BILL NUMBER:S7196

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the volunteer firefighters' 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 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 requires the compensation board to conduct
outreach and support services to persons entitled to the death
benefit payable under Section 7 of the VFBL.

JUSTIFICATION:
Section 7 of the 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 measure will also encourage communication and coordination among
the workers' compensation board,
volunteer fire service organizations, volunteer firefighters 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, this legislation will
encourage communication among the interested parties and will ensure
timely payment of allowable benefits.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate:   New Bill
Assembly:
2009-10: A.963 Referred  to Local Governments
2007-08: A.7854 Referred to Local Governments
2005-06: A.7247 Referred to Local Governments
2003-04: Referred to Local Governments

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.


EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.