17; Rep. D. Eaton, Ches 2; Rep. Peterson, Hills 3; Rep. Weare, Rock 14; Rep. M. Preston, Rock 14
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
This bill establishes a death benefit to be paid to the family of a state or local police officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty.
The bill also establishes a committee to study the policies and methods for determining eligibility for, and the award of, the death benefit.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/15/07 0501s
03/29/07 0898s
16May2007… 1528h
07-0254
09/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven
AN ACT establishing a death benefit to be paid to the family of a police officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty and establishing a committee to study the eligibility for and award of the benefit.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
291:1 New Section; Death Benefit for Police Officer or Firefighter Killed in Line of Duty. Amend RSA 21-I by inserting after section 29 the following new section:
21-I:29-a Death Benefit for Police Officer or Firefighter Killed in Line of Duty.
I. In this section:
(a) “Family” means the surviving spouse of the police officer or firefighter, or if there is no surviving spouse, the child or children of such police officer or firefighter or, if there is no surviving child, the parent or parents of such police officer or firefighter.
(b) “Firefighter” means any firefighter, including auxiliary, intermittent, special, part-time, volunteer, call, or reserve firefighters who are employed by a city or town within the state of New Hampshire, or any firefighter employed by the state of New Hampshire.
(c) “Killed in the line of duty” means a death of a police officer or firefighter while in the performance of his or her duties as a result of incident, accident, or violence causing death or injuries which are the direct or proximate cause of death.
(d) “Police officer” means any law enforcement officer with the power of arrest, including auxiliary, intermittent, special, part-time, or reserve police officers who are employed by a city or town within the state of New Hampshire, or any state law enforcement officer employed by the state of New Hampshire who has power of arrest as determined by state law.
II. In addition to any other benefits provided under this chapter, the state treasurer shall pay a $100,000 death benefit to the family of a police officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
III. This section shall be known as “Michael’s Law,” in honor of Manchester Police Officer Michael Briggs who was shot while on duty.
291:2 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the policies and methods for determining eligibility for, and the award of, benefits under section 1 of this act.
291:3 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
291:4 Duties. The committee shall study the policies and methods for determining eligibility for, and the award of, benefits under section 1 of this act.
291:5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
291:6 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2007.
291:7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: July 3, 2007
Effective: July 3, 2007