HB5595 Extends Line-of-Duty Benefits to Posthumous Children
Summary
Illinois HB5595 passed the House on April 9, 2026, amending the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act to extend line-of-duty death benefits to children born after or not yet designated as beneficiaries on the date a firefighter, law enforcement officer, or correctional officer was killed. The bill also aligns the definition of "child" with the Workers' Compensation Act and makes similar amendments to the Line of Duty Compensation Act. The legislation takes effect immediately upon enactment.
What changed
Illinois HB5595 modifies the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act to prohibit denial of line-of-duty death benefits based solely on a child's birth date or beneficiary designation occurring after the officer's death. The bill adds a definition of "child" consistent with the Workers' Compensation Act and extends identical protections to the Line of Duty Compensation Act.
Public safety agencies, benefits administrators, and surviving family members of killed firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional officers should prepare for expanded eligibility criteria once the bill is fully enacted into law. Human resources and pension administrators for affected departments should anticipate claims from children born after or not yet designated at the time of a parent's line-of-duty death.
What to do next
- Monitor for Governor's signature and final enactment
- Review current beneficiary designations for public safety employees under the Act
- Update benefits administration procedures to accommodate posthumous children claims
Archived snapshot
Apr 10, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Illinois / HB5595 Passed HB5595 House Bill Passed 2026-04-09
ISP-SEPARATE JUVENILE DATABASE
Amends the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. Provides that a child or posthumous child of a firefighter, law enforcement, or correctional or correctional probation officer shall not be denied benefits under this Act on the basis that the child had not been born or had not been designated as a beneficiary on the date the firefighter, law enforcement, or correctional or correctional probation officer was killed. Provides that the definition of "child" has the meaning set forth in the Workers' Compensation Act. Amends the Line of Duty Compensation Act to add a similar definition. Effective immediately.
Bill Details
State Illinois
Session 104th General Assembly
Chamber House
Official Source www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum...
LegiScan View on LegiScan
Sponsors
Michael Kelly (Rep - D) Dave Vella (Rep - D)
Action History
2026-04-09 H Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 097-000-000 2026-04-08 H Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 2026-04-08 H Second Reading - Short Debate 2026-03-27 H Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 2026-03-26 H Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Personnel & Pensions Committee; 011-000-000 2026-03-26 H House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Personnel & Pensions Committee; by Voice Vote 2026-03-26 H Motion to Suspend Rule 21 - Prevailed 072-037-000 2026-03-26 H Motion Filed to Suspend Rule 21 Personnel & Pensions Committee; Rep. Ann M. Williams 2026-03-25 H Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Vella 2026-03-24 H House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Personnel & Pensions Committee 2026-03-24 H Re-assigned to Personnel & Pensions Committee 2026-03-23 H House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Michael J. Kelly 2026-03-18 H Assigned to Executive Committee 2026-02-13 H Referred to Rules Committee 2026-02-13 H First Reading 2026-02-06 H Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Michael J. Kelly
Committee Referrals
2026-02-13 H Rules 2026-03-18 H Executive 2026-03-24 H Personnel & Pensions
Amendments
2026-03-23 House Amendment 001
Bill Text Versions
2026-02-06 Introduced 2026-04-08 Engrossed Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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