Mass.Gov.Signs Vol.FF Benefits Law

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Nov 8, 2005

3:18 pm US/Eastern

Mass. Gov. Romney Signs Volunteer Firefighter Benefits Law

(CBS4) LANCASTER

Governor Mitt Romney signed a law Tuesday that requires cities and towns to provide death benefits to the families of volunteer firefighters and public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty.

The legislation was written in honor of Martin McNamara, a volunteer firefighter in Lancaster who died fighting an apartment fire in 2003.

Because he was a volunteer, McNamara's wife and three children did not receive survivors' benefits.

Under the new law, they will get a $650,000 annunity.

According to the Romney administration, about half of the state's 20,000 firefighters are part-time or volunteer.

Seven have died in the last 25 years.

The new law gives communities three options to help survivors.

They can buy an annuity, pay for an insurance policy that provides a one-time benefit of $500,000, or buy an insurance policy that would cover the cost of an annuity to benefit the family.