BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2503
	By: Kacal et al. (Men�ndez)
	Business & Commerce
	5/19/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 2503 amends current law relating to workers' compensation death benefit eligibility for certain spouses of certain employees killed in the line of duty.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 408.183(b-1), Labor Code, as follows:

(b-1) Provides that, notwithstanding Subsection (b) (relating to providing that an eligible spouse is entitled to receive certain death benefits for life or until remarriage), an eligible spouse who remarried is eligible for death benefits for life if the employee was a first responder, as defined by Section 504.055 (Expedited Provision of Medical Benefits For Certain Injuries Sustained by First Responder in Course and Scope of Employment), or an individual described by Section 615.003(1) (relating to providing that Chapter 615 (Financial Assistance to Survivors of Certain Law Enforcement Officers, Fire Fighters, and Others), Government Code, applies only to eligible survivors of certain individuals), Government Code, or Section 501.001(5)(F) (relating to defining "employee" for Chapter 501 (Workers' Compensation Insurance Coverage For State Employees, Including Employees under the Direction or Control of the Board of Regents of Texas Tech University), Labor Code, as a certain intrastate fire mutual aid system team member or a regional incident management team member), rather than was a first responder, as defined by Section 504.055, who suffered death in the course and scope of employment or while providing services as a volunteer. Provides that this subsection applies regardless of the date on which the death of the first responder or other individual, rather than first responder, occurred.

SECTION 2. Provides that the change in law made by this Act to Section 408.183(b-1), Labor Code, applies only to an eligible spouse who remarries on or after the effective date of this Act. Provides that an eligible spouse who remarried before that date is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2019.