By: Kacal, King of Hemphill, Guillen, H.B. No. 2503
Raymond
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to workers' compensation death benefit eligibility for
certain spouses of certain employees 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), Government Code, or
Section 501.001(5)(F),
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.