A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "HONOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 1-11-735 SO AS TO PROVIDE STATE-FUNDED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE SURVIVING SPOUSES AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF FIRST RESPONDERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY; TO DEFINE ELIGIBLE FIRST RESPONDERS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR ADMINISTRATION, FUNDING, AND OPTIMAL CONTINUATION OF COVERAGE.
Summary
H5139, titled the "Honor Our First Responders Act," would create a new state law requiring continued health insurance coverage through the South Carolina State Health Plan for the surviving spouses and dependent children of first responders killed in the line of duty. The bill defines eligible first responders to include law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel, and it applies to full-time, part-time, reserve, paid-on-call, and volunteer service in recognized governmental or emergency services roles.
The coverage would last for three years after the first responder’s death and would be provided at no cost to the family, the employing agency, or the local political subdivision. The bill also requires the coverage to match the plan and benefits in effect at the time of death, with no lapse, waiting period, or involuntary termination during the coverage period. After the three-year state-subsidized period ends, an eligible surviving spouse could elect to continue coverage by paying the full premium cost under State Health Plan continuation rules.
Impact
The bill would add Section 1-11-735 to the South Carolina Code and place administration of the benefit with the Public Employee Benefit Authority. It would require annual appropriations from the General Assembly to cover the full cost of the premium subsidy, and it would prohibit cost-sharing by the family, the employer, or any political subdivision. In practical terms, the measure expands state employee health coverage policy to create a new survivor benefit for families of qualifying first responders and establishes a continuing coverage option after the subsidized period ends.
Sentiment
Based on the bill’s title and substance, the measure appears broadly supportive and honorific toward first responders and their families, with no recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials. The bill is framed as a benefit expansion for families of public safety personnel who die in the line of duty, suggesting a generally favorable policy posture. Because there are no transcripts or vote records, there is no documented opposition or amendment activity in the supplied context.
Contention
The main policy issues likely concern the fiscal impact on the state, since the bill requires the State to pay all premium costs and mandates annual appropriations to fund the benefit. Another possible point of discussion is eligibility: the bill uses broad definitions that include volunteer and part-time personnel, and it excludes deaths tied to criminal activity or gross misconduct. The continuation coverage provision may also raise administrative questions because it requires PEBA to transition surviving spouses to paid continuation coverage after the three-year subsidy ends.
Similar To
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "HONOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 38-71-300 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP HEALTH PLAN MUST PROVIDE COVERAGE UNDER THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO THE SPOUSE OR DEPENDENT OF A FIRST RESPONDER COVERED BY SUCH A PLAN IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; BY AMENDING SECTION 1-3-470, RELATING TO LOWERING FLAGS UPON DEATH IN THE LINE OF DUTY, SO AS TO ADD AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN; BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-1172 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A FIRST RESPONDER RETIREMENT INCOME DEDUCTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-6-1170, RELATING TO THE RETIREMENT INCOME TAX DEDUCTION, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-220, RELATING TO GENERAL EXEMPTION FROM TAXES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A QUALIFIED SURVIVING SPOUSE ALSO MEANS CERTAIN SURVIVING SPOUSES OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-111-110, RELATING TO WAIVED TUITION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHILDREN OF CERTAIN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS ALSO QUALIFY FOR CERTAIN WAIVED TUITION.
Establishing the Kansas first responder scholarship program to provide postsecondary tuition assistance to certain first responders and dependents of such first responders.