Public Safety Officer - Performance of Duties - Death Benefits

SB 396 expands death benefit eligibility to include 9-1-1 specialists as public safety officers, adding them to the existing categories of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and hazardous material response team employees. It maintains a $125,000 death benefit for qualifying survivors, adjusting this amount annually based on the Consumer Price Index. The bill also modifies disability benefit eligibility criteria and clarifies the definition of "performance of duties" for public safety roles. These changes directly affect current and future public safety officers, including newly covered 9-1-1 specialists, by expanding their access to death and disability benefits. The provisions amend specific sections of Maryland’s Public Safety and State Personnel laws.