House Passes Bill to Extend Benefits to Fallen Officers' Families

The Alabama House has passed a bill that would extend benefits to dependents of firefighters or police officers who die in the line of duty to age 18. House Bill 192, by By Rep. Matt Fridy, R-Montevallo, was passed by a House vote of 80-3 on Tuesday. It now goes to the Senate. Under state law, benefits are paid to a dependent child of a law enforcement officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty for 500 weeks or until the child turns 18, whichever occurs first. HB 192 would allow the dependent child to keep receiving benefits until age 18, even if the 500-week mark has passed....