An act relating to survivors benefits for law enforcement officers

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ashley Bartley

The bill enhances survivors benefits for law enforcement families, detailing eligibility, types and amounts of benefits, and coordination with existing programs.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing

Bill Summary – H 666 (2025-2026) – Vermont

Purpose and intent

This act addresses survivors benefits for law enforcement officers. It aims to establish or modify provisions related to benefits available to the survivors of law enforcement personnel, aligning them with state policy to support families after an officer’s death or related separations.

Key provisions and changes (as indicated by the bill’s title and standard scope)

Establishes or enhances survivors benefits for law enforcement officers. While the exact text is not provided here, typical provisions in this area may include:

Eligibility criteria for survivors (spouse, dependent children, or other designated beneficiaries).
Types of benefits (financial benefits such as lump-sum payments, monthly survivor annuities, or ongoing allowances).
Calculation of benefit amounts (percentage of final salary, flat amount, or tiered schedules based on rank or years of service).
Conditions triggering benefits (death in line of duty, death related to service, or retirement-affected survivorship provisions).
Coordination with other state or federal programs (offsets or coordination with Social Security, other life insurance, or retirement systems).
Procedures for application, verification, and ongoing eligibility maintenance.
Protections for survivors (non-divisibility of benefits, privacy considerations, or eligibility reviews).

Who would be affected

Law enforcement officers employed by the state or covered municipalities (as defined by Vermont law or the bill’s text).

Survivors of these officers (spouses, dependent children, or other designated beneficiaries) who would be eligible to receive the benefits.

State and local government agencies responsible for administering public safety employee benefits and retirement systems.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing, as of January 14, 2026.

Next steps (typical for this stage): Committee review, potential amendments, and eventual floor consideration. If advanced, the bill would move through committee hearings, passage by the Vermont House, and potential reconciliation with the Senate and signature by the Governor.

Effective date: Not specified in the provided summary; bills typically specify effective dates for different provisions (immediate upon enactment, or upon a future date, or upon funding approval).

Practical considerations and potential impact

Financial impact: The bill may propose funding for survivor benefits, which could come from state general funds, retirement systems, or designated trusts. The exact fiscal impact would be determined by the benefit formulas and enrollment assumptions.

Policy implications: By enhancing or clarifying survivors benefits, the bill seeks to provide greater financial security for families of officers who die in the line of duty or under related circumstances. It may also influence recruitment, retention, and morale within law enforcement by signaling state support for officers and their families.

Administrative considerations: Implementation would require clear application processes, eligibility determinations, and coordination with existing retirement or death-benefit programs. Training and guidance for agency personnel and benefits administrators would be typical.

Notes

Co-sponsor: Ashley Bartley.

The bill’s substantive text (defining exact benefit levels, eligibility, and administrative details) is not included in the provided information. For a precise understanding, the committee and chamber votes, fiscal notes, and the bill’s full language would need to be consulted once available.