SB 18-148

Senate Bill 18-148, titled "Medical Benefits After State Employee Work-related Death," ensures that when a state employee dies due to work-related causes, their dependents can continue receiving dental and medical benefits for one year. This continuation is the same coverage they had before the employee's death, and it’s paid for by the state agency where the deceased worked. The bill has been signed into law, meaning these benefits are now available to eligible dependents of state employees who pass away due to work-related incidents.

Official Summary

A state employee (employee) is eligible for benefits through the 'State Employee Group Benefits Act' (act) if the employee works or is on paid leave one or more regularly scheduled full workdays in a month. When an employee dies, the benefits provided to the employee and any dependents of the employee through the act end at the end of the month in which the employee died. The bill specifies that dependents of an employee who dies in a work-related death are automatically qualified for the continuation of dental or medical benefits through the act for 12 months from the end of the month in which the work-related death occurred, so long as the dependents had dental or medical benefits pursuant to the act at the time of the employee's work-related death. The dental or medical benefits allowed to dependents shall be the same coverage that the dependents were enrolled in at the time of the employee's work-related death. The state agency that employs an employee at the time of his or her work-related death is required to pay the cost of providing dental or medical benefits on behalf of the employee's dependents for the 12-month period. The director of the department of personnel or the director's designee may promulgate rules necessary to implement the dental or medical benefit coverage continuation. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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