A Kentucky lawmaker plans to file a bill that would help the families of first responders who died from COVID-19.
Rep. Thomas Huff, a Republican from Shepherdsville, said his proposal is a result of the twin tragedy that occurred at the Zoneton Fire Department.
Chief Rob Orkies died in December 2020 after a battle with both cancer and COVID-19. Then in February, acting Chief Gary Key also fell to the virus. But the families were denied Kentucky's death benefit of $80,000 given when first responders die as a result of their jobs.
Zoneton’s new chief, Kevin Moulton, said he was told by the Kentucky Fire Commission that the families were not eligible because of the way the state law is worded.
“In the KRS, it does not state COVID-19 or anything like that,” Moulton said.