CS/HB 751 2025
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hb751-01-c1
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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 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 a 9
declaration of important state interest; providing an 10
effective date. 11
12
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
14
Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Deputy Andy 15
Lahera Act." 16
Section 2. Paragraph (h) of subsection (2) of section 17
112.19, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 18
112.19 Law enforcement, correctional, and correctional 19
probation officers; death benefits. — 20
(2) 21
(h)1. Any employer who employs a full -time law 22
enforcement, correctional, or correctional prob ation officer 23
who, on or after January 1, 1995, suffers a catastrophic injury, 24
as defined in s. 440.02, Florida Statutes 2002, in the line of 25
CS/HB 751 2025
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hb751-01-c1
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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 shall pay the entire premium of the employer's health 26
insurance plan for the injured employee, the injured em ployee's 27
spouse, and for each dependent child of the injured employee 28
until the child reaches the age of majority or until the end of 29
the calendar year in which the child reaches the age of 25 if 30
the child continues to be dependent for support, or the chil d is 31
a full-time or part-time student and is dependent for support. 32
The term "health insurance plan" does not include supplemental 33
benefits that are not part of the basic group health insurance 34
plan. If the injured employee subsequently dies, the employer 35
shall continue to pay the entire health insurance premium for 36
the surviving spouse until remarried, and for the dependent 37
children, under the conditions outlined in this paragraph. 38
However: 39
a. Health insurance benefits payable from any other source 40
shall reduce benefits payable under this section. 41
b. It is unlawful for a person to willfully and knowingly 42
make, or cause to be made, or to assist, conspire with, or urge 43
another to make, or cause to be made, any false, fraudulent, or 44
misleading oral or writ ten statement to obtain health insurance 45
coverage as provided under this paragraph. A person who violates 46
this sub-subparagraph commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, 47
punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. 48
c. In addition to any applicabl e criminal penalty, upon 49
conviction for a violation as described in sub -subparagraph b., 50
CS/HB 751 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 law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation 51
officer or other beneficiary who receives or seeks to receive 52
health insurance benefits under this paragraph shall forfeit the 53
right to receive such health insurance benefits, and shall 54
reimburse the employer for all benefits paid due to the fraud or 55
other prohibited activity. For purposes of this sub -56
subparagraph, the term "conviction" means a determination of 57
guilt that is the result of a plea or trial, regardless of 58
whether adjudication is withheld. 59
2. In order for the officer, spouse, and dependent 60
children to be eligible for such insurance coverage, the injury 61
must have occurred while the officer was in th e line of duty or 62
engaged in an official training exercise as the result of the 63
officer's response to fresh pursuit, the officer's response to 64
what is reasonably believed to be an emergency, or an unlawful 65
act perpetrated by another . Except as otherwise pr ovided herein, 66
this paragraph may not be construed to limit health insurance 67
coverage for which the officer, spouse, or dependent children 68
may otherwise be eligible, except that a person who qualifies 69
under this section is not eligible for the health insur ance 70
subsidy provided under chapter 121, chapter 175, or chapter 185. 71
Section 3. The Legislature determines and declares that 72
this act fulfills an important state interest. 73
Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 74