Substitute Senate Bill No. 1239, also known as Public Act No. 25-61, seeks to enhance support for the families of first responders who are killed in the line of duty by broadening the definition of "first responder" to include emergency medical technicians, firefighters, paramedics, and police officers. The bill establishes a "Fallen Hero Fund," which will provide a lump sum death benefit of $100,000 to the surviving families of these first responders, in addition to any other benefits they may receive. This benefit is protected from reductions based on other compensation, such as workers' compensation. The bill also requires the Comptroller to submit an annual report on the fund's expenditures and outlines the process for adopting regulations to prioritize benefits for dependent children and spouses of deceased first responders. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025.

In addition to the provisions for the Fallen Hero Fund, the bill amends existing statutes to redefine terms related to health care coverage for specific groups. It introduces the term "partnership plan" for health care benefit plans offered by the Comptroller to nonstate public employers and nonprofit employers, while also ensuring that survivors of first responders killed in the line of duty receive health care coverage for one year, with the option to renew annually for up to five years. Employers are required to cover the costs of this partnership plan for their employees, with no contributions needed from survivors. The bill also allows certain educational institutions to provide health care coverage for graduate assistants and trainees through the partnership plan, with costs covered by the university rather than the General Fund.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 3-122a, 3-123aaa, 7-313g
PS Joint Favorable Substitute: 3-122a, 3-123aaa
File No. 425: 3-122a, 3-123aaa
APP Joint Favorable: 3-122a, 3-123aaa
Public Act No. 25-61: 3-122a, 3-123aaa