SF 233

1st Engrossment - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to public safety; requiring employers who 
  1.3             employ peace officers or firefighters injured or 
  1.4             killed in the line of duty to continue to provide 
  1.5             health insurance coverage; proposing coding for new 
  1.6             law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299A. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  [299A.465] [CONTINUED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE 
  1.9   TO DISABLED.] 
  1.10     Subdivision 1.  [OFFICER OR FIREFIGHTER DISABLED IN LINE OF 
  1.11  DUTY.] (a) This subdivision applies when a peace officer or 
  1.12  firefighter suffers a disabling injury that: 
  1.13     (1) results in the officer's or firefighter's retirement or 
  1.14  separation from service; 
  1.15     (2) occurs while the officer or firefighter is acting in 
  1.16  the course and scope of duties as a peace officer or 
  1.17  firefighter; and 
  1.18     (3) the officer or firefighter has been approved to receive 
  1.19  the officer's or firefighter's duty-related disability pension. 
  1.20     (b) The officer's or firefighter's employer shall continue 
  1.21  to provide health coverage for: 
  1.22     (1) the officer or firefighter; and 
  1.23     (2) the officer's or firefighter's dependents if the 
  1.24  officer or firefighter was receiving dependent coverage at the 
  1.25  time of the injury under the employer's group health plan. 
  1.26     (c) The employer is responsible for the continued payment 
  2.1   of the employer's contribution for coverage of the officer or 
  2.2   firefighter and, if applicable, the officer's or firefighter's 
  2.3   dependents.  Coverage must continue for the officer or 
  2.4   firefighter and, if applicable, the officer's or firefighter's 
  2.5   dependents until the officer or firefighter reaches the age of 
  2.6   65.  However, coverage for dependents does not have to be 
  2.7   continued after the person is no longer a dependent.  
  2.8      Subd. 2.  [OFFICER OR FIREFIGHTER KILLED IN LINE OF 
  2.9   DUTY.] (a) This subdivision applies when a peace officer or 
  2.10  firefighter is killed while on duty and discharging the 
  2.11  officer's or firefighter's duties as a peace officer or 
  2.12  firefighter. 
  2.13     (b) The officer's or firefighter's employer shall continue 
  2.14  to cover the deceased officer's or firefighter's dependents if 
  2.15  the officer or firefighter was receiving dependent coverage at 
  2.16  the time of the officer's or firefighter's death under the 
  2.17  employer's group health plan. 
  2.18     (c) The employer is responsible for the employer's 
  2.19  contribution for the coverage of the officer's or firefighter's 
  2.20  dependents.  Coverage must continue for a dependent of the 
  2.21  officer or firefighter for the period of time that the person is 
  2.22  a dependent up to the age of 65. 
  2.23     Subd. 3.  [COORDINATION OF BENEFITS.] Health insurance 
  2.24  benefits payable to the officer or firefighter and the officer's 
  2.25  or firefighter's dependents from any other source provide the 
  2.26  primary coverage, and coverage available under this section is 
  2.27  secondary. 
  2.28     Subd. 4.  [PUBLIC EMPLOYER REIMBURSEMENT.] A public 
  2.29  employer subject to this section may annually apply to the 
  2.30  commissioner of public safety for reimbursement of its costs of 
  2.31  complying with this section.  The commissioner shall provide 
  2.32  reimbursement to the public employer out of the public safety 
  2.33  officer's benefit account. 
  2.34     Subd. 5.  [DEFINITION.] For purposes of this section: 
  2.35     (a) "Peace officer" or "officer" has the meaning given in 
  2.36  section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c). 
  3.1      (b) "Dependent" means a person who meets the definition of 
  3.2   dependent in section 62L.02, subdivision 11, at the time of the 
  3.3   officer's injury or death. 
  3.4      (c) "Firefighter" has the meaning given in section 424.03, 
  3.5   but does not include volunteer firefighters. 
  3.6      Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  3.7      Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.