HB 23-1305

House Bill 23-1305 changes how Colorado pays for health benefits for the families of police officers and firefighters who die on the job. Previously, only local governments that contributed to a special fund could have their employees' dependents receive one year of medical and dental coverage from this fund after an employee's work-related death. Now, any employer can access this benefit without needing to contribute to the fund. The state will cover these costs by transferring $150,000 each year from its general fund to the special benefits fund until July 2025. This bill was signed into law on June 1, 2023, and is now in effect.

Official Summary

The act eliminates the requirement that a local government that offers police or fire protection services (employer) must contribute to the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' continuation of benefits fund (fund) to be eligible to have the continuation of medical and dental benefits for dependents of an employee who died in a work-related death paid for from the fund for one year. Instead, the act makes any employer eligible to have the continuation of benefits paid for from the fund for one year when an employee dies in a work-related death. To provide for the costs of ongoing claims, the state treasurer is directed to transfer $150,000 from the general fund to the fund on July 1, 2023, and on July 1 each year thereafter through July 1, 2025. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $150,000 from the fund to the department of the treasury to be used for the implementation of the act. APPROVED by Governor June 1, 2023 EFFECTIVE June 1, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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