A BILL to amend and reenact § 9.1-400 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Line of Duty Act; sheriffs and deputy sheriffs.
HB491 amends Virginia’s Line of Duty Act definition section to expressly add “sheriff or deputy sheriff” to the list of covered positions. The bill is framed as a definitional change to § 9.1-400, which governs who is considered a deceased person or disabled person for purposes of line-of-duty death and disability benefits, health coverage, and related protections. In practical terms, the bill would make clear that sheriffs and deputy sheriffs are covered by the Act’s benefit structure when they are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.
The bill does not create a new benefits program, but it would expand the statutory coverage of an existing one. Because the Line of Duty Act ties together death benefits, disability benefits, and continued health insurance for eligible dependents and spouses, the amendment would affect benefit eligibility for sheriffs and deputy sheriffs and their families, and it would place those positions alongside other covered public safety and emergency personnel already listed in the statute.
HB491 would amend § 9.1-400 of the Code of Virginia, the definitions section of the Line of Duty Act, by adding sheriffs and deputy sheriffs to the enumerated categories of covered personnel. That change would affect how the Act is applied in benefit determinations under the Line of Duty Act, including eligibility for death and disability benefits and related health insurance protections for covered employees, spouses, and dependents. The bill would therefore expand the class of public safety officers whose line-of-duty injuries or deaths may trigger state benefit obligations under the Act.
The available legislative history suggests the bill was not controversial in committee, but it also did not advance. There are no recorded committee transcripts or floor votes in the provided material, and the bill was ultimately stricken from the docket by the House Appropriations Committee on a unanimous 21-0 vote. That outcome indicates at least procedural support in committee, but no further action was taken.
No specific policy objections or amendments are reflected in the provided record, so there is no documented substantive contention to summarize. The only notable issue apparent from the bill itself is fiscal and administrative: expanding Line of Duty Act coverage can increase state or local benefit liabilities, which likely explains why the bill was referred to Appropriations and then removed from the docket. The bill’s sponsor list suggests support from multiple patrons, while the absence of debate or recorded opposition means any disagreement was not captured in the available materials.