Madison – Today the Assembly unanimously voted to pass an important piece of legislation authored by Representative Spiros and Senator Van Wanggaard that would help the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Assembly Bill 300 would allow the spouse and children of a law enforcement officer or first responder killed in the line of duty to continue to receive health insurance.

“Every year we have law enforcement officers in our state who give the ultimate sacrifice,” Rep. Spiros said. “The way things are right now, their families lose their health insurance almost immediately. That’s just not right.”

In 2009, Wisconsin passed a law requiring municipalities to continue to provide health insurance coverage for the surviving spouses and children of firefighters who died in the line of duty. Unfortunately, law enforcement officers were not included in this bill. This bill seeks to correct that oversight by ensuring state and local law enforcement and EMS are eligible for the same benefit.

“Every single day, law enforcement officers and first responders put their lives on the line to protect and serve the people of Wisconsin,” Rep. Spiros said. “In addition to the risks their face on the job, they are also left with the worry of what will happen to their families if they are killed in the line of duty, and whether they will financially be okay.

“By passing this bill, we are giving our brave men and women in uniform the peace of mind that should something happen to them, their families will be taken care of.”

The bill unanimously passed the State Senate on Tuesday, so it will now be sent to the Governor to await his signature.

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