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S 190

Establishes the payment of certain volunteer firefighter and volunteer ambulance worker death benefits shall be within ninety days of the filing of application to receive such death benefit

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo and 13 co-sponsors

Requires death benefits for volunteer firefighters/ambulance workers to be paid within 90 days of a complete application being filed, speeding relief to families.

REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 190

Summary — S 190: Payment Deadline for Volunteer Firefighter and Volunteer Ambulance Worker Death Benefits

Note on sources: The materials you provided contain multiple, conflicting documents (a federal Senate report on the North Pacific Research Board, a Massachusetts professional‑licensure bill, and a separate bill title about volunteer first‑responder death benefits). This summary is prepared to reflect the bill title and top-level Bill Information you supplied: “Establishes the payment of certain volunteer firefighter and volunteer ambulance worker death benefits shall be within ninety days of the filing of application to receive such death benefit.” If you want a summary tied to a specific full text, please provide that text or confirm which document is authoritative.

Purpose

To require that death‑benefit payments for eligible volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers be disbursed within 90 days after the beneficiary files an application seeking the benefit. The intent is to ensure timely financial relief to families and beneficiaries of volunteer first responders who die in the line of duty (or as otherwise covered by the statute).

Key provisions (based on bill title)

  • Deadline for payment: State or local agencies (or any entity administering the benefit) must pay the eligible death benefit within 90 calendar days after receipt of a properly completed application.
  • Trigger: The 90‑day period runs from the filing date of the application to receive the death benefit (i.e., when the beneficiary submits required paperwork).
  • Scope: Applies to “certain” volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers — likely those covered by existing statutory death benefit programs for volunteers; exact eligibility criteria would be specified in the bill text.
  • Administrative requirements: Implied requirement that administering agencies process claims within the 90‑day window; may include directions for submission, documentation, and standards for what constitutes a completed application.
  • Remedies for non‑payment: The title does not specify penalties, interest, or enforcement mechanisms; the full text may add interest, administrative penalties, or private‑right‑of‑action provisions.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Families, dependents, or designated beneficiaries of volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers eligible under the relevant death‑benefit program.
  • Administrators: Local governments, state agencies, insurance carriers, or boards that operate or fund volunteer death‑benefit programs will need to adjust claim processing and payment procedures.
  • Fiscal actors: Municipal budgets and insurance/reserve funds could be affected by the altered timing of outlays and any administrative costs required to meet the deadline.

Potential impacts

  • Positive: Faster payments provide timely support to grieving families and reduce short‑term financial hardship.
  • Administrative: Agencies may need to streamline claim intake, verification, and payment processes; may require additional staff or resources.
  • Fiscal: No dollar amounts specified; shifting timing of payments could have budgetary or cash‑flow implications for municipal funds or insurers.
  • Legal/operational: Clarity is needed on what constitutes a “complete” application and whether the 90‑day deadline is subject to extensions for contested claims; enforcement mechanisms (interest or penalties) will affect compliance incentives.

Procedural status (from supplied info)

  • Introduced: January 22, 2025
  • Status: Referred to Local Governments (per the legislative actions list you provided)
  • Additional actions or sponsors were not clearly linked to this title in the materials you gave.

If you want, I can:
- Draft a short model section of statutory language implementing a 90‑day payment rule; or
- Summarize the exact statutory language and fiscal impact if you provide the bill text or indicate which of the supplied documents is the correct one to use.

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

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