|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State Rep.
Marc Gergely |
|
House approves Gergely amendment supporting emergency responders
HARRISBURG, Oct. 8 – Continuing his support for emergency responders, state Rep. Marc Gergely, D-Allegheny, secured House adoption of his amendment that strengthens a bill that would help families of emergency responders killed in the line of duty.
Gergely amended S.B. 369 which would provide a monthly payment to the surviving families of law enforcement officers, paid firefighters, ambulance and rescue crew members who are killed while performing their duty. Gergely's amendment adds certified hazardous material response team members to the list of workers covered. He said those workers were unintentionally omitted when the bill passed the state Senate.
"Our emergency responders put their lives on the line to protect all of us," Gergely said. "This vital legislation allows our police officers, paid firefighters and other responders to know that if they make the ultimate sacrifice, their spouse and children will be cared for in the future.
"State Senator Sean Logan and I have been working corporately on this issue to support emergency responders and their families. It has been a pleasure collaborating with him and I'm proud the House unanimously passed his bill with my amendment today."
Under Logan's bill, S.B. 369, payments provided by the state would go directly to the beneficiary and would be equal to the monthly salary of the emergency responder, but offset any workers’ compensation, pension or retirement benefit payments that may also be received. The payments would be provided to surviving spouses, children under 18, or under 23 if the child is attending college.
"I believe we have a duty to support the families of police officers, paid firefighters and ambulance crews and hazardous materials teams and other responders. These payments will allow their grieving spouses to live with an additional level of security and to provide for their children."
Existing state law will continue to provide a $100,000 lump sum payment to families of volunteer fire fighters killed on duty. The payment is adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index and is $110,224 this year.
Gergely says the bill with his corrective amendment now returns to the Senate.