Senate Bill 2181 amends Tennessee law regarding health insurance for public safety employees, specifically focusing on state and local law enforcement officers. The bill defines "catastrophic injury" and establishes eligibility criteria for health insurance benefits for the surviving spouse and dependent children of law enforcement officers who are killed or suffer such injuries in the line of duty, effective from January 1, 2020. The employer is required to cover the entire premium for the officer and their family members. Additionally, if the spouse becomes eligible for insurance through a subsequent marriage, the coverage will terminate, but dependent children may continue to receive benefits if they meet eligibility requirements.

The bill also modifies existing provisions by removing references to "law enforcement officers" in favor of "firefighters" in a specific section of the law. Furthermore, it introduces a new section that mandates political subdivisions offering health insurance to local law enforcement officers to provide similar benefits to their families in the event of a catastrophic injury or death in the line of duty. The state will reimburse these subdivisions for the health insurance premiums they cover. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 8-27-210, 8-27-404(a)(2), 8-27-404