SRC-TNM S.B. 1107 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1107 By: Duncan Intergovernmental Relations 4-13-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, certified on- or off-duty fire fighters who die while performing fire fighting duties for the public are ineligible for death benefits under Chapter 615, Government Code. Article III, Section 51-d of the Texas Constitution authorized the legislature to provide for assistance payments to "the surviving minor children" of certain officers of police and fire departments. The statute was recodified in 1973 as Article 6228f, V.T.C.S. The 73rd Legislature recodified Article 6228f, V.T.C.S., to Chapter 615, Government Code, and raised the death benefit from $20,000 to $50,000. S.B. 1107 would allow certified fire fighters who die while performing fire fighting duties for the public to become eligible for death benefits under this statute. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1107 outlines provisions regarding the provision of financial assistance to survivors of certain law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and others. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 615.021, Government Code, to provide that an individual listed under Section 615.003(10) or (11) is considered to be acting in the course of the individual's duty for purposes of Subsection (A) whenever the individual performs duties which the individual has been certified to perform by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, regardless of whether the duties are performed during the individual's compensable work hours. SECTION 2. Effective date: June 3, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.