I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4424 
To amend title 5, United States Code, to make family members of public 
safety officers killed in the line of duty eligible for coverage under 
the Federal employees health benefits program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 18, 2005 
Mr. STUPAK (for himself, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mrs. MCCARTHY, Mr. KENNEDY of 
Rhode Island, Mr. BISHOP
of Georgia, Mr. PALLONE, and Mrs. 
MALONEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Government Reform 
A BILL 
To amend title 5, United States Code, to make family mem-
bers of public safety officers killed in the line of duty 
eligible for coverage under the Federal employees health 
benefits program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH BENEFITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 89 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘§ 8915. Coverage for survivors of public safety offi-
cers killed in the line of duty 
‘‘(a) For purposes of this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘qualified individual’ means an 
individual who, as of the date on which such indi-
vidual first submits an application for health bene-
fits coverage under this section, is a member of the 
family of a public safety officer killed in the line of 
duty; 
‘‘(2) the term ‘member of the family’ has the 
meaning such term would have under paragraph (5) 
of section 8901 if each reference in such paragraph 
to an ‘employee or annuitant’ were treated as a ref-
erence to a public safety officer killed in the line of 
duty; and 
‘‘(3) the term ‘public safety officer killed in the 
line of duty’ means a public safety officer (as de-
fined by section 1204 of the Omnibus Crime Control 
and Safe Streets Act of 1968) who died as the direct 
and proximate result of a personal injury sustained 
in the line of duty (as determined under section 
1201 of such Act). 
‘‘(b) Under regulations prescribed by the Office of 
Personnel Management, a qualified individual may enroll 
in an approved health benefits plan described by section 
8903 or 8903a as an individual or for self and family.
‘‘(c) The regulations shall specify the terms and con-
ditions of coverage under this section, which shall, to the 
extent practicable, be consistent with those applicable in 
the case of an individual having continued enrollment as 
a family member under section 8905(b)(2). 
‘‘(d) An application for health benefits coverage 
under this section shall be submitted at such time, in such 
manner, and together with such information or evidence 
of eligibility for coverage as the Office may by regulation 
require. 
‘‘(e)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
chapter— 
‘‘(A) the amount necessary to pay the total en-
rollment charge for an individual who is enrolled in 
a health benefits plan under this section shall be 
paid by such individual and the Government in the 
same proportions as would apply in the case of an 
annuitant— 
‘‘(i) with the individual contribution to be 
paid currently into the Employees Health Bene-
fits Fund under arrangements satisfactory to 
the Office; and 
‘‘(ii) with the Government contribution to 
be made from annual appropriations which are
authorized to be made for that purpose and 
which may be made available until expended; 
‘‘(B) an individual may not enroll or remain en-
rolled in a health benefits plan under this section, by 
virtue of being the widow or widower of a public 
safety officer killed in the line of duty, if such indi-
vidual remarries; and 
‘‘(C) an individual whose enrollment under this 
section is terminated, whether voluntarily or involun-
tarily, shall be barred from subsequently reenrolling 
under this section. 
‘‘(2) The Office may, in its sole discretion, waive the 
provisions of subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1) 
if the Office determines that, due to exceptional cir-
cumstances, it would be against equity and good con-
science not to allow such individual to enroll, remain en-
rolled, or to reenroll (as the case may be). 
‘‘(f) The regulations prescribed by the Office to carry 
out this section shall include, in the case of an individual 
who obtains coverage under this section but who (even if 
this section had never been enacted) would otherwise have 
been eligible for health benefits under this chapter, provi-
sions to ensure that the rights afforded to such individual 
under this chapter are not adversely affected as a result 
of the enactment of this section.
‘‘(g) The Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Depart-
ment of Justice shall keep such records, make such certifi-
cations, and furnish the Office such information and re-
ports as may be necessary to enable the Office to carry 
out its functions under this section.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘8915. Coverage for survivors of public safety officers killed in the line of 
duty.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to coverage in contract 
years beginning not less than 6 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
Æ