Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the First Responders Benefits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee hears push to double critical-injury fund for first responders to $1M per biennium
Summary
Firefighters and labor officials urged the committee to raise the maximum biennial payout for first responders’ critical-injury benefits from $500,000 to $1,000,000, saying medical costs and awareness of the benefit have grown since enactment.
Representatives, union officials and the Department of Labor discussed HB 282, a bill to raise the maximum total critical-injury compensation available to first responders from $500,000 to $1,000,000 per biennium.
Representative Susi, the bill's sponsor, said the change would increase the pool available to first responders who suffer permanent impairments to heart, lung, brain or other organs. Witnesses including Brian Rill, president of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire, and attorney Jared O’Connor described how the existing benefit works and why they support increasing the cap.
Key points from testimony: - Brian Rill said the fund is paid from the general fund and supplements workers’ compensation and other benefits for first responders who suffer catastrophic injuries in the line of duty. He noted the statute provides up to $125,000 per claimant (subject to the biennial cap) for impairment awards and that higher costs and awareness could increase payouts over time. - Attorney Jared O’Connor explained benefit mechanics: impairment awards are based on medically assigned weeks and the claimant’s average weekly wage; higher‑paid claimants reach the $125,000 per-person cap more quickly. He said the law currently allows the commissioner to approve attorney fees and that a lump‑sum payment is made after a Department of Labor certification and Executive Council authorization. - Deputy Commissioner Danielle Albert of the Department of Labor said the department can administer the increase and confirmed the benefit is paid from the state general fund, not the workers’ compensation insurance system.
Fiscal and operational notes: Department staff and advocates acknowledged a fiscal note will be required; the department’s history shows the highest biennial payout to date has been $350,000. Supporters argued the rise in medical costs and the difficulty of accessing the benefit justify a larger biennial limit.
What’s next: Committee members stressed this is a policy decision with a fiscal consequence. If the committee advances the bill, the measure will go to the Finance Committee to consider the fiscal impact.
