Financial support for families of fallen Texas law enforcement officers is an issue Texas Senate candidate Bryan Hughes takes
seriously.
Hughes, a Republican, was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in November 2002 to represent District 5, consisting of Camp, Harrison, Upshur and Wood
Counties.
Hughes was at the downtown post office in Texarkana on Friday to discuss law enforcement issues. He was a primary backer of House Bill 1278, which took effect
September 1.
Hughes said he was not aware until the last legislative session that Texas leads the nation in law enforcement deaths.
"We hope it's never needed, but in
the event of that tragic situation, the
family would have some help. No
amount of money is going to make it right, but it would be very beneficial to the family,"
Hughes said.
HB 1278 makes sure the state of Texas pays $500,000 to the surviving spouses of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. If there is no eligible surviving spouse, the state will pay $500,000 in equal shares to surviving children.
If there is no eligible surviving spouse or child, the state will pay $500,000 in equal shares to
surviving parents.
HB 1278 also provides money to surviving minor children of law enforcement officers. It provides $400 a month for a minor child until the child turns 18.
Hughes said law enforcement in this country is under attack and support for the officers is
needed.
"When I think about police officers, I think about Romans 13 and what it says about the job of the government. I think law enforcement are ministers of God," Hughes said.
Some Bowie County law enforcement officers and members of Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas turned out Friday in support of Hughes.