Antonioni said he and several other local lawmakers are drafting legislation that would earmark the funds in a mini-budget the Legislature will likely consider early next year.
State Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre, Rep. Harold P. Naughton, D-Clinton, Sen. Harriotte L. Chandler, D-Worcester, and Rep. James Eldridge, D-Acton, are signing on as co-sponsors.
Although lawmakers are separately considering whether to create a statewide annuity fund for volunteer firefighters, Antonioni said he doesn't believe those efforts will benefit Claire McNamara and her three young children.
"I think it's the right thing to do to ensure that Claire McNamara and her children have some support given what was lost," Antonioni said. "We can't begin to replace Marty McNamara. But there is an obligation, really, to the commonwealth. The family shouldn't be dependent on charitable contributions."
While providing accidental death benefits to families of deceased volunteer firefighters may be more feasible in larger communities, Antonioni said he believes towns like Lancaster will struggle to afford them.
"We have not put in place any kind of enabling legislation that allows communities to provide these benefits," Antonioni said.
Antonioni said it was tragic that it took the death of a volunteer firefighter to bring to light the issue of a lack of accidental death benefits for families of volunteer firefighters.
Lawmakers are discussing whether to establish a reserve fund which communities with volunteer fire departments would contribute to, and which would cover the benefits to families. That system, however, is likely to be not retroactive, and not a benefit to the McNamara family, Antonioni said.
Voters in Lancaster on Nov. 2 narrowly rejected a proposed Proposition 2 1/2 override that would have provided a $650,000 annuity to the McNamara family.
Lancaster officials will be counting the town's provisional and absentee ballots today, but there are only 13 valid ballots -- not enough to reverse the failed McNamara override.
However, the totals could have an impact on the total recount planned for Thursday.
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