ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fourth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: PS DP 6-0-0-1 │ APPROP DP 10-0-0-1

HB 2440: death benefit; transitional housing benefit

Sponsor:  Representative Finchem, LD 11

Caucus & COW

Overview

Requires Arizona to pay a transitional housing benefit payment to a deceased law enforcement officer or firefighter's surviving spouse or dependent.

History

Current statute allows a deceased law enforcement officer or firefighter's surviving spouse or dependent to continue to be enrolled in and to receive payments for health insurance premiums from the employer of the law enforcement officer if the law enforcement officer was killed in the line of duty (A.R.S. § 38-1114).

A surviving spouse or surviving dependent of a deceased law enforcement officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty is entitled to receive a monthly amount equal to the deceased member's average monthly benefit compensation. This applies as a lifetime benefit for spouses a limited benefit for dependents (A.R.S. § 38-846).

The spouse of a law enforcement officer of firefighter killed in the line of duty in the first ninety days of employment is eligible for survivor benefits (A.R.S. § 38-842.01).

Provisions☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

1.    Requires Arizona to pay a transitional housing benefit payment that covers the cost of a residential mortgage loan or lease agreement of a primary residence for one year to the deceased law enforcement officer or firefighter's surviving spouse or dependent. (Sec. 1)

2.    Stipulates the monthly cost cannot exceed $5,000 and must to be deposited into a third-party managed escrow account. (Sec. 1)

3.    Establishes the Transitional Housing Benefit Fund (fund). (Sec. 1)

4.    Directs the Governor's Office to administer the fund. (Sec. 1)

5.    Allows the Governor's Office to accept and spend local, state and federal monies and private grants, gifts contributions and devises to assist in administering the fund. (Sec. 1)

6.    Appropriates $500,000 from the state GF in FY2021 to the transitional housing benefit fund. (Sec. 2)

7.    Exempts appropriated monies from lapsing after FY2021. (Sec. 2)

8.    Defines killed in the line of duty. (Sec. 1)

 

 

 

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Initials ES/BM                   Caucus & COW

 

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