HB3255 EngrossedLRB104 11176 SPS 21258 b HB3255 Engrossed LRB104 11176 SPS 21258 b HB3255 Engrossed LRB104 11176 SPS 21258 b 1 AN ACT concerning employment. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Public Safety Employee Benefits Act is 5 amended by changing Section 10 as follows: 6 (820 ILCS 320/10) 7 Sec. 10. Required health coverage benefits. 8 (a) An employer who employs a full-time law enforcement, 9 correctional or correctional probation officer, or 10 firefighter, who, on or after the effective date of this Act 11 suffers a catastrophic injury or is killed in the line of duty 12 shall pay the entire premium of the employer's health 13 insurance plan for the injured employee, the injured 14 employee's spouse, and for each dependent child of the injured 15 employee until the child reaches the age of majority or until 16 the end of the calendar year in which the child reaches the age 17 of 25 if the child continues to be dependent for support or the 18 child is a full-time or part-time student and is dependent for 19 support. An individual whose entire premium is paid in 20 accordance with this Section shall be offered by the employer 21 the choice of any health insurance plan available to currently 22 employed full-time law enforcement, correctional or 23 correctional probation officers, or firefighters. For purposes HB3255 Engrossed LRB104 11176 SPS 21258 b HB3255 Engrossed- 2 -LRB104 11176 SPS 21258 b HB3255 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 11176 SPS 21258 b HB3255 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 11176 SPS 21258 b 1 of plans administered under the State Employee Group Insurance 2 Act of 1971, changes in coverage may only be elected during 3 open enrollment or following a qualifying event. The term 4 "health insurance plan" does not include supplemental benefits 5 that are not part of the basic group health insurance plan. If 6 the injured employee subsequently dies, the employer shall 7 continue to pay the entire health insurance premium for the 8 surviving spouse until remarried and for the dependent 9 children under the conditions established in this Section. 10 However: 11 (1) Health insurance benefits payable from any other 12 source shall reduce benefits payable under this Section. 13 (2) It is unlawful for a person to willfully and 14 knowingly make, or cause to be made, or to assist, 15 conspire with, or urge another to make, or cause to be 16 made, any false, fraudulent, or misleading oral or written 17 statement to obtain health insurance coverage as provided 18 under this Section. A violation of this item is a Class A 19 misdemeanor. 20 (3) Upon conviction for a violation described in item 21 (2), a law enforcement, correctional or correctional 22 probation officer, or other beneficiary who receives or 23 seeks to receive health insurance benefits under this 24 Section shall forfeit the right to receive health 25 insurance benefits and shall reimburse the employer for 26 all benefits paid due to the fraud or other prohibited HB3255 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 11176 SPS 21258 b HB3255 Engrossed- 3 -LRB104 11176 SPS 21258 b HB3255 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 11176 SPS 21258 b HB3255 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 11176 SPS 21258 b 1 activity. For purposes of this item, "conviction" means a 2 determination of guilt that is the result of a plea or 3 trial, regardless of whether adjudication is withheld. 4 (b) In order for the law enforcement, correctional or 5 correctional probation officer, firefighter, spouse, or 6 dependent children to be eligible for insurance coverage under 7 this Act, the injury or death must have occurred as the result 8 of the officer's response to fresh pursuit, the officer or 9 firefighter's response to what is reasonably believed to be an 10 emergency, an unlawful act perpetrated by another, or during 11 the investigation of a criminal act. Nothing in this Section 12 shall be construed to limit health insurance coverage or 13 pension benefits for which the officer, firefighter, spouse, 14 or dependent children may otherwise be eligible. 15 (Source: P.A. 103-340, eff. 1-1-24.) HB3255 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 11176 SPS 21258 b