HB4144 - Relating to supplemental benefits for retired firefighters and peace officers diagnosed with certain diseases or illnesses.

      H.B. No. 4144         AN ACT   relating to supplemental benefits for retired firefighters and   peace officers diagnosed with certain diseases or illnesses.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 607, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter D to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER D. BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN DISEASES OR ILLNESSES SUFFERED   BY CERTAIN RETIRED FIREFIGHTERS AND PEACE OFFICERS           Sec. 607.151.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                 (1)     "Consumer price index" means the average over a   calendar year of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers   (CPI-U), U.S. City Average, published monthly by the United States   Bureau of Labor Statistics, or its successor in function.                 (2)     "Firefighter" has the meaning assigned by Section   607.051.                 (3)     "Peace officer" has the meaning assigned by   Section 607.051.           Sec.   607.152.     APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter   applies only to a firefighter or peace officer who retires from a   fire department or law enforcement agency with at least 50   firefighters or peace officers, respectively.           Sec.   607.153.     BENEFITS FOR CANCER, ACUTE MYOCARDIAL   INFARCTION, OR STROKE. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a   political subdivision shall provide to a firefighter or peace   officer who retires from the political subdivision a   critical-illness supplemental income benefit or comparable health   benefit plan coverage in accordance with this section if the   firefighter or peace officer is diagnosed with a disease described   by Section 607.055 or 607.056 not later than the third anniversary   of the date the firefighter or peace officer retires.           (b)     The value of the supplemental income benefit provided   under Subsection (a) is the lesser of:                 (1)     the firefighter's or peace officer's final yearly   salary; or                 (2)  $100,000.           (c)     A political subdivision providing a supplemental income   benefit under Subsection (a) may provide the benefit in a lump sum   payment or equal payments over three consecutive months.           (d)     Not later than September 1 of each year ending in a five,   the commissioner of workers'   compensation by rule shall adjust the   amount described by Subsection (b)(2) by an amount equal to the   percentage increase, if any, in the consumer price index for the   preceding 10 years.           (e)     This section does not apply to a political subdivision   that provides to a firefighter or peace officer who retires from the   political subdivision a health benefit plan that is comparable in   coverage and cost to the retiree as the health benefit plan the   political subdivision provided to the retiree on the day before the   date the retiree retired.          SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to a firefighter or peace officer who retires on or after January 1,   2026.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 4144 was passed by the House on May   15, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 132, Nays 8, 2 present, not   voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.   No. 4144 on May 30, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 107, Nays 29,   3 present, not voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House               I certify that H.B. No. 4144 was passed by the Senate, with   amendments, on May 28, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays   0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate      APPROVED: __________________                   Date                       __________________                 Governor