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SF2821 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Public safety officer death benefit law definitions and benefits expansion provision

Related bill: HF2797

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

This bill aims to expand the definitions and benefits under the public safety officer death benefit law in Minnesota. The goal is to provide greater support and recognition to the families of public safety officers who die as a result of their service.

Main Provisions

  • Expanded Definition of "Killed in the Line of Duty": The bill broadens the criteria for what is considered "killed in the line of duty" for public safety officers to include:

    • Deaths from accidental means while performing duties.
    • Deaths from heart attacks, strokes, or vascular ruptures within 24 hours of engaging in stressful or strenuous physical activities related to duty, or during such activities, unless contradicted by medical evidence.
    • Suicides linked to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or occurring within 45 days after exposure to a traumatic event.
    • Deaths due to complications from infectious diseases, if identified as a cause or contributing factor in medical records. The diseases include COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, meningitis, MRSA, whooping cough, and streptococcus pneumoniae.

  • Retroactive Benefit Awards: The bill provides for retroactive awards of benefits, ensuring that families of officers who died under these circumstances in the past are also eligible for benefits.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill significantly expands the circumstances under which a public safety officer's death is eligible for line-of-duty death benefits. Previously, deaths from natural causes were generally not covered unless specific criteria were met. This expansion includes additional conditions like PTSD-related suicide and deaths from certain infectious diseases contracted in the line of duty.

Relevant Terms

  • Public safety officer
  • Killed in the line of duty
  • Accidental means
  • Heart attack, stroke, vascular rupture
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Suicide
  • Infectious diseases
  • COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS
  • MRSA, meningitis, whooping cough, streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Retroactive benefits

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 19, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 19, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toJudiciary and Public Safety
March 23, 2025SenateFloorActionAuthor added

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Includes deaths from suicide secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder or exposure to a traumatic event.",
        "Includes deaths resulting from COVID-19 and other specified infectious diseases contracted in the line of duty."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill amends the definition of 'Killed in the line of duty' for public safety officers under section 299A.41, subdivision 3.",
      "modified": [
        "Expands definition to include specific criteria where a heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture is presumptively in the line of duty."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "299A.41",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  }
]

Sponsors