SB 604 - This act provides that the Department of Health and Senior Services shall provide health care coverage to any first responder to a terrorist attack or natural disaster for injuries caused in responding to the attack or disaster. State assistance under this section shall be available to an applicant only after the applicant has shown that he or she has exhausted all benefits from third party payers. Nothing in this act shall be construed to prevent an applicant from receiving benefits who has previously settled a workers' compensation claim. This act also provides that by January 1, 2008, and annually thereafter, each department of state government shall report to the General Assembly on their respective preparedness for natural disasters and terrorist attacks. The report shall include a response plan for the departments to continue to provide services in the event of disruption of transportation and telecommunications equipment and operation. The report shall include the projections of how long such services will be unavailable to the citizens of Missouri.
ADRIANE CROUSE