Expanded Line of Duty Act Benefits for Private Police Departments
RICHMOND, VA - Senator Mark Obenshain (R-Rockingham) issued the following statement on his SB1142, the Line of Duty Act bill which passed the General Assembly today.
"Our officers deserve the utmost honor and respect, as do their families, when they put their lives on the line to protect our community. I'm grateful for the resources Governor Youngkin has previously committed to help ensure the families of private police departments are supported just like our public police departments."
Obenshain continued, "I've carried this bill for three sessions now to expand the Line of Duty Act benefits to private police departments and private college and universities' police departments, allowing them to opt-in, and be covered in the benefit plan. I am grateful for the bipartisan support this bill has received this year in both chambers of the General Assembly, and for the dedication and support of the Virginia Chiefs of Police Association and the Council on Independent Colleges in Virginia to see this over the finish line.
Fallen officers John Painter & J.J. Jefferson died in the line of duty during the tragedy at Bridgewater College back in 2022. And then in June of 2023, Officer Chris Wagner with Wintergreen Police made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty as well. These fellow officers dedicated their lives to protecting the students and faculty at Bridgewater and the residents of Wintergreen. The passage of this bill is ultimately a tribute to the lives of these fallen heroes."
Delegate Ellen Campbell is the patron of the House version, HB 1815 which is expected to pass the Senate early next week. Delegate Campbell added:
"The passage of this legislation is the result of years of hard work to right a wrong in the Line of Duty Act. I hope we never have to use this benefit, but the families of campus and private police officers deserve to know that we have their back in Richmond if their loved one lays down their life protecting our community."
The full text of SB1142 can be found here. A full list of Senator Obenshain's legislation can be viewed here. SB1142 has now passed both the Senate and the House and will go to the Governor's desk to be signed into law. The bill will become effective July 1, 2025.
Senator Obenshain represents the second district in the Senate of Virginia. The district includes the city of Harrisonburg and the counties of Bath, Highland, Page, Rockingham, and Augusta (part.) He is a member of the Senate Committee on Courts of Justice; Finance and Appropriations; Commerce & Labor; and Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committees.
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