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Bill

S 2642

Allows for child beneficiaries of deceased police officers and firefighters to receive accidental death benefits until age twenty-six

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo

Raises the maximum age for child beneficiaries of deceased police officers and firefighters to 26 for accidental death benefits.

REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
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Bill Summary · S 2642

Important note — source inconsistency
The materials you provided include multiple different texts all labeled “S 2642” (a federal Senate bill on seized Iranian arms, a Massachusetts state Senate draft updating the Move Over Law, and metadata stating a bill that would extend accidental death benefits to age 26). No full legislative text was supplied for the bill described in your top-line Bill Information (the accidental‑death benefit extension). The summary below is therefore based on the bill title and metadata you provided, together with standard legislative practice. If you can supply the bill text or confirm which of the included versions you want summarized, I will produce a more precise, legally exact summary.

Bill summary — S 2642 (metadata title)

Allows for child beneficiaries of deceased police officers and firefighters to receive accidental death benefits until age twenty-six

Purpose / Intent

To extend the age limit at which child beneficiaries of deceased police officers and firefighters may receive accidental death benefits, increasing the maximum age to 26. The change appears intended to align survivor benefits with modern family and educational timelines (e.g., children in college or early career stages) and reduce financial hardship for surviving families.

Key provisions (based on title/metadata)

  • Raises the maximum age for child beneficiaries eligible to receive accidental death benefits from the current statutory limit (commonly 18 or 21 in many statutes) to 26.
  • Applies specifically to child beneficiaries of deceased police officers and firefighters who died as a result of an accident (accidental death benefits).
  • Likely defines “child” to include natural children, adopted children, and possibly stepchildren and dependents (text not provided — this should be checked in the bill language).
  • May include transitional provisions (e.g., whether currently‑receiving beneficiaries between the former limit and 26 are immediately eligible) — check bill text for effective date and grandfathering.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: surviving dependent children of municipal, state or other public safety police officers and firefighters who die from accidental causes.
  • Secondary: employers/municipalities, state retirement and pension systems, and insurers that administer accidental death benefits — potential increases in benefit payments and administrative burden.
  • Fiscal/actuarial bodies that produce cost estimates (state/local budgets may be affected).

Procedural status and sponsors

  • Status listed as: REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS.
  • Introduced: August 1, 2025.
  • Sponsors (as provided): Ted Budd (primary), Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. (primary), cosponsor Mark Kelly.
  • Related bills: HR 5623 (companion), S 7017 (prior session).

Likely fiscal and policy implications

  • Increased short‑term and long‑term benefit outlays where survivors currently age‑out between the prior limit and 26.
  • Fiscal impact depends on number of eligible survivors, average benefit size, and any offsets (survivor earnings/other benefits).
  • Administrative changes: pension/benefit offices will need to update eligibility verification and communications.
  • Potential public support from families and public safety advocacy groups; municipal budget concern from local governments.

Missing details / recommended follow‑up

Because the official bill text was not provided, confirm:
- The exact statutory sections to be amended and the precise old and new age limits.
- Definitions of “child” and any conditions (student status, dependency, proof requirements).
- Effective date and whether the change is retroactive for current beneficiaries.
- Whether benefits and amounts themselves are changed or only the eligibility age.
- Any fiscal note, appropriation, or offset provisions.

If you want, I can:
- Draft a short legislative summary assuming typical statutory language;
- Prepare a budget/fiscal checklist to estimate costs;
- Produce a detailed clause‑by‑clause summary once you supply the bill text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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