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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to supplemental benefits for retired firefighters and |
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peace officers diagnosed with certain diseases or illnesses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 607, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter D to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER D. BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN DISEASES OR ILLNESSES SUFFERED |
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BY RETIRED FIREFIGHTERS AND PEACE OFFICERS |
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Sec. 607.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Consumer price index" means the average over a |
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calendar year of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers |
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(CPI-U), U.S. City Average, published monthly by the United States |
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Bureau of Labor Statistics, or its successor in function. |
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(2) "Firefighter" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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607.051. |
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(3) "Governmental entity" means a state agency or |
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political subdivision. |
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(4) "Peace officer" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 607.051. |
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Sec. 607.152. BENEFITS FOR CANCER, ACUTE MYOCARDIAL |
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INFARCTION, OR STROKE. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a |
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governmental entity shall provide to a firefighter or peace officer |
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who retires from the entity a critical-illness supplemental income |
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benefit or comparable health benefit plan coverage in accordance |
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with this section if the firefighter or peace officer is diagnosed |
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with a disease described by Section 607.055 or 607.056 not later |
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than the third anniversary of the date the firefighter or peace |
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officer retires. |
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(b) The value of the supplemental income benefit provided |
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under Subsection (a) is the lesser of: |
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(1) the firefighter's or peace officer's final yearly |
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salary; or |
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(2) $100,000. |
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(c) A governmental entity providing a supplemental income |
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benefit under Subsection (a) may provide the benefit in a lump sum |
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payment or equal payments over three consecutive months. |
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(d) Not later than September 1 of each year ending in a five, |
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the commissioner of workers' compensation by rule shall adjust the |
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amount described by Subsection (b)(2) by an amount equal to the |
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percentage increase, if any, in the consumer price index for the |
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preceding 10 years. |
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(e) This section does not apply to a governmental entity |
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that provides to a firefighter or peace officer who retires from the |
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entity a health benefit plan that is comparable in coverage and cost |
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to the retiree as the health benefit plan the entity provided to the |
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retiree on the day before the date the retiree retired. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a firefighter or peace officer who retires on or after January 1, |
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2026. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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* * * * * |