Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legislature places line‑of‑duty death benefit bill on e‑voting file after unanimous floor support
Summary
Bill 10‑38 COR would create a government of Guam one‑time death benefit of $100,000 for survivors of public safety and law enforcement officers if their death qualifies under the federal Public Safety Officers' Benefits program. The Legislature placed the measure on the e‑voting file after floor discussion and added multiple cosponsors.
The Guam Legislature placed Bill 10‑38 COR, as amended by the committee, on the e‑voting calendar after several senators on Monday voiced support for a new one‑time death benefit for public safety and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
The measure, as amended, would create a government of Guam “Public Safety and Law Enforcement Officers Line of Duty Benefit” and an associated fund. If an officer’s death qualifies for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program, the officer’s survivor would be entitled to a one‑time $100,000 payment from the government of Guam payable from the fund established by the bill. The bill states the local payment would not reduce other benefits available under Guam law or federal programs.
“Offering this new benefit can potentially attract and keep job candidates to Guam’s public safety and law enforcement agencies,” the bill sponsor said on the floor, citing testimony received at the committee markup and public hearing. The sponsor also asked colleagues to be added as cosponsors; a list of lawmakers was added on the floor.
Witnesses and agency representatives who testified to the committee were cited on the floor during debate. Testimony recorded earlier and referenced by the sponsor included remarks from the Guam Fire Department chief, the Guam Police Department chief, the Department of Corrections and the elected attorney general, who said the benefit would provide financial security for families and acknowledge the risks officers face.
Several senators spoke in support of the bill on the floor, highlighting recruitment and retention benefits and the need to provide surviving families financial assistance. Some speakers urged the author to consider refining definitions of what constitutes a death “in the line of duty” and to ensure alignment with the federal PSOB criteria; the sponsor said the bill ties eligibility to the federal program and that the committee’s amended language mirrors federal definitions.
The bill also requires the Department of Administration to develop rules within 90 days of enactment for administering the benefit and authorizes an increase in general‑fund appropriations for the remainder of the current fiscal year if a qualifying death occurs before the fund is established.
On the floor the sponsor asked to add colleagues as cosponsors; the record shows the sponsor added several members to the bill and later moved the measure to the e‑voting file. No floor objections to moving the bill to e‑voting were recorded.
What happens next: The bill is on the Legislature’s e‑voting file, which typically means it will be considered in electronic voting ahead of final passage. If enacted, the local benefit would be payable only to survivors of officers whose deaths qualify under the federal PSOB program or its successor; the transcript indicates the sponsor intended local definitions to mirror the federal framework.
