Governor Bentley Holds Ceremonial Bill Signing for House Bill 30

MONTGOMERY — Governor Robert Bentley on Wednesday held a ceremonial bill signing for House Bill 30. This legislation allows firefighters and law enforcement peace officers to become eligible for compensation of state death benefits as a result of certain fatal occupational diseases.

“Alabama’s firefighters and law enforcement officers are among the best public servants in this nation, and House Bill 30 honors the men and women who make great sacrifices daily to protect our citizens,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “I appreciate the Alabama Legislature passing this bill so that family members of firefighters and law enforcement officers may be helped in the event that the service member may have died from an unforeseen occupational hazard.”

HB 30 provides the following:

• Any person who currently serves or previously served as a firefighter or law enforcement peace officer who dies as a result of an occupational disease will qualify for a state death benefit as if the person died in the performance of his or her duties, provided that he or she satisfies the three years’ service requirement and physical examination requirements.
• Any application for the state death benefit that was submitted following April 29, 2010, and was denied due to the decedent being unemployed as a firefighter or law enforcement peace officer on the date of death may be resubmitted within six months of HB 30 becoming law and the awarding authority is permitted to reconsider the application.

HB 30 was sponsored by State Representative Allen Treadaway (R-Morris) and State Senator Paul Sanford (R-Huntsville).

“Each and every day law enforcement officers and firefighters make sacrifices to serve and protect the lives of Alabamians, at times making the ultimate sacrifice for others,” Rep. Treadaway said. “These public servants that lay their lives on the line merit more recognition than we could ever provide, however, I’m proud to sponsor HB30 which ensures that the families of these men and women receive needed benefits upon the passing of their loved one.”

“It is important that we do everything we can to support firefighters and law enforcement,” Sen. Sanford said. “If a firefighter or law enforcement officer dies because of an illness they contracted during the course of their work, it is only right for their family to receive death benefits from the state, which this legislation ensures.”

The bill was signed into law on May 27, 2015.