HF 1152

as introduced - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to public safety; regulating disbursement of 
  1.3             funds for health care assistance under public safety 
  1.4             officer benefits program; amending Minnesota Statutes 
  1.5             2002, section 299A.465, subdivisions 4, 5. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 299A.465, 
  1.8   subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 4.  [PUBLIC EMPLOYER REIMBURSEMENT.] A public 
  1.10  employer subject to this section may annually apply by August 1 
  1.11  for the preceding fiscal year to the commissioner of public 
  1.12  safety for reimbursement to help defray a portion of its costs 
  1.13  of complying with this section.  The commissioner shall provide 
  1.14  reimbursement an equal pro rata share to the public employer out 
  1.15  of the public safety officer's benefit account based on the 
  1.16  availability of funds for each eligible peace officer or 
  1.17  eligible firefighter and for qualifying dependents.  Individual 
  1.18  shares must not exceed the actual costs of providing coverage 
  1.19  under this section by a public employer. 
  1.20     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 299A.465, 
  1.21  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  1.22     Subd. 5.  [DEFINITION.] For purposes of this section: 
  1.23     (a) "Peace officer" or "officer" has the meaning given in 
  1.24  section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c). 
  1.25     (b) "Dependent" means a person who meets the definition of 
  2.1   dependent in section 62L.02, subdivision 11, at the time of the 
  2.2   officer's or firefighter's injury or death.  A person is not a 
  2.3   dependent for purposes of this section during the period of time 
  2.4   the person is covered under another group health plan.  
  2.5      (c) "Firefighter" has the meaning given in Minnesota 
  2.6   Statutes 2000, section 424.03, but does not include volunteer 
  2.7   firefighters. 
  2.8      (d) "Disabling injury" means a physical harm that occurred 
  2.9   in the line of duty.  Posttraumatic stress disorders and 
  2.10  emotional and psychological conditions, which may result from 
  2.11  the peace officer's or firefighter's duties, are not covered 
  2.12  under this section.