HB187 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Matt Fridy
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Workers' compensation, benefits payable to law enforcement officer or firefighter, killed in line of duty, provide retroactive effect, Secs. 25-5-60, 25-5-66, 25-5-68, 25-5-69, 36-29A-9 am'd.
Summary: HB 187 provides retroactive workers’ compensation enhancements for spouses and dependents of Alabama law enforcement officers or firefighters who die in the line of duty on or after January 1, 2018, including remarriage protections and extended dependent benefits.
What This Bill Does
It applies the standard death-benefit schedule to line-of-duty deaths after 2018, with benefits calculated as 50% for one dependent or 66 2/3% for two or more dependents, and extends dependent-child benefits to age 18. If there are no dependents, a $7,500 lump-sum is paid to the deceased worker’s estate. For line-of-duty survivors, remarriage does not end benefits, and the rule that redirects unpaid balances after remarriage does not apply in these cases. Benefits continue within the state’s minimum/maximum weekly limits and over a period not exceeding 500 weeks.

Who It Affects
Surviving spouses of law enforcement officers or firefighters who die in the line of duty on or after January 1, 2018, who will retain and receive benefits even if they remarry.
Surviving dependents (including dependent children) of those officers or firefighters, who will receive ongoing benefits and have dependent-child benefits extended to age 18.
Estates of deceased workers when there are no dependents, which receive a one-time lump-sum of $7,500.

Key Provisions
Retroactive application to surviving spouses and dependents for line-of-duty deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2018.
Death-benefit amounts: 50% of the average weekly earnings to one dependent; 66 2/3% to two or more dependents; formula adjustments for spouses/guardians and partial dependents as specified.
Dependent-child benefits extended: surviving dependent children’s benefits shall not discontinue until they reach age 18 for line-of-duty deaths after 2018.
Remarriage protections: for line-of-duty survivors, the compensation does not cease upon remarriage; and the remarriage-based balancing provision (unpaid balance redirected to dependents) does not apply to these cases.
Maximum/minimum benefits and duration: benefits are subject to state minimum/maximum weekly limits and a 500-week limit, with calculations tied to the state’s average weekly wage.
Estate lump-sum: if there are no dependents, the employer must pay a one-time $7,500 to the deceased worker’s estate.
Related amendments: sections 25-5-60, 25-5-66, 25-5-68, 25-5-69, and 36-29A-9 updated to reflect these changes, including continuation of spouse benefits after remarriage and child benefits through age 18.
Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after it passes and is approved.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Workers' Compensation