Philip Davis Act Passes Alabama House

PELHAM, AL - The Alabama House of Representatives passed House Bill 192, also known as the Philip Davis Act, which extends benefits to children of fallen police officers. The bill is named for the first Pelham Police officer to die in the line of duty.

Davis was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 65 in December 2009. Davis, one month shy of his 34th birthday when he was killed, had been on the force for four and a half years. He had worked for the Calera Police Department, and began his career with the University of Alabama Police Department. Bart Wayne Johnson was charged with Davis' murder and sentenced to death June 16, 2011.

Current laws state that benefits to the surviving spouse of a law enforcement officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty end when the spouse remarries or after 500 weeks, whichever comes first. Also, the current law states workers compensation benefits to the surviving dependent child of a police officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty end after 500 weeks, or until the child reaches 18, whichever comes first.

The Philip Davis Act would allow the surviving dependent child to continue receiving workers compensation benefits until they are 18, and would allow the surviving spouse to receive benefits if they remarry within that 500 week timeline.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Matt Fridy of Montevallo, now heads to the Senate.

Photo from the Philip M. Davis Foundation