HB94 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Reed IngramRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Tommy Hanes

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Volunteer firefighter or rescue squad members, disability or death benefits, wildland firefighter employed by Forestry Commission included, cardiac arrest, etc. relating to emergency or physical training, presumed to be in the line of duty, Secs. 36-30-1, 36-30-2 am'd.

Summary

HB94 expands death and disability benefits for firefighters and rescue squad members, adds wildland firefighters with the Forestry Commission, and creates a presumption that certain volunteer deaths in the line of duty are work-related.

What This Bill Does

It adds wildland firefighters employed by the Alabama Forestry Commission to the list of those eligible for injury or death benefits. It creates a presumption that volunteer firefighters or rescue squad members who die from cardiac arrest, stroke, or pulmonary edema within 24 hours of preparing to respond, during an emergency, or while serving in training are considered to have died in the line of duty. It sets a $100,000 death benefit for beneficiaries or dependents, with specified exceptions, and provides a $100,000 disability benefit for total disability after more than 12 months, along with a process for determination and appeals and annual CPI adjustments, plus retroactive provisions.

Who It Affects

• Volunteer firefighters and organized rescue squad members in Alabama become eligible for state death benefits, disability benefits, and the line-of-duty presumptions when they die or become totally disabled in the course of duties.
• Wildland firefighters employed by the Alabama Forestry Commission are explicitly included as eligible for injury or death benefits.
• Beneficiaries and dependents of these personnel (such as spouses, children, and other dependents) may receive specified benefits after death or disability.

Key Provisions

• Wildland firefighters employed by the Alabama Forestry Commission are added to the definition of firefighter eligible for injury or death benefits.
• A volunteer firefighter or rescue squad member who dies of cardiac arrest, cerebrovascular accident, or pulmonary edema within 24 hours of preparing to respond, responding, or serving at an emergency or training exercise is presumptively deemed to have died in the performance of duties.
• Death benefits of $100,000 are paid to beneficiaries or dependents from the State Treasury, with exceptions for willful misconduct, intoxication, failure to use safety appliances, or other willful rule violations.
• Disability benefits of $100,000 are available for total disability lasting more than 12 months, with the State Health Officer handling determinations, a 30-day decision window, an appeal process, and cooperation from state agencies; benefits are adjusted annually by CPI starting in 2009.
• Retroactive provisions apply to deaths and applications covered after January 1, 2019, and certain older applications may be reconsidered.

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

Subjects

Volunteer Fire Departments