Texas 2019 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2503 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/26/2019

                    86R14913 KKR-F
 By: Kacal H.B. No. 2503


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to workers' compensation death benefit eligibility for
 certain spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 408.183(b-1), Labor Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 (b-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), an eligible spouse
 who remarried is eligible for death benefits for life if the
 employee was a first responder, as defined by Section 504.055, or an
 individual described by Section 615.003(1)(A), Government Code,
 who suffered death in the course and scope of employment or while
 providing services as a volunteer.  This subsection applies
 regardless of the date on which the death of the first responder or
 other individual occurred.
 SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act to Section
 408.183(b-1), Labor Code, applies only to an eligible spouse who
 remarries on or after the effective date of this Act. An eligible
 spouse who remarried before that date is governed by the law as it
 existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the
 former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
 SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.