WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Leahy: Expand Death Benefits for EMTs

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, introduced legislation to extended benefits to paramedics and EMTS killed or injured in the line of duty.

Dale Long, 49, of the Bennington Rescue Squad, was killed last week when his ambulance went off the road and hit a tree.

Currently only first responders who work for a state or town get benefits. The new bill would add to the list nonprofit ambulance organizations like the Bennington Rescue Squad.

"The Dale Long act is to give the people who are volunteers or EMTs and don't have any survivor benefits, and if they're killed or die in the line of duty that they get the same benefits we give to our professional firefighters for example," Leahy said. "There is a gap there, and we wanted to do this. If we can get it through it will be named for him and it will be made retroactive to cover benefits for him."

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, also sponsored the bill.

Marselis Parsons - WCAX News