HB234 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rex ReynoldsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

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

The bill adds wildland firefighters to death-benefit eligibility and creates a dedicated fund to pay these benefits to peace officers and firefighters.

What This Bill Does

It includes wildland firefighters employed by the Alabama Forestry Commission within the firefighter category eligible for state death benefits. It creates the Peace Officers' and Firefighters' Death Benefit Fund with an automatic annual appropriation of $350,000 (capped at $1,000,000) and requires the Comptroller to transfer funds each new fiscal year. Benefits for injury or death would be paid from this fund, with the Board of Adjustment serving as the awarding authority and subject to Governor's approval for the appropriation.

Who It Affects

• Wildland firefighters employed by the Alabama Forestry Commission become eligible for state death benefits when killed in the line of duty.
• Dependents and beneficiaries of peace officers, firefighters, and rescue squad members who are killed or injured in the line of duty would receive compensation awards paid from the new Peace Officers' and Firefighters' Death Benefit Fund (subject to the fund's rules and approvals).

Key Provisions

• Amends sections 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 with automatic annual appropriation of $350,000, a cap of $1,000,000, and a requirement that the Comptroller transfer funds from the General Fund within one week after the start of each fiscal year.
• Expenditures from the fund are limited to payment of compensation awards determined by the Board of Adjustment under section 36-30-6, and the appropriations are conditional and require Governor's approval.
• If funds in the new fund are exhausted, awards may be paid from other funds appropriated to the Board of Adjustment for related purposes.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Officers and Employees