Virginia may need to change its Line of Duty Act, which assists families of public safety workers, if it wants to curb rising costs that have more than doubled since 2006, according to a study presented Thursday to a House Appropriations subcommittee.
The act provides a $100,000 payment and lifetime health insurance coverage to the family of a public safety worker – primarily police officers and firefighters – who dies in the line of duty. It also gives continued health benefits to those who become disabled because of illness or injury related to work.
Between 2006 and 2013, the program’s beneficiaries and costs more than doubled to 952 and $12.2 million, respectively, according to a report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.
http://hamptonroads.com/2015/01/va-may-consider-changes-line-duty-act