Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Witness tells committee to recognize linemen as first responders after fatal on-the-job death
Summary
After a family member testified about the death of her lineman husband, the subcommittee adopted an amendment to make electrical linemen eligible for the statutory first-responder death benefit ($250,000 over five years) and forwarded the bill. The sponsor and several members praised linemen's public service.
The committee considered an amendment to House Bill 14-64 that would include electrical linemen among occupations qualifying as first responders under Tennessee Code § 7-51-210, making their survivors eligible for the statutory death benefit. Chairman Powers said the statute provides $250,000 paid over five years to the estates of qualifying first responders and that the amendment would extend that recognition to linemen.
Samantha Carlton, whose husband Chance died while performing lineman duties, told the committee about the risks linemen face and urged passage. "Chance died serving the people of Tennessee last April," Carlton said, describing repeated on-the-job exposure to life-threatening conditions. The amendment was adopted and the committee voted 7-0 to move the bill forward.
