SB184 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Greg AlbrittonSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Peace officers and firefighters, injury or death benefits, certain wildland firefighters eligible, Peace Officers' and Firefighters' Death Benefit Fund, created, conditional appropriation, Sec. 36-30-6.1 added; Secs. 36-30-1, 36-30-6 am'd.
Summary: SB 184 adds wildland firefighters to death-benefit eligibility and creates a dedicated fund to pay peace officers’ and firefighters’ death and injury benefits.
What This Bill Does
It adds wildland firefighters employed by the Alabama Forestry Commission to the group eligible for state death benefits. It creates the Peace Officers' and Firefighters' Death Benefit Fund to pay eligible benefits, with an automatic $350,000 annual appropriation and a $1,000,000 cap. Money in the fund may be spent only to pay compensation awards ordered by the Board of Adjustment, and payments are made from this fund with governor approval. It also updates the definitions to include the new wildland firefighter coverage.

Who It Affects
Wildland firefighters employed by the Alabama Forestry Commission would become eligible for state death benefits when killed in the line of duty.
Dependents and other beneficiaries of peace officers, firefighters, and rescue squad members who are entitled to death or injury benefits would receive those benefits from the new fund, with claims handled by the Board of Adjustment.

Key Provisions
Amends 36-30-1 and 36-30-6 to include wildland firefighters employed by the Alabama Forestry Commission as eligible for death benefits.
Creates the Peace Officers' and Firefighters' Death Benefit Fund and defines its purposes and funding.
Automatically appropriates $350,000 to the fund each fiscal year; the Comptroller must transfer this from the General Fund within one week after the fiscal year starts; the fund has a $1,000,000 cap.
Funds may be spent only to pay compensation awards under 36-30-6, and all appropriations are conditional and require the Governor's approval.
The Board of Adjustment remains the awarding authority; benefits are paid from the new fund according to the statute.
Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after enactment.

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