Joint Budget Committee. In 2018, the general assembly created
the police officers' and firefighters' continuation of benefits board (board) in the department of the treasury. The board is responsible for facilitating the continuation of medical and dental benefits for one year for the dependents of any person who dies in a work-related death if the person was an employee of a local government that offers police or fire protection service (employers). Currently, an employer may make voluntary contributions to the police officers' and firefighters' continuation of benefits fund (fund) on behalf of each person it employs whose duties are directly involved with the provision of police or fire protection. An employer must contribute to the fund to be eligible to have the continuation of benefits for the dependants of an employee who died in a work-related death paid for from the fund.
The bill eliminates the requirement that an employer must
contribute to the fund to be eligible to have the continuation of benefits for dependents of an employee who died in a work-related death paid for from the fund and makes any employer eligible to have the continuation of benefits paid for from the fund. To provide for the costs of ongoing claims, the bill directs the state treasurer to transfer $150,000 from the general fund to the fund on July 1, 2023, and on July 1 each year thereafter through July 1, 2025.
