First Responder Employer Health Benefit Trusts

The bill makes 2 principal changes to current firefighter benefit programs. First, the bill expands state funding for the firefighter heart and circulatory malfunction benefits program to include paid part-time and volunteer firefighters. Second, the bill provides state funding for the firefighter cancer benefits program for eligible firefighters.

Current law requires an employer to provide access to specified heart and circulatory malfunction benefits to eligible, full-time firefighters and the employer is reimbursed by the state for providing the full-time firefighter benefits. Current law also specifies that if funding to reimburse the employer is insufficient, then the requirement to provide the specified cardiac benefits is optional. The bill requires employers to provide access to certain heart and circulatory malfunction benefits to part-time and volunteer firefighters. This requirement likewise becomes voluntary if funding is insufficient.

Current law authorizes employers to voluntarily participate in a cancer trust for firefighter benefits. The bill requires an employer of an eligible firefighter to participate, but specifies that if funding to reimburse the employer is insufficient, participation in the trust becomes optional.

The bill also requires an employer to participate in a funded trust to provide cardiovascular screenings, at a minimum, and other health screenings and prevention, as practicable, to peace officers. The trust is reimbursed by the state for providing the benefits, and if funding to reimburse the trust is insufficient, then the requirement for employers to provide the specified program is optional.

On July 1, 2028, the bill requires the state treasurer to transfer $2.5 million from the general fund to the firefighter benefits cash fund for the purpose of reimbursing employers for the direct costs of providing the firefighter cardiac benefits. On July 1, 2029, and each July 1 thereafter, the state treasurer is required to transfer sufficient funds, subject to annual appropriation, to reimburse employers.

The general assembly is required to appropriate money from the general fund to the department of local affairs to reduce employer contributions for volunteer and part-time firefighters in the following amounts:

• $300,000 for state fiscal year 2024-25;
• $500,000 for state fiscal year 2025-26;
• $650,000 for state fiscal year 2026-27; and
• $1 million for state fiscal year 2027-28.

The general assembly is required to appropriate money from the general fund to the division of criminal justice in the department of public safety for reimbursing a multiple employer health trust for providing cardiovascular screenings for peace officers in the following amounts:

• $200,000 for state fiscal year 2024-25;
• $250,000 for state fiscal year 2025-26;
• $350,000 for state fiscal year 2026-27;
• $500,000 for state fiscal year 2027-28; and
• $1 million for the state fiscal year 2028-29.

For each state fiscal year thereafter, the general assembly is required to appropriate sufficient funds to reimburse a multiple employer health trust.

For state fiscal year 2024-25, the bill appropriates $300,000 from the general fund to the department of local affairs for use by the division of local government for firefighter heart and circulatory malfunction benefits and $200,000 from the general fund to the department of public safety for use by the division of criminal justice for cardiovascular screenings for peace officers.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)