Four months following the brutal slayings of four Lakewood law enforcement officers, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law a bill that extends duty-related death benefits for children and spouses of fallen and severely injured officers, firefighters and state troopers.
In an effort to look after the families of the brave individuals who put their lives at risk every day, Rep. Tami Green introduced House Bill 2519, which Gregoire signed yesterday at the Lakewood Police Department.
“It’s time to stand up for the brave men and woman who put their trust in us when they put their lives on the line,” Green said. “The most important thing we can do is make sure the surviving spouses and the children of these folks are taken care of.”
Green’s bill closes current loopholes including the removal of a 10-year service requirement for survivors of duty-related death benefits to qualify for a survivor annuity. This helps ensure the family of a fallen rookie officer would receive livable benefits, regardless of how long the officer had served.
“The life of a rookie officer is just as valuable as a 10-year veteran,” Green said. “Each life is irreplaceable.”
Among the many other components of Green’s HB 2519, the new law will help ensure death benefits rise as inflation continues. It will also make it mandatory for state institutions of higher education to waive tuition and fees for children and spouses of fallen and severely disabled law enforcement officers, firefighters and state troopers.
“Let’s get to work for our fallen officers, their families and our entire law enforcement community,” said Gregoire in this year’s State of the State address. “…and for their children, it is our duty to make available a college education.”
Green said sending a child to school with two incomes is difficult enough and she hopes the new law will help alleviate at least some of the pain endured by the families.
The new law goes into effect this June.
