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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to workers' compensation death benefit eligibility for |
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certain spouses of first responders 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 408.183(b-1), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), an eligible spouse |
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who remarried is eligible for death benefits for life if the |
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employee was a first responder, as defined by Section 504.055, or an |
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individual described by Section 615.003(1)(A), Government Code, |
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who suffered death in the course and scope of employment or while |
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providing services as a volunteer. This subsection applies |
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regardless of the date on which the death of the first responder or |
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other individual occurred. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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408.183(b-1), Labor Code, applies only to an eligible spouse who |
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remarries on or after the effective date of this Act. An eligible |
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spouse who remarried before that date is governed by the law as it |
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existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |