Workers’ compensation: death benefits.

Senator Umberg's proposal to extend health benefits for the minor dependents of fallen firefighters and peace officers would increase the maximum eligibility age from 21 to 26 years. The measure applies to cases where local public safety personnel die due to accidents or injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Under current law, when firefighters, peace officers, or Orange County Sheriff's Special Officers are killed while performing their duties, their employers must continue providing health coverage to minor dependents until age 21. The proposed change would maintain these benefits for an additional five years, aligning the age limit with other dependent healthcare provisions. The bill's provisions would apply both to future cases and retroactively to deaths that occurred before September 30, 1996.

The measure preserves existing restrictions that prevent surviving spouses from adding new family members to the continued health coverage. Local employers would remain responsible for administering and funding these extended benefits, with oversight from the Division of Workers' Compensation.