HF 4691

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 05/09/2022 04:01pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; expanding eligibility for public safety officer survivor
benefits; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 299A.41, subdivision 3, by
adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 299A.41, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Killed in the line of duty.

new text begin (a) new text end "Killed in the line of duty" does not include
deaths from natural causes, except as provided in this subdivision. In the case of a public
safety officer, killed in the line of duty includes the death of a public safety officer caused
by accidental means while the public safety officer is acting in the course and scope of
duties as a public safety officer.

new text begin (b) new text end Killed in the line of duty also means if a public safety officer dies as the direct and
proximate result of a heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture, that officer shall be presumed
to have died as the direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of
duty if:

(1) that officer, while on duty:

(i) engaged in a situation, and that engagement involved nonroutine stressful or strenuous
physical law enforcement, fire suppression, rescue, hazardous material response, emergency
medical services, prison security, disaster relief, or other emergency response activity; or

(ii) participated in a training exercise, and that participation involved nonroutine stressful
or strenuous physical activity;

(2) that officer died as a result of a heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture suffered:

(i) while engaging or participating under clause (1);

(ii) while still on duty after engaging or participating under clause (1); or

(iii) not later than 24 hours after engaging or participating under clause (1); and

(3) the presumption is not overcome by competent medical evidence to the contrary.

new text begin (c) Killed in the line of duty also means if a public safety officer dies as a result of suicide
when:
new text end

new text begin (1) a licensed mental health provider previously diagnosed the officer with post-traumatic
stress disorder; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the officer's mental health provider determined the post-traumatic stress disorder
resulted from the officer's work as a public safety officer.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 299A.41, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 3a. new text end

new text begin Post-traumatic stress disorder. new text end

new text begin "Post-traumatic stress disorder" means the
condition as described in the most recently published edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association.
new text end