Committee reviews H.57 ‘Jessica’s Law’ changes, debate over adding correctional officers continues

The House Committee on General and Housing on Wednesday reviewed a strike‑all amendment to H.57, known in the draft as Jessica’s Law, that would expand survivor-benefit coverage and change how the Emergency Personnel Survivors Benefit Review Board is composed.

The amendment would add correctional officers to the list of covered personnel, expand family‑relationship definitions (including child, parent, spouse and domestic partner), set an 18‑month window for survivors to request benefits, and give the state treasurer up to one year from claim receipt to disperse funds. The amendment also removes a statutorily appointed public member of the board and would add the chair of the law enforcement advisory board (or designee) and the commissioner of corrections (or designee).

At a committee walkthrough, Sophie Dattani of the Office of Legislative Counsel said the amendment “essentially adopts the version of H.695 that came through the House last year” with changes, including the one‑year treasurer payout provision and…