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Committee backs bill guaranteeing injured officers and firefighters a share of third‑party recoveries
Summary
SB 487 would guarantee an injured peace officer or firefighter receives at least two‑thirds of available third‑party liability insurance under specified conditions; committee passed the measure to appropriations after supportive testimony from public safety organizations and injured officers.
Senator Grayson presented SB 487, saying the bill “ensures that peace officers and firefighters injured in the line of duty will receive compensation awarded to them through a settlement or judgment.” He described current practice where an employer can seek reimbursement from an employee’s civil recovery and sometimes leave the injured worker with little or nothing.
Megan Bartlett, an attorney representing public safety officers, said the bill remedies situations where third parties’ insurance limits are insufficient to cover both employer reimbursement and the injured officer’s damages. Bartlett told the committee the bill “guarantees that the injured officer receives a portion of the available recovery while ensuring that the employer still has a right to a portion of the recovery.” She cited Code of Civil Procedure Section 3040 and Government Code Section 2252 by analogy for statutory precedents that give injured individuals a protected share.
Deputy Kiana Lewis and an injured officer provided first‑hand testimony about injuries, lost overtime and promotional opportunities, and out‑of‑pocket costs. The officer described being run over by a patrol vehicle in 2022 and estimating an overtime loss of about $50,000 during one year of recovery.
Organizations testifying in support included the Fraternal Order of Police, the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association and California Professional Firefighters. The committee recorded a vote to pass SB 487 to the Committee on Appropriations (4–0).
On the record, Senator Grayson and supporters framed the bill as balancing the employer’s reimbursement rights with the employee’s need to retain a fair share to cover uncompensated damages such as pain and suffering, loss of overtime, and lost promotions. The bill, as presented, applies only where the employee proves total damages exceed the net amount left after employer reimbursement and available insurance limits are insufficient to cover both claims.
Committee members indicated general support and asked whether similar protections exist for other workforces; the author suggested that separate legislation would be needed to extend the approach beyond public safety.
