NAPO'S BILL TO INCREASE FEDERAL
DEATH BENEFIT INTRODUCED
May 9, 2001

On May 7, 2001, Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) introduced H.R. 1744, a bill that would increase the benefit paid to families of public safety officers killed in the line of duty. NAPO, along with members of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO), met with Congressman Kennedy's staff who agreed to introduce this important piece of legislation. NAPO is also working with Senator Joseph Biden, Jr. (D-DE) to introduce similar legislation in the United States Senate.

If enacted, H.R. 1744 would increase the Federal death benefit provided to the survivors of officers killed in the line of duty from a base of $100,000 (not including cost of living adjustments) to $250,000. Currently, the Public Safety Officers' Benefit program (PSOB) provides a one-time financial payment of $151,635 to the public safety officer's family for Fiscal Year 2001. Each year on October 1st the federal death benefit is subject to a cost of living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. A cost of living adjustment would continue under this legislation.

In 1976, Congress enacted H.R. 366, the 'Public Safety Officers' Benefit Act,' (42 U.S.C. 3796, et seq.). This act established the Public Safety Officers' Benefit program (PSOB) which was to be administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Department of Justice. The PSOB provided a $50,000 death benefit to the survivors of state and local public safety officers killed in the line of duty. The program was established because of the inherent dangers public safety officers face every day. In 1984, the program was expanded and federal public safety officers became eligible to receive the death benefit. 

In 1988, Congress enacted several new improvements to the PSOB program. First, the amount of the death benefit given to officers killed in the line of duty doubled from $50,000 to $100,000. Second, the death benefit was subject to a cost of living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Third, the PSOB regulation that required eligible parents to be dependent upon the deceased public safety officer was eliminated. 

In 1990, Congress included public safety officers who are permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty to become eligible to receive the one-time benefit. The benefit would help provide for medical costs for the public safety officer, which can be extremely expensive for catastrophic injuries.

NAPO feels the principal amount needs to be adjusted in order for the benefit to make a substantial financial difference to those families who paid the ultimate sacrifice. That is why NAPO urges Congress to pass legislation that will raise the death benefit for public safety officers killed and permanently injured in the line of duty to $250,000. Contact your Representative today and have them sign on as a cosponsor to H.R. 1744.