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ACT No. 9092026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 979
BY REPRESENTATIVES WILEY, ADAMS, BACALA, BAGLEY, BAMBURG,
BAYHAM, BILLINGS, BOUDREAUX, BOURRIAQUE, BOYER, BRAUD,
BROUSSARD, BUTLER, CARPENTER, ROBBY CARTER, WILFORD
CARTER, CARVER, CHASSION, COATES, DESHOTEL, DEWITT,
DICKERSON, EDMONSTON, EGAN, FISHER, FONTENOT, FREIBERG,
GLORIOSO, GREEN, DANA HENRY, HILFERTY, HORTON, ILLG, JACKSON,
MIKE JOHNSON, TRAVIS JOHNSON, KERNER, KNOX, LACOMBE,
LAFLEUR, TERRY LANDRY, LYONS, MACK, MARCELLE, MARTINEZ,
MCFARLAND, MELERINE, MILLER, MOORE, MURRAY, OWEN, SAWYER,
SCHLEGEL, SPELL, ST. BLANC, TAYLOR, TURNER, VILLIO, WYBLE, AND
ZERINGUE
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1665(C)(1) and 1665.2(C)(1), relative to survivor benefits for
3 certain first responders; to provide for the amount of benefits paid to certain
4 beneficiaries in certain circumstances; to provide for applicability; to provide for an
5 effective date; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 40:1665(C)(1) and 1665.2(C)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted
8 to read as follows:
9 §1665. Financial security for surviving spouses and children of firemen in certain
10 cases
11 * * *
12 C.(1) In any case in which a fireman suffers death as a result of an injury
13 arising out of and in the course of the performance of his official duties as a fireman,
14 or arising out of any activity while on or off duty, in his capacity as a fireman, in the
15 protection of life and property, the sum of two hundred fifty three hundred thousand
16 dollars shall be paid to the surviving spouse of the fireman or, if not survived by a
17 spouse, the sum of two hundred fifty three hundred thousand dollars shall be paid to
18 the surviving child or children or, if not survived by a spouse nor a child or children,
19 then the sum of two hundred fifty three hundred thousand dollars shall be paid to the
20 named beneficiary listed on the fireman's designation form or, if there is no
21 beneficiary designation form at the time of the fireman's death, and no surviving
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1 spouse nor a child or children, then the sum of two hundred fifty three hundred
2 thousand dollars shall be paid to the fireman's estate. Each fireman shall complete
3 a beneficiary designation form. In addition, if the fireman is survived by a dependent
4 child or children, the sum of fifty thousand dollars shall be paid for each of the
5 dependent children, such sums to be paid to the duly appointed and qualified tutor
6 or the legal representative of the child or children. Payment shall be made by the
7 state risk manager out of the Self-Insurance Fund created in R.S. 39:1533(A).
8 * * *
9 §1665.2. Financial security for surviving spouses and children of law enforcement
10 officers in certain cases
11 * * *
12 C.(1) In any case in which a law enforcement officer suffers death as a result
13 of any injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of his official duties
14 as such officer, or arising out of any activity, while on or off duty, in his capacity as
15 a law enforcement officer, in the protection of life or property, the sum of two
16 hundred fifty three hundred thousand dollars shall be paid to the surviving spouse of
17 each officer or, if not survived by a spouse, the sum of two hundred fifty three
18 hundred thousand dollars shall be paid to the surviving child or children or, if not
19 survived by a spouse nor a child or children, then the sum of two hundred fifty three
20 hundred thousand dollars shall be paid to the named beneficiary listed on the officer's
21 beneficiary designation form or, if there is no designation form at the time of the
22 officer's death, and no surviving spouse nor a child or children, then the sum of two
23 hundred fifty three hundred thousand dollars shall be paid to the officer's estate. Each
24 officer shall complete a beneficiary designation form. In addition, if the officer is
25 survived by a dependent child or children, the sum of fifty thousand dollars shall be
26 paid for each of the dependent children, such sums to be paid to the duly appointed
27 and qualified tutor or the legal representative of the child or children. Payment shall
28 be made by the state risk manager out of the Self-Insurance Fund created in R.S.
29 39:1533(A).
30 * * *
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1 Section 2. The provisions of this Act shall apply to any qualifying death occurring
2 on or after July 1, 2025, for which a claim is approved by the Law Enforcement Officers and
3 Firemen's Survivor Benefit Review Board, regardless of whether the claim was approved
4 before or after the effective date of this Act.
5 Section 3. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026; if vetoed by the governor
6 and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on July 1,
7 2026, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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