Nearly three years after the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act was passed into law, the Department of Justice has issued new rules under the Public Safety Officer Benefits Program. The new regulations, including heart and stroke benefits, take effect Sept. 11, 2006.

“The new regulations ensure that the intent of Hometown Heroes is met and that the families of firefighters who perish as a result of a heart attack or stroke receive PSO benefits,” said International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger.

The DOJ’s action means that if a public safety officer dies as a result of a heart attack or stroke, the death may be presumed to have been the result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty, provided that the heart attack or stroke occurred while the officer was on duty and engaged in an emergency response activity or training exercise, or that the heart attack or stroke occurred within 24 hours of such activity or exercise.

The DOJ’s final rule regarding the program can be downloaded in PDF format here.