The Kentucky Senate on Wednesday approved two bills sponsored by Sen. Matthew Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, one dealing with line of duty deaths, the other regarding missing persons.
Senate Bill 47 would expand benefits from line of duty deaths to include search and rescue members.
“Time and again, they have been called upon to address natural disasters throughout the Commonwealth,” he told his colleagues. “This group of volunteers has spent hours in training and they go into some of the most dangerous situations that our other emergency responders cannot. The brave men and women of our search and rescue teams save the lives of our fellow Kentuckians and those that visit our state.”
He noted that this would allow the same benefits for search and rescue team members who die in the line of duty, just like other emergency responders, such as police and fire personnel have available to them.
SB 47 was approved 36-0.
Deneen also presented SB 159, which deals with databases for missing persons.
“This simply aligns us with the 2022 federal regulation called ‘Billy’s Law.’ It requires law enforcement to enter data into two missing persons databases, he said on the Senate floor. “This federal regulation accomplishes many things. Not only will it help us and our loved ones who have missing persons, it reaches out across state lines, with the national databases, for those unfortunate times when we have to bring a loved one home that may not be alive, to be reunited with their family.”
SB 159 also passed on a 36-0 vote.
The Senate also passed SB 85, again on a 36-0 vote with little discussion, sponsored by Sen. Robin Webb, R-Grayson. It would designate a special needs trust to receive state-administered retirement benefits for state employees.
All three measures now head to the House for their consideration.
Senate chamber passed two bills on Wednesday. (Kentucky Today/Tom Latek)
