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HF2797 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Definitions and benefits in the public safety officer death benefit law expanded, and retroactive benefit awards provided.

Related bill: SF2821

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to modify the existing public safety officer death benefit law in Minnesota. Its purpose is to expand the definitions of what constitutes being "killed in the line of duty" to ensure more comprehensive benefits are accessible to the families of public safety officers who die under specific circumstances. Additionally, the bill provides for retroactive awards of benefits under these new definitions.

Main Provisions

  • Expansion of "Killed in the Line of Duty":

    • The definition now includes deaths from heart attacks, strokes, or vascular ruptures if these occurred during or as a result of engaging in non-routine, stressful, or strenuous activities related to law enforcement, fire suppression, emergency medical services, and other emergency responses. These conditions must occur while on duty or within 24 hours after duty.
    • The bill presumes these incidents are service-related unless refuted by medical evidence.

  • Inclusion of Mental Health Considerations:

    • Deaths by suicide are recognized as "killed in the line of duty" if they occur secondary to a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or within 45 days following exposure to a traumatic incident while on duty.

  • Infectious Disease Clause:

    • The bill includes deaths due to complications from certain infectious diseases contracted in the line of duty. The illnesses listed are COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, meningitis, MRSA, whooping cough, and streptococcus pneumoniae.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill significantly broadens the circumstances under which public safety officers are considered to have been "killed in the line of duty." By including health events like heart attacks and strokes, suicides linked to PTSD, and deaths from certain infections, the bill seeks to extend benefits to a wider range of situations that could affect officers while performing their duties.

Relevant Terms

public safety officer, death benefit, killed in the line of duty, heart attack, stroke, vascular rupture, PTSD, suicide, infectious diseases, COVID-19, hepatitis, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, MRSA, emergency response activities.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 25, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toPublic Safety Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Presumption of death from personal injury in line of duty for heart attacks, strokes, or vascular ruptures under specific conditions.",
        "Recognition of death due to suicide secondary to PTSD or following traumatic events as 'killed in the line of duty'.",
        "Recognition of death resulting from complications due to exposure to specific diseases while on duty."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The legislation expands definitions and benefits in the public safety officer death benefit law, particularly defining 'killed in the line of duty' under section 299A.41, subdivision 3.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "299A.41",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  }
]

Sponsors