SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 977
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR QUICK.
Read 1st time January 17, 2002, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
2954S.02I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 650, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to public safety officer death benefits.
Section A. Chapter 650, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 650.450, to read as follows:
650.450. 1. A death benefit of one hundred fifty thousand dollars for a public safety officer who dies in the line of duty, shall be paid in a lump sum to the following relative:
(a) To the surviving spouse;
(b) If there is no surviving spouse, to the surviving children to be shared equally;
(c) If there is no surviving spouse and there are no surviving children, to the parent or parents in equal shares.
2. A public safety officer for the purposes of this section is a firefighter, police officer, capitol police officer, parole officer, probation officer, state correctional employee, water safety officer, park ranger, conservation officer or highway patrolman employed by the state or Missouri or a political subdivision thereof or any volunteer firefighter serving a rural, volunteer or subscription fire department or organization.
3. As used in this section, "dies in the line of duty" refers to a death that occurs as a direct result of a personal injury or illness resulting from any action of a public safety officer while actively performing duties as authorized or obligated by law, rule, regulation or condition of employment or service to perform.
4. The office of administration shall administer claims and payments pursuant to this section. Funding for death benefits pursuant to this section shall be paid from general revenue. Should the number of claims filed during any fiscal year exceed the appropriation for benefits pursuant to this section, benefits shall be paid on a pro rata basis.