HB346 Summary

• Provides continued health insurance coverage (including dental and vision) for surviving spouses and dependents of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty or who die from injuries suffered in the line of duty.

• Makes the deceased officer's employer responsible for paying health insurance premiums for eligible surviving dependents at the rate the officer would have paid for family or single coverage.

• Continues spouse coverage until remarriage, Medicare eligibility, or death; continues dependent coverage until the person is no longer considered a dependent.

• Allows surviving spouses and dependents who were enrolled at the time of death but later dropped coverage to re-enroll in the employer's health insurance program and receive premium payments.

• Requires a 2/3 legislative vote to become effective for local entities, or alternatively requires local entity approval or legislative appropriation of funds due to increased local expenditure requirements under Alabama Constitutional Amendment 621.