HB 749 2025
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hb749-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to benefits for firefighters injured 2
during training exercises; providing a short title; 3
amending s. 112.191, F.S.; providing that a 4
firefighter and his or her spouse and dependent 5
children are eligible for certain insurance coverage 6
if the firefighter is totally and permanently disabled 7
during an official training exercise; providing an 8
effective date. 9
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11
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Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Captain Anthony 13
Gillan Act." 14
Section 2. Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section 15
112.191, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 16
112.191 Firefighters; death benefits. — 17
(2) 18
(g)1. Any employer who employs a full -time firefighter 19
who, on or after January 1, 1995, suffers a catastrophic injury, 20
as defined in s. 440.02, Florida Statutes 2002, in the line of 21
duty shall pay the entire premium of the employer's health 22
insurance plan for the i njured employee, the injured employee's 23
spouse, and for each dependent child of the injured employee 24
until the child reaches the age of majority or until the end of 25
HB 749 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb749-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
the calendar year in which the child reaches the age of 25 if 26
the child continues to be dep endent for support, or the child is 27
a full-time or part-time student and is dependent for support. 28
The term "health insurance plan" does not include supplemental 29
benefits that are not part of the basic group health insurance 30
plan. If the injured employee s ubsequently dies, the employer 31
shall continue to pay the entire health insurance premium for 32
the surviving spouse until remarried, and for the dependent 33
children, under the conditions outlined in this paragraph. 34
However: 35
a. Health insurance benefits paya ble from any other source 36
shall reduce benefits payable under this section. 37
b. It is unlawful for a person to willfully and knowingly 38
make, or cause to be made, or to assist, conspire with, or urge 39
another to make, or cause to be made, any false, fraudul ent, or 40
misleading oral or written statement to obtain health insurance 41
coverage as provided under this paragraph. A person who violates 42
this sub-subparagraph commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, 43
punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. 44
c. In addition to any applicable criminal penalty, upon 45
conviction for a violation as described in sub -subparagraph b., 46
a firefighter or other beneficiary who receives or seeks to 47
receive health insurance benefits under this paragraph shall 48
forfeit the right to receive such health insurance benefits, and 49
shall reimburse the employer for all benefits paid due to the 50
HB 749 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
fraud or other prohibited activity. For purposes of this sub -51
subparagraph, the term "conviction" means a determination of 52
guilt that is the resu lt of a plea or trial, regardless of 53
whether adjudication is withheld. 54
2. In order for the firefighter, spouse, and dependent 55
children to be eligible for such insurance coverage, the injury 56
must have occurred as the result of the firefighter's response 57
to what is reasonably believed to be an emergency involving the 58
protection of life or property , or an unlawful act perpetrated 59
by another, or the injury must have occurred during an official 60
training exercise in which the firefighter became totally and 61
permanently disabled. Except as otherwise provided herein, this 62
paragraph may not be construed to limit health insurance 63
coverage for which the firefighter, spouse, or dependent 64
children may otherwise be eligible, except that a person who 65
qualifies for benefit s under this section is not eligible for 66
the health insurance subsidy provided under chapter 121, chapter 67
175, or chapter 185. 68
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Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, 70
the death benefits provided in paragraphs (b), (c), and (f) 71
shall also be applicable and paid in cases where a firefighter 72
received bodily injury prior to July 1, 1993, and subsequently 73
died on or after July 1, 1993, as a result of such in -line-of-74
duty injury. 75
HB 749 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb749-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 76