This bill amends existing law regarding health insurance coverage for the surviving spouses and children of deceased fire fighters and peace officers, as well as for disabled or injured fire fighters and peace officers. It mandates that if an employer, defined as a governing body, a county board of supervisors, or a city council, has procured accident or health insurance coverage for its employees, they are required to continue this coverage for 24 consecutive months for the surviving family of an eligible peace officer or fire fighter who dies in the line of duty. The employer must pay the full premium for this coverage. The bill also introduces a new section that requires employers to provide health insurance coverage for peace officers or fire fighters who are receiving an accidental disability benefit due to a work-related injury or disability, also for a duration of 24 months at the employer's expense.

The bill eliminates previous provisions that allowed employers to opt out of paying for the cost of coverage and that permitted surviving family members to continue coverage by paying the remaining costs themselves. It clarifies the definitions of eligible peace officers and fire fighters and emphasizes the obligation of employers to ensure that health insurance coverage is maintained for the specified duration following a line of duty death or work-related injury.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 509A.13C