Jim Sensenbrenner: “current law provides $267,494 to the survivors of public safety officers such as police officers, firefighters and…”

“current law provides $267,494 to the survivors of public safety officers such as police officers, firefighters and rescue squad officers who die ``as the direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty''. S. 459, the ``Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act of 2003'', as introduced would provide that if a public safety officer dies as the direct and proximate result of a heart attack or stroke suffered while on duty or within 24 hours after participating in a training exercise or responding to an emergency situation, that officer shall be presumed to have died as the direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty for purposes of that officer's survivors receiving a $267,494 death benefit. The intent of the legislation was to cover officers who suffered a heart attack or stroke as a result of nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical activity; however, testimony at the hearing indicated that the legislation as drafted was overboard. Witnesses testified that the legislation as drafted would undermine the purpose of the Public Safety Officer Benefits program, which was intended to provide a benefit to heroes who gave their lives in the line of duty for their communities. As drafted, it would cover officers who did not engage in any physical activity but merely happened to suffer a heart attack at work. A substitute amendment was introduced to address these concerns.…”