SB-447 • 2026

Workers’ compensation: death benefits.

Children Labor

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Umberg
Last action: 2025-10-11
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 653, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify whether the bill applies to all employers or only local government employers. However, it is reasonable to infer that 'local employee' refers to those employed by local governments.

Workers' Compensation: Death Benefits for Dependents

The law increases the age limit from 21 to 26 for firefighters and peace officers who die in the line of duty, allowing their minor dependents to receive health benefits until they turn 26.

What This Bill Does

Changes the age at which health benefits end for the children or other minor dependents of deceased firefighters or peace officers from 21 years old to 26 years old.

Who It Names or Affects

Employers of local government firefighters and peace officers
Minor children or dependents of deceased firefighters or peace officers

Terms To Know

Workers’ Compensation: A system that provides benefits to employees who are injured or killed on the job.
Dependents: People, usually children, who rely on someone else for financial support.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not change other parts of workers' compensation laws.
It only applies to local government firefighters and peace officers.

Bill History

2025-10-11 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 653, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-11 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-22 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
2025-09-11 California Legislative Information
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2927.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
Ordered to special consent calendar.
2025-08-28 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-08-28 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 2776.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-08-21 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 20).
2025-07-16 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (July 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-23 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on INS.
2025-06-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on INS.
2025-05-29 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-29 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1326.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Ordered to special consent calendar.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1200.) (May 23).
2025-05-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-04-07 California Legislative Information
April 7 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 7.
2025-03-26 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 568.) (March 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-18 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing March 26.
2025-02-26 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 21.
2025-02-18 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 447, Umberg.
Workers’ compensation: death benefits.
Existing law establishes a workers’ compensation system, administered by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, to compensate an employee for injuries sustained in the course of employment. Under existing law, when a local employee who is a firefighter or peace officer, as specified, and that employee is killed or dies as a result of an accident or injury caused by external violence of physical force incurred in the performance of their duty, the employer is required to continue providing health benefits to the deceased employee’s minor dependents under the benefits extended to the surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, until the minor dependent is 21 years of age.
This bill would increase that age to 26 years of age.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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