An Act Regarding Accidental Death Benefits for Beneficiaries of Deceased Firefighters
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1558
Committee Amendment CA_A_S379 (Senate)

I COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 595, L.D. 1558, Bill, "An Act 
Regarding Accidental Death Benefits for Beneficiaries of Deceased Firefighters" 
Amend the bill in section lin § 18601 in subsection 2 by striking out all of paragraph 
B (page 1, lines 14 to 18 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'B. After October 31, 2004, an active member who is a professional firefighter who 
dies as a result of an injUIY or disease as described in Title 39-A, section 328 if the 
injUIY or disease that causes the death is the result of a condition that develops within 
days of the active member's paliicipating in firefighting or training or a drill that 
involves firefighting. If the professional firefighter dies after 30 days but within 6 
months of participating in firefighting or training or a drill that involves firefighting, 
there is a rebuttable presumption that the death is the result of an injury arising out of 
and in the course of employment as a professional firefighter; or' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section I the following: 
'Sec. 2. Rules. The Board of Trustees of the Maine Public Employees Retirement 
System shall adopt rules to implement this Act. These rules must be submitted to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters at least 
days prior to final adoption. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine 
technical as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment defines a qualitying member for accidental death benefits as a 
professional firefighter who dies as a result of developing a cardiovascular injury or 
disease or pulmonary disease reSUlting from a condition that develops within 30 days of 
paliicipating in firefighting or training or a drill that involves firefigllting. 
It also 
establishes a rebuttable presumption that if a professional firefighter develops a 
cardiovascular injury or disease or pulmonary disease and dies after 30 days, but within 6 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to S.P. 595, L.D. 1558 
months of participating in firefighting or training or a drill that involves firefighting, the 
firefighter's death is a result of firefighting activity. The amendment also directs the 
Board of Trustees of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System to establish rules to 
implement the bill. 
These rules are defined as routine technical rules and must be 
submitted to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor 
matters before implementation. 
I' 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 02/l7ll 0 
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LD 1558 
'LR 2211(02) 
An Act Regarding Accidental Death Benefits for Beneficiaries of Deceased Firefighters 
I 
Fiscal Note foi' Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "AI! 
Committee: Labor 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
No state fiscal impact 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
(, ... 
Because this legislation would only apply to the Participating Lo~al District Retirement Program administered by the 
Maine Public Employees Retirement System, there is no fiscal impact to the State. 
Additional costs to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System associated with rulemaking can be absorbed 
within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2211 (02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I