Committee reviews bill to expand survivor benefit to law enforcement, corrections and DCF employees; treasurer flags funding needs

The Study Committee on Government Operations reviewed draft legislation on Feb. 27 that would extend a one-time state survivor payment now available to firefighters and emergency personnel to four additional categories of workers, including law enforcement officers and certain state social-service and corrections staff.

Sophie Sadat of the Office of Legislative Council summarized the proposal: "the bill proposes extending survivor benefits that are currently available to the survivors of firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and volunteer personnel killed in the line of duty ... to 4 new categories," she said, listing law enforcement officers; Department of Corrections facility employees and community-supervision security staff; classified Family Services Division employees at the Department for Children and Families; and classified employees of state-operated therapeutic community residences or inpatient psychiatric units.

Current…