Page 13, between lines 23 and 24, insert:
"Sec. 7. Section 38-1103, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
START_STATUTE38-1103. Health insurance payments for spouse or dependents of law
enforcement officer killed in the line of duty; applicability; definitions
A. Notwithstanding any other law, the surviving
spouse or a surviving dependent of
a deceased law enforcement officer is entitled to receive payments for health
insurance premiums from public monies of the employer of the law enforcement
officer if the law
enforcement officer was killed in the line of duty or died from injuries suffered
in the line of duty.
B. The employer shall make payments if the surviving
spouse or surviving dependent is enrolled in either:
1. The health insurance program of the employer.
2. The health insurance program that is offered by
the state retirement system or plan from which the surviving spouse or
surviving dependent is receiving benefits.
C. The health insurance premium amount payable by
the employer of the deceased law enforcement officer is the amount the employer
of the deceased law enforcement officer would pay for an active law enforcement
officer for a family coverage premium or single coverage premium, whichever is
applicable. Payments shall be discontinued pursuant to this section if:
1. The surviving spouse remarries.
2. The surviving spouse becomes medicare eligible.
3. The surviving spouse dies.
4. For dependent coverage, the person is no longer
considered a dependent.
D. If the employer currently pays a greater portion
of the health insurance premium for a surviving spouse or a surviving dependent
than the required amount prescribed in subsection C of this section, the
surviving spouse or surviving dependent shall receive the greater amount as
payment toward the surviving spouse's or surviving dependent's health insurance
premium.
E. This
section applies:
1. To a
surviving spouse or a surviving dependent of a deceased law enforcement
officer, as defined in subsection F, paragraph 2, subdivision (a),
(b), (c) or (d) of this section, who was killed in the
line of duty or who died from injuries suffered in the line of duty on or after
April 5, 2003.
2. To a
surviving spouse or a surviving dependent of a deceased law enforcement
officer, as defined in subsection F, paragraph 2, subdivision (e) of this section, who was killed in
the line of duty or who died from injuries suffered in the line of duty on or
after April 5, 2013.
3. For the
surviving spouse or the surviving dependent who qualifies pursuant to paragraph
1 of this subsection, only to health insurance premiums paid on or after the
effective date of this amendment to this section.
E. F. For the purposes of this
section:
1. "Dependent" means an unmarried child of
a deceased law enforcement officer who meets one of the following
qualifications:
(a) Is under eighteen years of age.
(b) Is at least eighteen years of age and under
twenty-three years of age only during any period that the child is a full-time
student.
(c) Is under a disability that began before the
child attained twenty‑three years of age and remains a dependent of the
surviving spouse or guardian.
2. "Law enforcement officer" means:
(a) A peace officer who is certified by the Arizona peace officer standards and training board.
(b) A detention officer or corrections officer who
is employed by this state or a political subdivision of this state.
(c) A probation officer or surveillance officer who
is employed by this state or a political subdivision of this state.
(d) A firefighter who is employed by this state or a
political subdivision of this state.
(e) A corrections officer or firefighter who works
on behalf of this state or a political subdivision of this state through a
contract with a private company."END_STATUTE
Renumber to conform
Amend title to conform
Bill
Number: H.B. 2389