Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Death Benefits Trust Fund; include county road and public works.

HB 1372 expands Mississippi's Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Death Benefits Trust Fund to include county road and public works employees who maintain roads and public infrastructure as eligible beneficiaries. The bill modifies the definition of "covered individual" to add these workers, meaning they would qualify for a $100,000 death benefit if they die while performing job duties due to a covered cause (like a work-related injury or incident). This benefit, paid to designated beneficiaries or next of kin if no designation exists, is in addition to existing workers' compensation or pension benefits. The trust fund, initially funded with $200,000, would manage these payments under the Department of Public Safety. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.