HB 751 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb751-00
Page 1 of 3
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 law enforcement, correctional, and 2
correctional probation officer benefits; providing a 3
short title; amending s. 112.19, F.S.; providing that 4
a law enforcement, correctional, or correctional 5
probation officer and his or her spouse and dependent 6
children are eligible for certain insurance coverage 7
if the officer is injured in the line of duty or while 8
engaged in an official training exercise; pro viding an 9
effective date. 10
11
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
13
Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Deputy Andy 14
Lahera Act." 15
Section 2. Paragraph (h) of subsection (2) of section 16
112.19, Florida Statutes, is amended t o read: 17
112.19 Law enforcement, correctional, and correctional 18
probation officers; death benefits. — 19
(2) 20
(h)1. Any employer who employs a full -time law 21
enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer 22
who, on or after January 1, 1995, suffe rs a catastrophic injury, 23
as defined in s. 440.02, Florida Statutes 2002, in the line of 24
duty shall pay the entire premium of the employer's health 25
HB 751 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb751-00
Page 2 of 3
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
insurance plan for the injured employee, the injured employee's 26
spouse, and for each dependent child of the injured employee 27
until the child reaches the age of majority or until the end of 28
the calendar year in which the child reaches the age of 25 if 29
the child continues to be dependent for support, or the child is 30
a full-time or part-time student and is dependen t for support. 31
The term "health insurance plan" does not include supplemental 32
benefits that are not part of the basic group health insurance 33
plan. If the injured employee subsequently dies, the employer 34
shall continue to pay the entire health insurance pre mium for 35
the surviving spouse until remarried, and for the dependent 36
children, under the conditions outlined in this paragraph. 37
However: 38
a. Health insurance benefits payable from any other source 39
shall reduce benefits payable under this section. 40
b. It is unlawful for a person to willfully and knowingly 41
make, or cause to be made, or to assist, conspire with, or urge 42
another to make, or cause to be made, any false, fraudulent, or 43
misleading oral or written statement to obtain health insurance 44
coverage as provided under this paragraph. A person who violates 45
this sub-subparagraph commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, 46
punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. 47
c. In addition to any applicable criminal penalty, upon 48
conviction for a violation a s described in sub-subparagraph b., 49
a law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation 50
HB 751 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb751-00
Page 3 of 3
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
officer or other beneficiary who receives or seeks to receive 51
health insurance benefits under this paragraph shall forfeit the 52
right to receive such health insur ance benefits, and shall 53
reimburse the employer for all benefits paid due to the fraud or 54
other prohibited activity. For purposes of this sub -55
subparagraph, the term "conviction" means a determination of 56
guilt that is the result of a plea or trial, regardle ss of 57
whether adjudication is withheld. 58
2. In order for the officer, spouse, and dependent 59
children to be eligible for such insurance coverage, the injury 60
must have occurred while the officer was in the line of duty or 61
engaged in an official training exe rcise as the result of the 62
officer's response to fresh pursuit, the officer's response to 63
what is reasonably believed to be an emergency, or an unlawful 64
act perpetrated by another . Except as otherwise provided herein, 65
this paragraph may not be construed to limit health insurance 66
coverage for which the officer, spouse, or dependent children 67
may otherwise be eligible, except that a person who qualifies 68
under this section is not eligible for the health insurance 69
subsidy provided under chapter 121, chapter 175, or chapter 185. 70
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 71