ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: FIN DP 5-1-1-0 | APPROP DP 10-0-0-0 |3^rd Read: 24-3-2-0 House: GOV DP 7-0-0-0

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SB 1157: workers' compensation; death benefits; remarriage

Sponsor: Senator Gowan, LD 19

Caucus & COW

Overview

Allows a surviving spouse to continue receiving death benefits if they remarry.

History

In the event of a loss sustained on account of injury or death specified employees and their dependents are entitled to receive compensation.  These employees include but are not limited to: 1) all persons in the service of the state of Arizona and its municipalities including police and fire departments; 2) specified lessees of mining property; 3) firefighters, volunteer firefighters, policemen and voluntary policemen; 4) members of the Department of Public Safety reserve; and 5) members of a volunteer sheriff's reserve (A.R.S. §§ 23-901, 23-1021).

In the case of an injury involving death the following compensation amounts are prescribed in statute: 1) burial expenses of $5,000; and 2) differing percentages of the average monthly wage of the deceased individual based on the existence of a surviving spouse or dependent kin.  A surviving spouse's benefits terminate upon their death or remarriage.  The benefits for surviving children cease upon the child's eighteenth birthday, unless they are incapable of self-support (A.R.S. § 23-1046).

Provisions

1. Removes language that terminates a surviving spouse's death benefits upon their remarriage.

2. Applies retroactively from January 1, 2024, to the spouses of first responders. (Sec. 2)

3. Defines first responder. (Sec. 2)

4. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)

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8.                   SB 1157

9. Initials JH/SR     Page 0 Caucus & COW

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