SB 97

This bill establishes a health insurance benefit and loan program for the

surviving spouses and dependent children of law enforcement officers and fire

fighters employed by the state who die in the line of duty and for the surviving

spouses and dependent children of local government law enforcement officers, fire

fighters, and emergency medical technicians who die in the line of duty.

Under the health insurance benefit part of the program, the Department of

Administration pays, or reimburses the surviving spouses of law enforcement

officers or fire fighters employed by the state who die in the line of duty for the

payment of, health insurance premiums for the spouses and the surviving dependent

children. In addition, DOA reimburses local governments for health insurance

premiums paid by the local governments for the surviving spouses and dependent

children of local government law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and emergency

medical technicians who die in the line of duty. These payments are made for the

surviving spouse until he or she remarries or reaches the age of 65 and, generally,

for surviving dependent children until they reach the age of 26.

Under the loan part of the program, DOA must provide for the payment of a loan

to a surviving spouse in an amount equal to the salary that would have been paid to

his or her deceased spouse had the spouse not died in the line of duty. The loan must

be disbursed to coincide with the pay period that applied to the deceased spouse,

must be secured by the proceeds of a life insurance policy that covered the deceased

spouse, and must come due when a surviving spouse receives the proceeds from the

life insurance policy.

For the surviving spouses and dependent children of law enforcement officers

or fire fighters employed by the state, the health insurance benefit and loan program

is funded from the general fund. For the surviving spouses and dependent children

of local government law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical

technicians, the program is funded from reduced shared revenue payments that

would otherwise be paid to the local governments.

This program applies retroactively and covers surviving spouses and

dependent children of law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical

technicians who died at any time in the line of duty, but only with respect to future

health insurance benefits and loans.