SB 979 – Modifies the eligibility for line of duty compensation for emergency personnel

• Sponsor: Schaefer
• LR Number: 6266S.01I
• Committee: Small Business, Insurance and Industry
• Last Action: 3/26/2014 - Second Read and Referred S Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee
• Journal Page: S623
• Effective Date: August 28, 2014

Current Bill Summary

SB 979 - Under current law, emergency personnel killed in the line of duty are eligible for certain workers' compensation benefits when such person's life is lost as a result of an injury received in the active performance of his or her duties, within the scope of his or her profession, while on duty and but for the performance, death would not have occurred.

This act modifies the standard for eligibility. Under the act, individuals are eligible for compensation when:

• Death is caused by an accident or violence of another;

• The individual is in the active performance of his or her duties and there is a relationship between the accident or commission of the act and the performance of duty, even when off duty; the individual is traveling to or from employment; or the individual is taking a break while on duty;

• The injury is the cause of the death; and

• Death occurs within 300 weeks of the injury.

This act is similar to SCS/HCS/HB 580 (2009).

CHRIS HOGERTY