All Roll Calls
Yes: 167 • No: 0
UtahS.B. 2552025 General SessionSenateWALLET
Line-of-Duty Death Benefit Amendments
Sponsored By: Derrin R. Owens (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Peace OfficersPublic Retirement and InsuranceLaw Enforcement and Criminal JusticePublic SafetyPublic Employees' Health ProgramPublic Employees Insurance and BenefitsPublic Safety RetirementUtah Retirement Systems (URS)
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Public safety survivors get premium-free coverage
Beginning May 7, 2025, eligible public safety and firefighter survivors can keep employer health, dental, and vision coverage. Utah's retirement office must classify the death as line-of-duty, and the employee must qualify for the related retirement-law benefit. The employee must have received or qualified for that employer coverage at death; the separate state-employee coverage rule does not overlap. Employers pay 100% of premiums and their share of health savings account contributions for high-deductible plans, without charging the spouse. At the spouse's choice, coverage continues until Medicare eligibility for the spouse and age 26 for unmarried dependent children.
State worker survivors get paid coverage
Beginning May 7, 2025, a covered Utah state employee's qualifying line-of-duty death triggers a $50,000 state-paid life insurance benefit. The employee's beneficiary receives the life insurance proceeds. The state also pays for health, dental, and vision coverage for eligible survivors. A surviving spouse must stay enrolled to keep coverage until Medicare eligibility. The employee's unmarried children can keep coverage until age 26.
Duty death rules shape survivor benefits
Beginning May 7, 2025, Utah's line-of-duty death definition covers deaths caused by duty-related external force, violence, or required strenuous activity. Strenuous activity includes difficult, stressful, or vigorous emergency work, such as firefighting, rescue, policing, prison security, or disaster relief. Sanctioned and funded training involving difficult, stressful, or vigorous physical activity also qualifies. Deaths during non-strenuous work, during the employee's crime, or when the employee's alcohol or drug use contributes are excluded. Deaths outside the listed causes do not qualify for these survivor benefits.
Employer fees fund survivor coverage support
Beginning May 7, 2025, Utah establishes a dedicated trust fund for public safety and firefighter survivor coverage. Employers pay board-set fees based on their eligible employee counts; the law sets no rate amounts. Employers initially pay coverage costs and can begin trust cost-sharing 13 months after the line-of-duty death. The fund accepts employer fees, appropriations, donations, grants, and other revenue, earns interest, and receives no new general fund appropriation through this act. After actual administrative costs, revenue and interest lower employer fees; fund money can also pay survivor coverage and reasonable administrative costs. Deposits cannot be withdrawn for other purposes, and assets are protected from creditors. Public Safety accounts for the fund or contracts out administration and staffs a four-member board representing Public Safety, state budgeting, municipalities, and counties. Public Safety chairs the board, three members form a quorum, and members receive no salary but may receive travel expenses and per diem. The board meets at least annually and oversees rates, financial forecasts, actuarial studies, budgets, investments, and fund solvency.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Derrin R. Owens
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Doug Welton
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/7/2025
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 67 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/7/2025
Senate/ concurs with House amendment
Yes: 28 • No: 0
House vote • 3/3/2025
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
House vote • 3/3/2025
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/25/2025
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 23 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/24/2025
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Yes: 22 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/20/2025
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/20/2025
Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 3 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/19/2025Senate/ to Governor
3/17/2025SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/17/2025SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/13/2025SenateEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/13/2025Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/11/2025Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
3/11/2025Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
3/8/2025SenateSenate/ received from House
3/8/2025SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/7/2025HouseSenate/ to House
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ concurs with House amendment
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ received from House
3/7/2025SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact
3/3/2025HouseHouse/ comm rpt/ substituted
3/3/2025HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
3/3/2025HouseHouse Comm - Substitute Recommendation
3/3/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/13/2025
Substitute #2
2/28/2025
Substitute #1
2/20/2025
Introduced
2/10/2025