CS/HB 749 2025
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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 a 8
declaration of important state interest; providing an 9
effective date. 10
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
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Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Captain Anthony 14
Gillan Act." 15
Section 2. Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section 16
112.191, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 17
112.191 Firefighters; death benefits. — 18
(2) 19
(g)1. Any employer who employs a full -time firefighter 20
who, on or after January 1, 1995, suffers a catastrophic injury, 21
as defined in s. 440.02, Florida Statutes 2002, in the line of 22
duty shall pay the entire prem ium of the employer's health 23
insurance plan for the injured employee, the injured employee's 24
spouse, and for each dependent child of the injured employee 25
CS/HB 749 2025
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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
until the child reaches the age of majority or until the end of 26
the calendar year in which the child r eaches the age of 25 if 27
the child continues to be dependent for support, or the child is 28
a full-time or part-time student and is dependent for support. 29
The term "health insurance plan" does not include supplemental 30
benefits that are not part of the basic g roup health insurance 31
plan. If the injured employee subsequently dies, the employer 32
shall continue to pay the entire health insurance premium for 33
the surviving spouse until remarried, and for the dependent 34
children, under the conditions outlined in this pa ragraph. 35
However: 36
a. Health insurance benefits payable from any other source 37
shall reduce benefits payable under this section. 38
b. It is unlawful for a person to willfully and knowingly 39
make, or cause to be made, or to assist, conspire with, or urge 40
another to make, or cause to be made, any false, fraudulent, or 41
misleading oral or written statement to obtain health insurance 42
coverage as provided under this paragraph. A person who violates 43
this sub-subparagraph commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, 44
punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. 45
c. In addition to any applicable criminal penalty, upon 46
conviction for a violation as described in sub -subparagraph b., 47
a firefighter or other beneficiary who receives or seeks to 48
receive health insuranc e benefits under this paragraph shall 49
forfeit the right to receive such health insurance benefits, and 50
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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
shall reimburse the employer for all benefits paid due to the 51
fraud or other prohibited activity. For purposes of this sub -52
subparagraph, the term "convic tion" means a determination of 53
guilt that is the result of a plea or trial, regardless of 54
whether adjudication is withheld. 55
2. In order for the firefighter, spouse, and dependent 56
children to be eligible for such insurance coverage, the injury 57
must have occurred as the result of the firefighter's response 58
to what is reasonably believed to be an emergency involving the 59
protection of life or property , or an unlawful act perpetrated 60
by another, or the injury must have occurred during an official 61
training exercise in which the firefighter became totally and 62
permanently disabled . Except as otherwise provided herein, this 63
paragraph may not be construed to limit health insurance 64
coverage for which the firefighter, spouse, or dependent 65
children may otherwise be eli gible, except that a person who 66
qualifies for benefits under this section is not eligible for 67
the health insurance subsidy provided under chapter 121, chapter 68
175, or chapter 185. 69
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Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, 71
the death benefits provided in paragraphs (b), (c), and (f) 72
shall also be applicable and paid in cases where a firefighter 73
received bodily injury prior to July 1, 1993, and subsequently 74
died on or after July 1, 1993, as a result of such in -line-of-75
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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
duty injury. 76
Section 3. The Legislature determines and declares that 77
this act fulfills an important state interest. 78
Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 79