SB 56: COVID-19 Death Benefits for Public Safety Officers
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On May 14, 2025, Gov. Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill (SB) 56 amending Part 1 of Article 5 of Chapter 9 of the Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia, relating to the Georgia State Indemnification Fund. The bill introduces a new definition for COVID-19 and establishes provisions for COVID-19-related deaths of public safety officers occurring on or before April 15, 2022. It allows eligible family members to submit claims between the bill's effective date of July 1, 2025, and Aug. 1, 2025.
Under this bill, a claim can be made for public safety officers who were diagnosed with and died due to COVID-19 within 14 days of their last day of duty. Eligible individuals include law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, emergency management rescue specialists, state highway employees, and prison guards defined by O.C.G.A. § 45-9-81.
For all applications related to COVID-19 deaths that were previously submitted and denied, they must be resubmitted within the new application window. To make a claim of indemnification for a public safety officer, applications must be submitted by or on the behalf of the surviving, unremarried spouse, or an eligible dependent.
Click here to access the application.
