Ill. bill would add EMS personnel to line-of-duty death benefits

By Dominic Genetti
Jacksonville Journal-Courier

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. —Emergency medical service personnel would be added to the Illinois Line of Duty Compensation Act if a GOP-led bill makes its way to the governor’s desk.

Filed by Republican Rep. Wayne Rosenthal, who serves the 108th Illinois House District, HB 5599 would add state-licensed emergency medical personnel to the list of those compensated for being killed in the line of duty. The 108th House District stretches from Staunton communities north of Springfield.

Read more: Illinois bill would require noting assisted death on death certificates

According to the EMS Systems Act, persons in the following positions would be eligible for the Illinois Line of Duty Compensation Act:

• Emergency Medical Responder
• Emergency Medical Dispatcher
• Emergency Medical Technician
• Emergency Medical Technician — Intermediate
• Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
• Emergency Communications Registered Nurse
• Pre-Hospital Registered Nurse
• Pre-Hospital Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
• Pre-Hospital Physician Assistant

Under current law, only a select few are eligible for the Line of Duty Compensation Act:

• Law Enforcement Officer
• Civil Defense Worker
• Civil Air Patrol Member
• Paramedic
• Fireman
• Chaplain
• Certain Members of the Armed Forces

The language of the Line of Duty Compensation Act also has a stipulation regarding being injured in the line of duty. It notes that if a person’s death occurs within a year of being injured and that injury came via violence or another related cause, the individual would be eligible for compensation.

Illinois House Bill 5599 received its first reading on the floor Friday and has been sent to the House Rules Committee.

How would expanded line-of-duty death benefits impact your agency?

EMS1 readers respond:

• “EMS should be included in LODDB at the National level too.”
• “When is government-based 911 EMS going to receive parity with police and fire in pay, benefits, and receive a public safety pension? And become a full-fledged member of sworn uniformed services just like police and fire?”

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