TITLE: Relating to supplemental benefits for retired firefighters and peace officers diagnosed with certain diseases or illnesses.

SUMMARY: Relating to supplemental benefits for retired firefighters and peace officers diagnosed with certain diseases or illnesses.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to supplemental benefits for retired firefighters and peace officers diagnosed with certain diseases or illnesses. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 607, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter Dto read as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN DISEASES OR ILLNESSES SUFFERED BY CERTAIN RETIRED FIREFIGHTERS AND PEACE OFFICERS Sec. 607.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Consumer price index" means the average over a calendar year of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. City Average, published monthly by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, or its successor in function. (2) "Firefighter" has the meaning assigned by Section 607.051. (3) "Peace officer" has the meaning assigned by Section 607.051. Sec. 607.152. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter applies only to a firefighter or peace officer who retires from a fire department or law enforcement agency with at least 50 firefighters or peace officers, respectively. Sec. 607.153. BENEFITS FOR CANCER, ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, OR STROKE. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a political subdivision shall provide to a firefighter or peace officer who retires from the political subdivision a critical-illness supplemental income benefit or comparable health benefit plan coverage in accordance with this section if the firefighter or peace officer is diagnosed with a disease described by Section 607.055 or 607.056 not later than the third anniversary of the date the firefighter or peace officer retires. (b) The value of the supplemental income benefit provided under Subsection (a) is the lesser of: (1) the firefighter's or peace officer's final yearly salary; or (2) $100,000. (c) A political subdivision providing a supplemental income benefit under Subsection (a) may provide the benefit in a lump sum payment or equal payments over three consecutive months. (d) Not later than September 1 of each year ending in a five, the commissioner of workers' compensation by rule shall adjust the amount described by Subsection (b)(2) by an amount equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the consumer price index for the preceding 10 years. (e) This section does not apply to a political subdivision that provides to a firefighter or peace officer who retires from the political subdivision a health benefit plan that is comparable in coverage and cost to the retiree as the health benefit plan the political subdivision provided to the retiree on the day before the date the retiree retired. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a firefighter or peace officer who retires on or after January 1, 2026. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.