Senate Labor and Industry Committee Approves Legislation Providing Increased Benefits to Families of Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

(Harrisburg) - - Legislation to provide benefits to families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty unanimously passed the Senate Labor and Industry Committee today, according to Chairman John R. Gordner (R-27).

Senate Bill 369, sponsored by Senator Sean Logan (D-Allegheny), provides survivor benefits equal to the salary of law enforcement officers at the time of their deaths. “In addition to law enforcement officers, paid firefighters, ambulance squad or rescue squad members also qualify for this benefit,” said Senator Gordner. “These public servants put their lives on the line at work every day, and if they pay the ultimate price in the line of duty, it is important that their families are made whole.”

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee also favorably considered several other bills today, including:

Senate Bill 563 by Senator Pat Browne (R-Northampton), which amends the Mechanics’ Lien Law to correct a problem in the residential construction field.
Senate Bill 821 by Committee Minority Chair Tina Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) to provide for Workers’ Compensation discounts for school districts that establish workplace safety committees.
Senate Bill 951 by Senator Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks) to provide for penalties in cases of violation of the Prevailing Wage Law.
Senate Resolution 62 by Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) which calls for the state to spend federal economic recovery funds on products that are made and services that are performed by domestic firms.

The bills and resolution forwarded by the Committee today now go before the full Senate for consideration.