SF 2437 (LSB 5132SV (2) 91)

SENATE FILE 2437

BY  COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

(SUCCESSOR TO SF 2029)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to health insurance coverage for surviving spouses and children of deceased fire fighters and peace officers, and health insurance coverage for disabled or injured fire fighters and peace officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 509A.13C, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   509A.13C  Health care insurance coverage for —— surviving spouse and children of fire fighters and peace officers killed in the line of duty.
   1.  For the purposes of this section,:
   a.  “eligible Eligible peace officer or fire fighter” means a all of the following:
   (1)  A peace officer as defined in section 801.4, or a.
   (2)  A fire fighter, to which a line of duty death benefit is payable pursuant to section 97A.6, subsection 16, section 97B.52, subsection 2, or section 411.6, subsection 15.
   (3)  A fire fighter who dies and to which a line of duty death benefit is reasonably expected to be payable pursuant to section 97A.6, subsection 16, section 97B.52, subsection 2, or section 411.6, subsection 15, until such time as the determination of whether to provide a line of duty death benefit is made.
   b.  “Employer” means a governing body, a county board of supervisors, or a city council.
   2.  a.  If a governing body, a county board of supervisors, or a city council an employer has procured accident or health care coverage for its employees under this chapter, such coverage shall permit require continuation of existing coverage or reenrollment in previously existing coverage for the surviving spouse and each surviving child of an eligible peace officer or fire fighter and the employer shall pay the full premium.
   b.  A governing body, a county board of supervisors, or a city council shall also permit continuation of existing coverage for the surviving spouse and each surviving child of a peace officer as defined in section 801.4, or a fire fighter who dies and to which a line of duty death benefit is reasonably expected to be payable pursuant to section 97A.6, subsection 16, section 97B.52, subsection 2, or section 411.6, subsection 15, until such time as the determination of whether to provide a line of duty death benefit is made.
   3.  A governing body, a county board of supervisors, or a city council providing accident or health care coverage under this section shall not be required to pay for the cost of the coverage. However, a governing body, a county board of supervisors, or a city council may pay the full cost or a portion of the cost of the coverage. If the full cost of the coverage is not paid, a surviving spouse and each surviving child eligible for coverage under this section may elect to continue accident or health care coverage by paying that portion of the cost of the coverage not paid by the governing body, county board of supervisors, or city council.
   4.  3.  A governing body, a county board of supervisors, or a city council An employer shall notify the provider of accident or health care coverage for its employees of a surviving spouse and each surviving child to be provided coverage pursuant to the requirements of this section.
   5.  4.  This section shall not require continuation of coverage if the surviving spouse or surviving child who would otherwise be entitled to continuation of coverage under this section was, through the surviving spouse’s or surviving child’s actions, a substantial contributing factor to the death of the eligible peace officer or fire fighter.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  509A.13F  Health insurance coverage —— fire fighters and peace officers.
   1.  For the purposes of this section:
   a.  “Eligible peace officer or fire fighter” means a peace officer as defined in section 801.4, or a fire fighter, who is receiving an accidental disability benefit as a result of a work-related physical disability or injury.
   b.  “Employer” means a governing body, a county board of supervisors, or a city council.
   2.  If an employer has procured accident or health care coverage for its active employees pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or employer policy, the employer must provide, at the employer’s expense, such coverage for an eligible peace officer or fire fighter until the date the eligible peace officer or fire fighter turns fifty-five years old.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to health insurance coverage for surviving spouses and children of deceased fire fighters and peace officers; and health insurance coverage for disabled or injured fire fighters and peace officers.
   Under current law, if a governing body, a county board of supervisors, or a city council has procured accident or health care coverage (coverage) for its employees, such coverage shall permit continuation of existing coverage or reenrollment in previously existing coverage for the surviving spouse and each surviving child (surviving family) of an eligible peace officer or fire fighter.
   The bill eliminates the provision under current law that an employer providing accident or health care coverage is not required to pay for the cost of the coverage, but may pay the full cost or a portion of the cost of the coverage. The bill eliminates the provision under current law that if the full cost of the coverage is not paid, a surviving family eligible for coverage may elect to continue accident or health care coverage by paying that portion of the cost of the coverage not paid by the employer.
   Under the bill, if an employer has procured accident or health care coverage for its employees, such coverage shall require continuation of existing coverage or reenrollment in previously existing coverage for the surviving family of an eligible peace officer or fire fighter, and the employer shall pay the full premium. The bill defines “employer” as a governing body, a county board of supervisors, or a city council.
   Under the bill, if an employer has procured accident or health care coverage for its active employees pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or employer policy, the employer must provide, at the employer’s expense, such coverage for a peace officer or a fire fighter who is receiving an accidental disability benefit as a result of a work-related physical disability or injury until the date the eligible peace officer or fire fighter turns 55 years old.