By: Hughes, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.B. No. 1278
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 13, 2015;
May 14, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on State
Affairs; May 22, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 22, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to financial assistance paid to the survivors of certain
law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other public employees
killed in the line of duty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 615.022, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 615.022. PAYMENT TO SURVIVORS. (a) If there is an
eligible surviving spouse, the state shall pay $500,000 [$250,000]
to the eligible surviving spouse.
(b) If there is no eligible surviving spouse, the state
shall pay $500,000 [$250,000] in equal shares to surviving
children.
(c) If there is no eligible surviving spouse or child, the
state shall pay $500,000 [$250,000] in equal shares to surviving
parents.
SECTION 2. Sections 615.023(a) and (b), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) The state shall pay to the duly appointed or qualified
guardian or other legal representative of an eligible surviving
minor child:
(1) $400 [$200] each month, if there is one surviving
child;
(2) $600 [$300] each month, if there are two surviving
children; or
(3) $800 [$400] each month, if there are three or more
surviving children.
(b) A child's entitlement to assistance payable under this
section ends on the last day of the month that includes the child's
18th birthday. At that time, payments to any other surviving minor
children shall be adjusted, as necessary, to conform to the amounts
payable under Subsection (a).
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply in
relation to a payment of assistance made to survivors of certain
public servants on or after the effective date of this Act
regardless of the date the death of the public servant occurs.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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