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Committee unanimously advances bill allowing injured officers, firefighters to keep family coverage at same cost
Summary
House Bill 10‑44 would let public‑safety employees with class 1 or 2 disabilities continue to pay the same family health insurance cost after a qualifying injury. Testimony from injured officer Dustin Moody and his wife underscored the bill's urgency; committee approved 7‑0.
A legislative committee unanimously approved House Bill 10‑44, which would allow law‑enforcement officers and firefighters who sustain a class 1 or class 2 disability in the line of duty to continue family health insurance at the same employee cost.
Representative Pressell, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure is aimed at ‘‘taking care of those that are taking care of us’’ and said the change is not a free benefit — eligible public‑safety employees would still be responsible for the insurance premium they currently pay.
Officer Dustin Moody of the Trafalgar Police Department provided emotional testimony about his catastrophic injuries and the financial strain on his family. “I am the third worst injured police officer in Indiana history to survive line of duty injuries,” Moody said, describing a lengthy hospital stay and ongoing care needs. His wife, Emily Moody, testified about the family’s adjustment and called for protections that prevent families from losing access to health care during recovery.
Representatives of law‑enforcement and firefighter organizations told the committee the bill addresses a narrow set of cases but provides necessary protection for families. The committee passed the bill 7‑0 and the measure will proceed to the chamber floor, where sponsors said they may consider drafting language to accommodate localities that already provide coverage.
The committee recorded broad support, with eight witnesses signed up to testify and only one neutral registration on the hearing list.
