SPONSOR:

Rep. Mitchell & Sen. Poore

Rep. Keeley

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 257

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH BENEFITS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 6602(a)(1), Title 18 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 6602 Payment for beneficiaries; tuition payments; burial expenses

(a) Upon certification by the Insurance Commissioner that a claim under this chapter has been approved, the State Treasurer shall:

(1) For claims submitted prior to July 1, 1997, pay to the beneficiary or beneficiaries as designated or determined pursuant to § 6603(a) of this title of every covered person who dies in the line of duty an amount totalling $100,000, payable in annual installments with the maximum amount payable in any 1 calendar year being $20,000. For claims submitted on July 1, 1997, and thereafter, pay to the beneficiary or beneficiaries as designated or determined pursuant to § 6603(a) of this title of every covered person who dies in the line of duty an amount totaling $150,000 $200,000 , payable in annual installments with the maximum amount payable in any 1 calendar year being $30,000 $40,000 . Installments shall terminate with the expiration of the beneficiary's eligibility;

SYNOPSIS

This bill increases the line of duty death benefits from $150,000 to $200,000 for those persons covered under Chapter 66, Title 18 of the Delaware Code. Additionally, the bill increases the maximum amount payable in any year from $30,000 to $40,000.