State Senate unanimously approves measure to double first-responder death benefits

The Mississippi Senate unanimously approved a bill to double the benefits to beneficiaries of law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.

Senate Bill 2523 increases death benefits to $200,000. Those benefits are paid out of a trust fund from vehicle tag and renewal fees.

“Because of the nature of their jobs, our law enforcement officers and firefighters are in harm’s way every day,” Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said in a press release. “First, we need to respect them and keep them as safe as possible, and second, we need to take care of their families — just like they take care of ours.”

The bill now heads to the Mississippi House of Representatives.