Kentucky: EMS death-benefits legislation passes unanimously in state house

A bill extending state death benefits to EMS workers was passed in the Kentucky House of Representatives 95-0 Friday morning.

House Bill 54 was amended to be retroactive and include EMS personnel deaths beginning June 30, 2015. It was named in memory of the Jessamine County paramedic whose family will be among those affected by the bill.

Jessamine County Paramedic John Mackey died on duty in November after being struck by a vehicle.

Joe Kinney, John Mackey's father and a firefighter himself, said after the vote that the family was “extremely happy” and that the change would be “long overdue.”

“It's just been overlooked,” he said.

Kinney said the whole family was present for the vote. State Rep. Russ Meyer allowed Mackey's widow Janine to enter his “yes” vote for him.

“It's not only important to Janine and her family, it's important to first responders all across the state who answer the call each and every day,” Meyer said. “I'm proud to stand up for public safety in our community and our state any time I can.”

After the vote, the family spoke with senators who will be taking the bill up next, Kinney said.

House Bill 54 was sponsored by Rep. Dean Schamore (D-Hardinsburg) and co-sponsored by Jessamine representatives Meyer (D-Nicholasville) and Kim King (R-Harrodsburg), among other co-sponsors.

Jessamine County EMS Chief Aaron Stamper said supporters “couldn't have asked for the bill to move any faster” and praised Meyer for his work in the committee on local government to make that happen.

“Rep. Meyer was outstanding. ... He went above and beyond for the family to garner support and get it through the House,” Stamper said.

Under the bill, families of emergency medical services workers who die while on duty would receive the same $80,000 benefit and free tuition for state higher education currently available to families of firefighters and law enforcement officers.

An amendment to the bill added language that would also extend the benefits to members of local emergency management agencies.

Stamper said he spent time in Frankfort last week to support both the bill and Janine Mackey. He said he plans to do the same in the Senate and “we'll be with her every step of the way.”

Stamper said it was courageous of Janine Mackey to give her late husband's name to the bill and to advocate for it in Frankfort.

“Honestly, we were there in support of her,” Stamper said.

Kinney and his wife, Doris, said they also plan to go back to Frankfort for the Senate vote on the bill and possibly for the Senate committee vote.

The bill that passed in the House Friday is similar to ones that have been filed multiple times over the years. This year, there are two EMS benefits bills — Jessamine Sen. Tom Buford (R-Nicholasville) started a Senate version of the bill, Senate Bill 43, which is currently in committee.

Stamper said he was happy about the bipartisan support the bill had in the House and that he hopes to see bipartisan support when the Senate takes the two bills up.

“We remain optimistic that one of those two pieces of legislation will come to fruition for EMS and to care for the Mackey family,” Stamper said.

Stamper added that House Bill 54 is “definitely not out of the woods yet” and said he hopes the community will continue to communicate with their state legislators in support of both the House and Senate bills.

Joe Kinney said he's hopeful that this year, the issue will be more successful than in the past because “this (bill) seems to have a tremendous amount of momentum.”

Meyer said he and Buford are looking forward to working together to gather bipartisan support for getting a bill passed for EMS and the Mackey family.

“I'm confident that it's all going to work out (for the legislation and the Mackey family),” Meyer said.