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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to financial assistance paid to the survivors of certain |
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law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other public employees |
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killed in the line of duty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 615.022, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 615.022. PAYMENT TO SURVIVORS. (a) If there is an |
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eligible surviving spouse, the state shall pay $500,000 [$250,000] |
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to the eligible surviving spouse. |
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(b) If there is no eligible surviving spouse, the state |
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shall pay $500,000 [$250,000] in equal shares to surviving |
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children. |
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(c) If there is no eligible surviving spouse or child, the |
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state shall pay $500,000 [$250,000] in equal shares to surviving |
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parents. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 615.023(a) and (b), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The state shall pay to the duly appointed or qualified |
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guardian or other legal representative of an eligible surviving |
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minor child: |
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(1) $400 [$200] each month, if there is one surviving |
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child; |
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(2) $600 [$300] each month, if there are two surviving |
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children; or |
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(3) $800 [$400] each month, if there are three or more |
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surviving children. |
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(b) A child's entitlement to assistance payable under this |
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section ends on the last day of the month that includes the child's |
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18th birthday. At that time, payments to any other surviving minor |
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children shall be adjusted, as necessary, to conform to the amounts |
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payable under Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply in |
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relation to a payment of assistance made to survivors of certain |
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public servants on or after the effective date of this Act |
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regardless of the date the death of the public servant occurs. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |