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Rep. Pressell backs bill to continue health coverage for catastrophically injured first responders
Summary
Rep. Pressell introduced HB 10‑44 to let law enforcement officers and firefighters classified as class 1 or class 2 disabled after a line‑of‑duty injury remain on the health plan they had while actively serving at the same active‑service premium rate; committee approved the bill and moved it out of committee.
Representative Pressell introduced House Bill 10‑44, saying the measure would allow law enforcement officers and firefighters who sustain a class 1 or class 2 disability in the line of duty to remain on the health insurance they had while actively serving at the same premium rate for themselves and eligible family members. The sponsor told the committee the bill would reach back up to five years to pick up prior cases.
Supporters framed the bill as a narrow, data‑driven fix for a limited population. Cody Lever of the Professional Firefighters Union cited a five‑year review and said "there's actually 15,000 eligible police officers and firefighters in the 1977 fund that are active on the job right now," and added that only "269 of these cases have actually been brought a class 1, class 2 injured" over that period. Those figures were offered as context for why the bill would affect a small number of people while offering large benefit to those families.
Officer Dustin Moody, a retired Trafalgar police officer who described the severe injuries he suffered on 06/25/2022, gave emotional testimony on the human stakes. Moody said he expected that if he were killed in the line of duty his family would be taken care of, but "because I lived ... I'm in that kind of gray area where they don't know what to do with you," and urged members to close the coverage gap.
Representatives on the committee asked whether large agencies already offer similar continuation benefits and whether state insurance options exist; witnesses said larger departments can pool resources but many small municipal agencies lack the size or revenue to create a local fund. William Owensby of the Fraternal Order of Police also urged action, calling the measure an appropriate correction to an unforeseen gap.
The committee moved and called the roll. Recorded 'aye' votes included Representative Campbell, Porter, Shackleford, Goss Reeves, Lehman, Barrett, Borders, Mayfield, McGuire, Ledbetter, Snow and Chairman Carbaugh; the chair left one vote open for Representative Dan Chesser but announced the bill would pass committee. The committee's approval sends the bill forward for subsequent House action.
