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89(R) HB 4144 - Enrolled version - Bill Text
H.B. No. 4144
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 D to 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.
______________________________
______________________________
President of the Senate
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 4144 was passed by the House on May
15, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 132, Nays 8, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 4144 on May 30, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 107, Nays 29,
3 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 4144 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor