Fire Prevention & Control Employee Benefits

Certain employers of firefighters are currently required to maintain insurance to provide benefits to a firefighter if he or she has a heart and circulatory malfunction in connection with a stressful or strenuous activity related to an emergency response activity. In addition, certain employers of firefighters may make contributions into a multiple employer health trust established to provide benefits to volunteer firefighters diagnosed with certain covered cancers. The act adds the division of fire prevention and control in the department of public safety (division) to the definition of "employer" for the purpose of providing benefits for a heart and circulatory malfunction and to the definition of "employer" for the purpose of providing benefits for certain covered cancers. In addition, the act expands the definition of "state trooper" for purposes of the public employees' retirement association to include all current and future employees of the division that are classified as a firefighter I through firefighter VII class titles. For the 2020-21 state fiscal year, various amounts are appropriated from the general fund, cash funds, federal funds, and reappropriated funds to the department of health care policy and financing, the department of public health and environment, and the department of public safety for the implementation of the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)