The Montgomery County Council unanimously adopted the HERO Act, which is designed to ensure that when a career firefighter dies while in the line of duty, his or her surviving spouse will begin receiving pension benefits within 60-days of a duty death.
The bill was placed on the fast track to help the widow of Firefighter Christopher Higgins, a 23-year veteran of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service who died Jan. 11 while fighting a house fire in Burtonsville. His widow, Lisa, did not begin receiving his pension until June.
The HERO Act, which was approved Tuesday, closes a gap in the county code.
Councilmember Evan Glass, who sponsored the legislation, said he next would work to make the law applicable to police officers as well.
“When firefighters risk their lives to protect us, we must protect them and their families in return,” Glass said. “The HERO Act strengthens our public safety, fixes a critical gap, and honors those who make the ultimate sacrifice.”
Firefighters risk their lives to protect the community, said Councilmember Sidney Katz. “When tragedy strikes, their families should never face uncertainty or delay. The HERO Act ensures that surviving spouses and children receive timely, meaningful support and preserves the benefits these heroes have earned through their service. This legislation reaffirms Montgomery County’s unwavering commitment to standing by those who stand for us.”
The HERO Act provides a monthly pension to the surviving spouse and children equivalent to what they would have received if their loved one had served 20 years, regardless of how long the deceased firefighter actually served.
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