Senate Bill 14-047 Summary

• Establishes a $10,000 lump-sum death benefit for seasonal wildland firefighters killed in the line of duty in Colorado, paid to surviving spouses, children, parents, or designated beneficiaries.

• Defines "seasonal wildland firefighter" as temporary employees or volunteers trained in wildland firefighting whose duties include responding to and suppressing wildland fires, including members of the Colorado Correctional Industries' SWIFT inmate fire crews.

• Requires the Division of Fire Prevention and Control to administer the death benefit program and authorizes payment from any fund administered by the director, to be reimbursed by legislative appropriation or through group life insurance policies.

• Denies benefits if the death resulted from intentional misconduct, self-harm, or the firefighter being voluntarily intoxicated or under the influence of illegal substances at the time of injury.

• Extends eligibility to survivors of firefighters who die after separation from service if the death resulted from a line-of-duty injury, and specifies that benefits are not offset by other disability or insurance payments.