BILL ANALYSIS
By: Latham
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, many of the volunteer firefighters and volunteer police force members must pay medical expenses for injuries that occur while in the line of duty. While the public does show its gratitude for these members of society who volunteer their time and efforts to protect others, it is often overlooked that individuals injured in the course of protecting the public must pay for their health care costs out of pocket or rely on pre-existing medical insurance to cover their expenses. This bill attempts to alleviate the financial difficulty faced by members of volunteer fire departments and volunteer police forces.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a State officer, department, agency, or institution.
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
The proposed complete committee substitute for House Bill No. 2667 allows the Director to assist rural fire volunteer fire departments in the payment of workers' compensation insurance, audit costs for workers' compensation claims in any year in which there is an abnormally high number of wildfires of accidental death and disability insurance.
SECTION 2 of the substitute amends Chapter 614 of the Government Code to add Subchapter (H). Section 614.121 defines "volunteer fire department", "volunteer firefighter," and " volunteer police force member." Section 614.122 requires insurance for each volunteer firefighter or volunteer police force member by the applicable State agency or political subdivision against any injury suffered by the volunteer firefighter or police force member in the course and scope of performing the person's assigned duties at the request of, or under a contract with, a State agency or political subdivision.
SECTION 3 of the substitute adds the purchase of insurance coverage and repairs funded by a payment under an insurance claim to Section 775.084(i) Health and Safety Code.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
Adds Subchapter H to Chapter 614, Government Code. Adds (7) and (8) to Subsection (i) to Section 775.084, Health and Safety Code. The original bill did not.