1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to public employees; making certain changes 
  1.3             relating to health coverage for survivors of police 
  1.4             officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty; 
  1.5             amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 299A.46; 
  1.6             and 299A.465, subdivision 2. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 299A.46, is 
  1.9   amended to read: 
  1.10     299A.46 [RULES.] 
  1.11     The commissioner of public safety may adopt rules under 
  1.12  chapter 14 to implement, coordinate, and administer sections 
  1.13  299A.41 to 299A.44 and 299A.465.  The higher education services 
  1.14  office may adopt rules to implement, coordinate, and administer 
  1.15  section 299A.45.  
  1.16     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 299A.465, 
  1.17  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.18     Subd. 2.  [OFFICER OR FIREFIGHTER KILLED IN LINE OF DUTY.] 
  1.19  (a) This subdivision applies when a peace officer or firefighter 
  1.20  is killed while on duty and discharging the officer's or 
  1.21  firefighter's duties as a peace officer or firefighter. 
  1.22     (b) The officer's or firefighter's employer shall continue 
  1.23  to cover the deceased officer's or firefighter's dependents, 
  1.24  including the officer's or firefighter's spouse: 
  1.25     (1) if the officer or firefighter was receiving dependent 
  1.26  coverage at the time of the officer's or firefighter's death 
  2.1   under the employer's group health plan; or 
  2.2      (2) if the officer's or firefighter's spouse was not 
  2.3   covered as a dependent at the time of the officer's or 
  2.4   firefighter's death, but at that time was eligible, or afterward 
  2.5   becomes eligible, to be a dependent on the employer's group 
  2.6   health plan. 
  2.7      (c) The employer is responsible for the employer's 
  2.8   contribution for the coverage of the officer's or firefighter's 
  2.9   dependents.  Coverage must continue for a dependent of the 
  2.10  officer or firefighter for the period of time that the person is 
  2.11  a dependent up to the age of 65. 
  2.12     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.13     Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.  
  2.14  Section 2 is effective the day following final enactment and 
  2.15  applies to health coverage on or after that date with respect to 
  2.16  dependents of peace officers and firefighters killed on or after 
  2.17  November 1, 1997.