1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to public safety; requiring active firefighter deaths to be reported to the 
1.3 	state fire marshal; providing continued health insurance coverage to families of 
1.4 	noncareer firefighters who die in the line of duty;amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.5 	2014, section 299A.465, subdivision 5, by adding a subdivision; proposing 
1.6 	coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299F.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299A.465, is amended by adding a 
1.9 	subdivision to read:
1.10 		Subd. 2a.Volunteer firefighter killed in line of duty. (a) This subdivision 
1.11 	applies when a volunteer firefighter is killed while on duty and discharging the volunteer 
1.12 	firefighter's duties as a volunteer firefighter.
1.13 	(b) The municipality or municipalities that operate the fire department that the 
1.14 	volunteer firefighter serves with shall provide health insurance coverage through the 
1.15 	applicable municipal group health plan to the volunteer firefighter's dependents, including 
1.16 	the volunteer firefighter's spouse.
1.17 	(c) The municipality or municipalities that operate the fire department that the 
1.18 	volunteer firefighter serves with shall pay the same level of contribution to cover the 
1.19 	volunteer firefighter's dependents as is required for a firefighter under subdivision 2, 
1.20 	paragraph (c). Coverage must continue for a dependent of the volunteer firefighter for the 
1.21 	period of time that the person is a dependent up to the age of 65.

1.22 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299A.465, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
1.23 		Subd. 5.Definition. For purposes of this section:
2.1 	(a) "Peace officer" or "officer" has the meaning given in section 626.84, subdivision 
2.2 	1, paragraph (c).
2.3 	(b) "Dependent" means a person who meets the definition of dependent in section 
2.4 	62L.02, subdivision 11, at the time of the officer's or firefighter's injury or death. A person 
2.5 	is not a dependent for purposes of this section during the period of time the person is 
2.6 	covered under another group health plan.
2.7 	(c) "Firefighter" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 424.03, 
2.8 	but does not include volunteer firefighters.
2.9 	(d) "Volunteer firefighter" has the meaning given in section 299N.03, subdivision 7.
2.10 	(e) "Fire department" has the meaning given in section 299N.03, subdivision 4.

2.11 	Sec. 3. [299F.037] REPORTING FIREFIGHTER DEATHS.
2.12 	Whenever an active firefighter dies, whether or not the death is presumed to be in the 
2.13 	line of duty, the fire chief of the deceased firefighter must report, without undue delay, 
2.14 	the death to the state fire marshal. The notification shall identify the cause of death and 
2.15 	contain information concerning the circumstances of the death.