Connecticut § 3-122a - Fallen Officer Fund.

§ 3-122a. Fallen Officer Fund.

Sec. 3-122a. Fallen Officer Fund. (a) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Dependent child” means a child, whether by blood or adoption, of a police officer who (A) is under the age of twenty-two and was dependent on the earnings of such officer at the time of such officer's death, provided a child shall not be considered dependent if such child provides more than half of such child's own support, is married or is legally adopted by another person, or (B) is any age and is physically or mentally incapacitated and was dependent on the earnings of such officer at the time of such officer's death.

(2) “Killed in the line of duty” means the death of a police officer while engaged in the performance of such officer's duties, resulting from an incident, an accident or violence that caused such death or caused injuries that were the direct or proximate cause of such officer's death, including any death that is determined to be occupationally related by a workers' compensation insurance carrier, an employer to whom a certificate of self-insurance has been issued pursuant to section 31-248 or an administrative law judge for workers' compensation purposes under chapter 568. “Killed in the line of duty” does not include the death of a police officer through such officer's own wanton or wilful act.

(3) “Law enforcement unit” has the same meaning as provided in section 7-294a.

(4) “Police officer” has the same meaning as provided in section 7-294a.

(5) “Surviving family” means any person who is a surviving spouse, surviving dependent child, surviving child who is not a dependent child or surviving parent of a police officer killed in the line of duty, or a surviving individual listed on such officer's most recent beneficiary form on file with such officer's employing law enforcement unit.

(b) There is established a fund to be known as the “Fallen Officer Fund”. The fund may contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the fund and shall be held by the Treasurer separate and apart from all other moneys, funds and accounts. The interest derived from the investment of the fund shall be credited to the fund. Amounts in the fund may be expended by the Comptroller for purposes of payments pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and reimbursement of municipalities pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of section 3-123eee. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the fiscal year next succeeding.

(c) (1) After receiving notice, in a form and manner as determined by the Comptroller, from an individual who is a member of the surviving family of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty, the Comptroller shall pay, within available appropriations, a lump sum death benefit totaling one hundred thousand dollars from the fund established in subsection (b) of this section to such surviving family, in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, provided the surviving family of a police officer killed in the line of duty shall not receive more than one such lump sum death benefit. Payments shall be made to surviving families in the order in which notices are received until the amount in such fund is depleted.

(2) Any payment made pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be in addition to any other benefits for which individuals of such officer's surviving family are eligible and such payments shall not be reduced or offset due to any other benefits, including, but not limited to, workers' compensation or other survivor benefits.

(d) Not later than July 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Comptroller shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security. Such report shall include a list of all expenditures made from the fund established by subsection (b) of this section during the prior year, the current balance of such fund and information regarding additional amounts needed for such fund.

(e) The Comptroller shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to implement the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, application procedures and criteria for awarding grants among individuals who are members of the surviving family, with priority given to awards that would benefit a dependent child or children and a spouse who is a member of the surviving family. The Comptroller may implement policies and procedures necessary to implement the provisions of this section while in the process of adopting such regulations, provided notice of intent to adopt such regulations is published on the eRegulations System not later than twenty days after the date of implementation of such policies and procedures. Any policies and procedures implemented under this subsection shall be valid until the time such regulations are adopted.

(P.A. 24-27, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 24-27 effective May 14, 2024.