An act relating to expanding survivor benefits

More survivor benefits for emergency workers

Beginning July 1, 2026, Vermont expands access to cash benefits for survivors of emergency workers. The worker must have died in the line of duty or from a work-related illness. They must have worked or volunteered for Vermont, a Vermont county or municipality, or a nonprofit serving Vermont. Firefighters and covered emergency medical workers and volunteers have no death-date limit. Newly covered workers include certified law enforcement officers and Corrections facility employees providing direct security and treatment services to offenders under community supervision. They also include classified Family Services Division employees and classified medical employees at state-run therapeutic community residences or inpatient psychiatric hospital units. For these newly covered groups, the death must occur on or after July 1, 2026. The law also defines line-of-duty service for the covered worker groups. A new four-member review board decides whether to award benefits; payment is not automatic. Its members are the State Treasurer, Attorney General, and Chief Fire Service Training Officer, or their designees, plus a Governor-appointed public representative serving a two-year term. Awards require unanimous approval, and decisions are due within 60 days after all needed information arrives. The board can request needed information and begin reviews before survivors or employers formally apply. A new fund in the Treasurer’s office pays claims and approved, reasonable expert and service fees for illness-related reviews. It receives legislative appropriations or transfers, Emergency Board transfers while lawmakers are out of session, and donations. Unused money and interest stay in the fund. When lawmakers are out of session and the fund cannot cover awarded benefits, the Emergency Board can transfer additional money. This law sets no specific transfer amount.