MS SB2357

Counties may pay reasonable hospital and medical expenses from their general fund for paid or volunteer fire department members who contract occupational diseases or sustain injuries in the line of duty

Counties and municipalities may purchase insurance coverage for hospital and medical expenses related to line-of-duty injuries or illnesses for fire department members

Counties and municipalities may pay premiums for accident, death, or disability insurance policies covering fire department members for duty-related incidents

Expands coverage to include fire department personnel engaged in emergency medical services, not just fire duty

Local governing authorities serve as the sole judge of whether an illness or injury was contracted in the line of duty and whether expenses are reasonable when paying directly from the general fund

Effective date: July 1, 2022