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Health & Fitness

Rep. Dwyer authors line of duty death benefit increase

At a recent hearing of the Joint Committee on Public Service, Rep. Jim Dwyer of Woburn testified in support of two bills he has filed to modernize the line of duty death benefit.

Originally enacted into law in 1994, the line of duty death benefit is a one-time tax free payment of $100,000 by the Commonwealth to the families of fallen law enforcement and fire service officials.

“Having been established 20 years ago, the line of duty death benefit has not been updated since. The cost of college tuition, home mortgages, and every other expense we incur in life have doubled and in some cases tripled,” testified Rep. Dwyer.

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House Bill 2300 would increase the line of duty death benefit from $100,000 to $250,000. House Bill 2301 would increase be the same increase but also include a one-step increase in rank (i.e. Patrolman to Sergeant).

“I firmly believe that in making these changes, we honor those who have fallen in the line of duty by protecting the interests of their family who have sacrificed on our behalf,” Rep. Dwyer continued.

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Representatives of various public safety advocacy groups testified as well, including James Machado of the Massachusetts Police Association (26,000 members), Charles Dwyer of the Massachusetts Corrections Officers Federated Union (4,300 members), Edward Kelly of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (12,000 members), and members of the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (3,600).

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