The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1239 establishes a "Fallen Officer and Firefighter Fund" to provide health insurance coverage and financial support to the survivors of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty. The bill amends Section 3-122a of the general statutes to include firefighters in definitions related to dependents and survivors, updating terms such as "dependent child" to include children of firefighters and clarifying that "killed in the line of duty" refers to deaths occurring during official duties. A key provision of the bill is the introduction of a lump sum death benefit of $100,000 for the families of fallen officers and firefighters, which is in addition to any other benefits they may receive.

Furthermore, the bill mandates the Comptroller to submit an annual report on fund expenditures and balances, and allows for the adoption of regulations to implement the fund's provisions, prioritizing benefits for dependent children and spouses. It also expands the definitions of "nonstate public employee" and "nonstate public employer" to include municipalities and boards of education, and introduces a "partnership plan" for health care benefits that ensures continued coverage for survivors for one year, with the option to renew for up to five years. Employers are required to cover the costs of this health care plan, with no contributions needed from the survivors, and a reimbursement mechanism is established from the Fallen Officer and Firefighter Fund for employers providing this coverage. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 3-122a, 3-123aaa, 7-313g