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House passes substitute to extend health benefits for survivors in line-of-duty death bill
Summary
The House adopted a substitute to HB 159 to provide health insurance to surviving spouses until Medicare eligibility and to children until age 26, revise trust-fund provisions, and make benefits retroactive to July 1, 2015; the bill passed 70–0 and will go to the Senate.
The Utah House on Feb. 22 passed first substitute HB 159, which modifies line-of-duty death benefits for surviving family members.
Representative McHale, sponsor, said the substitute revised the trust-fund language requested by the league and clarified benefits: health insurance for surviving spouses until they become eligible for Medicare and for children until age 26. The substitute also includes trust-fund revisions to sustain the program.
The sponsor noted the measure is retroactive to July 1, 2015, and emphasized that the substitute does not expand benefits beyond the health-insurance provisions. After the floor discussion and adoption of the substitute, the House voted and the clerk reported: "First substitute House Bill 159, having received 70 yes votes, 0 no votes, passes this body, and will be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration."
