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Senate advances petition to provide accidental-death benefits for firefighter Matthew M. Troy to committee
Summary
A petition and bill sponsored by Senator Nick Collins and Rep. Daniel J. Hunt to provide accidental-death benefits to the surviving spouse of firefighter Matthew M. Troy was presented and referred to committee after rules were suspended; Senator Collins urged passage, citing cancer risks to firefighters.
The Senate on the floor took up a petition, accompanied by a bill from Senator Nick Collins and Representative Daniel J. Hunt, seeking accidental-death benefits for the surviving spouse of Matthew M. Troy, a former Boston firefighter who died of cancer.
The Committee on Rules reported the petition and recommended suspension of the usual reference; the Senate suspended Senate Rule 36 and related procedural rules to permit consideration. Senator Collins spoke in support, describing Troy’s death from cancer and saying the legislation would address a gap that left the family without benefits that other firefighters receive. "Because of the current language limitations, his loved one, his wife and family are unable to get the benefits that other firefighters are entitled to," Collins said on the floor.
After the suspension of rules, the matter was referred to the Committee on Public Service for further review. The referral and the rules suspensions are procedural steps; any benefits would be created only by subsequent committee action and floor passage of enabling legislation.
