BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2685

By: Bailes

Business & Industry

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that the surviving spouses of certain first responders are eligible to receive death benefits for life, regardless of whether the spouse chooses to remarry. H.B. 2685 seeks to ensure that the surviving spouse of an intrastate fire mutual aid system team member or a regional incident management team member is afforded the same opportunity to remarry while retaining death benefits.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2685 amends the Labor Code to make eligible for death benefits for life under the Texas Workers' Compensation Act a remarried eligible spouse of an intrastate fire mutual aid system team member or a regional incident management team member who was activated by the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) or was injured during training sponsored or sanctioned by TDEM on such a team's behalf and who suffered death in the course and scope of employment or while providing services as a volunteer.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.