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H 2823

An Act providing killed in the line of duty benefits to Joanne Songy, surviving spouse of Detective John D. Songy, a police officer of the town of Rutland

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Donnie Berthiaume and 2 co-sponsors

Grants killed-in-the-line-of-duty survivor benefits to the widow of Detective John D. Songy of Rutland Police Department.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 2823

Legislative bill overview

This is a special legislation bill that provides killed-in-the-line-of-duty benefits to Joanne Songy, the surviving spouse of Detective John D. Songy of the Rutland Police Department. The bill grants her access to statutory benefits typically afforded to families of law enforcement officers who die in performance of their duties.

Why is this important

Line-of-duty death benefits provide critical financial support—including survivor pensions, healthcare coverage, and other entitlements—to families left behind. This bill ensures that Detective Songy's family receives the same protections and support designed to help surviving spouses maintain economic stability after the loss of a breadwinner in dangerous work.

Potential points of contention

  • Precedent concerns: Special legislation benefits for individual cases may raise questions about whether similar cases have been or should be treated uniformly, or if general statutory law should cover all qualifying line-of-duty deaths automatically
  • Eligibility verification: Questions about how the circumstances of Detective Songy's death were evaluated and confirmed to meet line-of-duty criteria, and whether the determination process was transparent
  • Fiscal impact: The bill's cost to the municipality and state may be a consideration, particularly regarding pension obligations and long-term liability

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

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