Committee recommends Appropriations consider $80,000 survivor benefit for fallen public safety workers, with $60,000 floor

The House of Midian General and Housing Committee on March 18 debated H 57, a bill to expand a survivor benefit to include law enforcement and corrections officers and to clarify who may receive awards when a public-safety worker dies in the line of duty.

Committee members emphasized both honoring first responders and concerns from the Appropriations Committee about duplicative payments. The committee settled on a recommended approach to send to Appropriations: preserve an $80,000 maximum award, allow the award to be reduced by duplicate contractual or statutory benefits (but not by life‑insurance proceeds), and set a floor so awards cannot fall below $60,000.

The discussion centered on two issues: whether to broaden who is eligible and how to treat other benefits that might duplicate the award. The committee heard testimony that life‑insurance coverage for state workers was changed from opt‑in to opt‑out some years ago; Sophie, legislative counsel, said, “my understanding, is that that was changed” in response to a question about whether coverage was opt‑out. Steve Howard, executive director of the Vermont State Employees Association, told the committee the corrections system is ‘‘in such a dire crisis situation’’ and urged more legislative attention to corrections staff.

Members who supported keeping corrections officers in the eligible pool argued corrections staff face similar dangers to police and firefighters. Opponents warned that expanding eligibility could increase the number of awards and that Appropriations raised concerns the award could duplicate other payouts. The committee ran straw polls: members voted 6–3 to leave the expanded definition language in the bill and later recorded a majority in support of the netting approach with a minimum floor; the chair reported the majority settled on a $60,000 floor.

Rather than formally amending a bill the committee does not currently hold, the chair said she would prepare and transmit a memo and draft language to the Appropriations Committee reflecting the committee’s recommendation. Sophie said she can draft language based on the committee’s direction. Committee members also discussed a separate short‑form bill intended to address working conditions and staffing in the Department of Corrections; Representative Ashley (committee member) offered to draft that short form for members who want to sign on.

Quotes in the record include Sophie, legislative counsel: “my understanding, is that that was changed,” and Steve Howard, executive director of the VSEA: “We would certainly appreciate, all of we're in such a dire crisis situation.”

The committee took testimony and used straw polling to reach a working recommendation to Appropriations. No formal floor vote on H 57 was recorded in this meeting; the bill remained with Appropriations and committee members asked Appropriations to consider the committee’s suggested netting language and floor amount.