OLYMPIA, Wash. - House members passed a bill to enhance the death benefits for relatives of police officers killed in the line of duty.
The measure passed the House 92-2 Tuesday. It removes a 10-year service requirement for officers to qualify for the benefits, and expands the lump sum given to families to $214,000. It also requires the state's universities to provide free tuition for families. They would also receive at least 10 percent of the officer's salary yearly.
Some surviving family members said they were disappointed the bill did not go far enough.
The final version left out a provision that would have let surviving spouses continue to receive death benefits after they remarry. Current law terminates benefits if a spouse remarries.
That element was amended out of the bill when the Senate approved it.
Several House members said they were upset to lose that element, but voted in favor of the bill so the other enhancements would become law.
"To have that taken out, it was really tough," said Renee Maher, who's husband's Patrick Maher was killed while working as a Federal Way police officer in 2003.
Maher was present for the vote.
Gov. Chris Gregoire encouraged lawmakers to pass the bill without the remarriage clause, to make sure some benefit reforms passed this session.
She said she hopes that element will be part of another bill next year.
"It can survive another day for another fight," she said.
