By: Kacal, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Menéndez) H.B. No. 2503
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 2019;
  May 10, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on Business &
  Commerce; May 20, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 20, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to workers' compensation death benefit eligibility for
  certain spouses of certain employees killed in the line of duty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 408.183(b-1), Labor Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), 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, or an
  individual described by Section 615.003(1), Government Code, or
  Section 501.001(5)(F), who suffered death in the course and scope
  of employment or while providing services as a volunteer.  This
  subsection applies regardless of the date on which the death of the
  first responder or other individual occurred.
         SECTION 2.  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. 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.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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