HB 91-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2021 SESSION

21-0330

08/04

HOUSE BILL 91-FN

AN ACT relative to death benefits of first responders who die from suicide.

SPONSORS: Rep. Abbas, Rock. 8; Rep. Lang, Belk. 4; Rep. Doucette, Rock. 8; Rep. Roy, Rock. 32; Rep. Trottier, Belk. 6

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

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ANALYSIS

This bill includes suicide under the definition of "killed in the line of duty" when considering eligibility for death benefits of first responders.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

21-0330

08/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One

AN ACT relative to death benefits of first responders who die from suicide.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1  Killed in the Line of Duty; Suicide Included.   Amend RSA 21-I:29-a, I(f) to read as follows:

(f)  "Killed in the line of duty'' means a death, including suicide, of a police officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, or rescue squad member while in the performance of his or her duties as a result of incident, accident, or violence causing death or injuries which are the direct or proximate cause of death.   Death by suicide shall be considered a work related cause of death.  "Incident'' shall include any death that is determined to be occupationally related by the worker's compensation insurance carrier, a self-insured worker's compensation plan, or by the labor commissioner for workers' compensation purposes pursuant to RSA 281-A.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBA

21-0330

12/9/20

HB 91-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to death benefits of first responders who die from suicide.

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

METHODOLOGY:

This bill amends RSA 21-I:29-a,I(f) to include suicide under the definition of "killed in the line of duty" for eligibility for death benefits of first responders.  This may impact awards of the $100,000 state death benefit provided to the family of first responders in RSA 21-I:29-a, II.  The Governor, with the consent of the Executive Council, is authorized by the existing statute to draw a warrant for such payments out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.  There will be no impact on state, county or local revenues or county or local expenditures.

The Department of Safety obtained data from vital records where the cause of death was suicide and the occupation listed on the death certificate included police, fire or emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic.  Since 2015, there have been 25 emergency first responders who have committed suicide, or approximately 5 per year.  The bill would authorize payment of the $100,000 benefit in these instances, resulting in approximately $500,000 in payments per fiscal year.

It is assumed this bill will take effect in FY 2022.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Departments of Safety, Labor and Administrative Services, New Hampshire Municipal Association, and New Hampshire Association of Counties