HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass House Bill 911, a bipartisan measure aimed at guaranteeing lifetime healthcare coverage for the surviving dependents of municipal law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
Prime sponsor Rep. Tom Mehaffie introduced the legislation after consulting with families of fallen officers who faced health insurance uncertainty following catastrophic line-of-duty losses. Under current municipal guidelines, healthcare benefits for surviving family members can vary significantly across local jurisdictions.
If enacted into law, House Bill 911 would mandate that:
- Surviving spouses of fallen municipal police officers receive healthcare coverage for life.
- Dependent children remain covered under state-backed health plans until age 26.
The proposed statutory protections align municipal law enforcement benefits with standard protections already afforded to families of fallen Pennsylvania State Police troopers. Following its 203-0 passage in the House, the bill now advances to the Pennsylvania State Senate for committee referral and consideration.
