HF 3947
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/05/2026 02:05 p.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to public safety; making certain injured paramedics and emergency medical
technicians eligible for continued health insurance coverage; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2024, section 299A.465, subdivision 5; Minnesota Statutes 2025
Supplement, section 299A.465, subdivision 1.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 299A.465, subdivision 1, is
amended to read:
Subdivision 1.
deleted text begin Officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin Covered individualnew text end disabled in line of duty.
(a)
This subdivision applies to any deleted text begin peace officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin covered individualnew text end :
(1) who the Public Employees Retirement Association or the Minnesota State Retirement
System determines is eligible to receive a duty disability benefit pursuant to section 353.656
or 352B.10, subdivision 1, respectively; deleted text begin or
deleted text end
(2) who is a member of a local police or salaried firefighters relief association and
qualifies for a duty disability benefit under the terms of plans of the relief associations, and
the peace officer or firefighter has discontinued public service as a peace officer or firefighter
as a result of a disabling injury and has been determined, by the Public Employees Retirement
Association, to have otherwise met the duty disability criteria set forth in section 353.01,
subdivision 41new text begin ; or
new text end
new text begin (3) who is described in section 353.64, subdivision 10, and is eligible to receive a duty
disability benefit under section 353.656new text end .
(b) Determinations made in accordance with paragraph (a) are binding on the deleted text begin peace
officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin covered individualnew text end , employer, and state. The determination must be
made by the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association or by the
executive director of the Minnesota State Retirement System, whichever applies, and is not
subject to section 356.96, subdivision 2. Upon making a determination, the executive director
must provide written notice to the deleted text begin peace officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin covered individualnew text end and the
employer. The notice must include a written statement of the reasons for the determination.
If the notice is from the executive director of the Minnesota State Retirement System, the
notice must also include:
(1) a notice that the person may petition for a review of the determination by requesting
that a contested case be initiated before the Office of Administrative Hearings, the cost of
which must be borne by the peace officer or firefighter and the employer; and
(2) a statement that any person who does not petition for a review within 60 days is
precluded from contesting issues determined by the executive director in any other
administrative review or court procedure.
If, prior to the contested case hearing, additional information is provided to support the
claim for duty disability as defined in section 352B.011, subdivision 7, the executive director
may reverse the determination without the requested hearing. If a hearing is held before the
Office of Administrative Hearings, the determination rendered by the judge conducting the
fact-finding hearing is a final decision and order under section 14.62, subdivision 2a, and
is binding on the applicable executive director, the peace officer or firefighter, employer,
and state. Review of a final determination made by the Office of Administrative Hearings
under this section may only be obtained by writ of certiorari to the Minnesota Court of
Appeals under sections 14.63 to 14.68. Only the peace officer or firefighter, employer, and
state have standing to participate in a judicial review of the decision of the Office of
Administrative Hearings.
(c) The deleted text begin officer's or firefighter'sdeleted text end new text begin covered individual'snew text end employer must continue to provide
health coverage and pay for the coverage as required by paragraphs (d) to (g) for:
(1) the deleted text begin officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin covered individualnew text end ; and
(2) the deleted text begin officer's or firefighter'sdeleted text end new text begin covered individual'snew text end dependents if the deleted text begin officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin
covered individualnew text end was receiving dependent coverage at the time of the injury under the
employer's group health plan.
(d) For deleted text begin an officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin a covered individualnew text end who has applied for or been approved
to receive benefits under section 353.656 prior to the date of enactment or deleted text begin an officer or
firefighterdeleted text end new text begin a covered individualnew text end who applies for and is approved for total and permanent
duty disability benefits under section 353.656, subdivision 1a, the employer is responsible
for the continued payment of the employer's contribution for health coverage of the deleted text begin officer
or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin covered individualnew text end and, if applicable, the deleted text begin officer's or firefighter'sdeleted text end new text begin covered
individual'snew text end dependents. Coverage must continue for the deleted text begin officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin covered
individualnew text end and, if applicable, the deleted text begin officer's or firefighter'sdeleted text end new text begin covered individual'snew text end dependents
until the deleted text begin officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin covered individualnew text end reaches age 65 or, if deceased, would have
reached age 65.
(e) For deleted text begin an officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin a covered individualnew text end approved to receive benefits under
section 353.656 on or after the date of enactment and who is not approved for total and
permanent duty disability benefits under section 353.656, subdivision 1a, the employer is
responsible for the continued payment of the employer's contribution for health coverage
of the deleted text begin officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin covered individualnew text end and, if applicable, the deleted text begin officer's or firefighter'sdeleted text end new text begin
covered individual'snew text end dependents. Coverage must continue:
(1) for the deleted text begin officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin covered individualnew text end for a period of 60 months or, if earlier,
until the deleted text begin officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin covered individualnew text end reaches age 65; and
(2) for the deleted text begin officer's or firefighter'sdeleted text end new text begin covered individual'snew text end dependents for a period of 60
months.
(f) For an officer or firefighter who has applied for or been approved to receive benefits
under section 352B.10, subdivision 1, the employer is responsible for the continued payment
of the employer's contribution for health coverage of the officer or firefighter and, if
applicable, the officer's or firefighter's dependents. Coverage must continue for the officer
or firefighter and, if applicable, the officer's or firefighter's dependents until the officer or
firefighter reaches age 65 or, if deceased, would have reached age 65.
(g) The employer is not required to continue health coverage for dependents after the
person is no longer a dependent.
(h) deleted text begin An officer or firefighterdeleted text end new text begin A covered individualnew text end who has applied for or been approved
to receive benefits under section 353.656 may affirmatively waive health coverage under
this section but must not receive any payment or other consideration from the employer in
exchange for waiver of the coverage. Any agreement entered into between deleted text begin an officer or
firefighterdeleted text end new text begin a covered individualnew text end who has applied for or been approved to receive benefits
under section 353.656 and the deleted text begin officer's or firefighter'sdeleted text end new text begin covered individual'snew text end employer or the
employer's agent providing for compensation for a waiver of coverage under this section
is void. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to render void any agreement entered
into prior to the date of enactment.
(i) Once a duty disability determination is made pursuant to section 353.656, the employer
has no right to challenge and is prohibited from challenging the continuation and payment
of health coverage under this section.
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 299A.465, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5.
Definition.
For purposes of this section:
(a) "Peace officer" or "officer" has the meaning given in section 626.84, subdivision 1,
paragraph (c).
(b) "Dependent" means a person who: (1) meets the definition of dependent in section
62L.02, subdivision 11, at the time of the officer'snew text begin , paramedic's, emergency medical
technician's,new text end or firefighter's injury or death, or at the time of the volunteer firefighter's death;
and (2) is not covered under another group health plan. For purposes of this section, the
term "eligible employee" as defined under section 62L.02, subdivision 13, includes a
volunteer firefighter.
(c) "Firefighter" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 424.03, but
does not include volunteer firefighters.
(d) "Volunteer firefighter" has the meaning given in section 299N.03, subdivision 7,
and includes paid per call.
(e) "Fire department" has the meaning given in section 299N.03, subdivision 4.
(f) For purposes of subdivisions 2 to 5a, "employer" includes a municipality or
municipalities that operate the fire department in which a volunteer firefighter serves.
new text begin
(g) "Covered individual" includes a peace officer, firefighter, volunteer firefighter,
paramedic, and emergency medical technician eligible for benefits under subdivision 1.
new text end
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Sec. 3. new text begin APPLICATION.
new text end
new text begin
The amendments in sections 1 and 2 apply to injuries occurring on or after January 1,
2020.
new text end