AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7; Title 8; Title 50 and Title 56, relative to disability benefits for arson investigators.
Summary
SB1616 amends Tennessee law governing disability benefits by expanding the statutory definition of “firefighter” to expressly include certain arson investigators. Under the bill, a firefighter includes a full-time, paid employee of a fire department, and also an arson investigator employed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation or a sworn deputy of a county sheriff’s department. The bill changes the definition in Tennessee Code Annotated § 7-51-201 so that the broader definition applies throughout the section, not just within one subsection.
The practical effect is to make these arson investigators eligible for the same disability-related protections and benefits available to firefighters under Tennessee law, including benefits tied to occupational disability presumptions and related employment protections where applicable. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law, reflecting the legislature’s intent to extend coverage without delay.
Impact
The bill directly amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 7-51-201, which governs firefighter-related disability benefits and related definitions. By adding TBI arson investigators and sworn county sheriff’s deputies serving as arson investigators to the definition of firefighter, the bill expands the class of public employees who may qualify for firefighter disability benefits and associated statutory protections. It affects state and local public safety employers, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, county sheriffs’ departments, and the state’s workers’ compensation/disability framework as it applies to covered fire service personnel.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong support for the bill: the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee recommended passage unanimously, 9-0. The bill’s caption and text suggest a narrow, targeted measure focused on parity for arson investigators rather than a broad policy change, which likely contributed to the favorable reception. No committee transcript objections are available in the provided record.
Contention
The main policy issue is whether arson investigators should be treated the same as firefighters for disability-benefit purposes. Support is implied for extending coverage to TBI-employed arson investigators and sheriff’s deputies who perform arson investigation work, likely on the grounds that their duties expose them to similar hazards. Potential points of contention, though not documented in the provided materials, would include the fiscal impact of expanding benefit eligibility and whether the definition should extend to all arson investigators or only those in specified law-enforcement roles.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 10; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to pharmacy benefits.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 10; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to pharmacy benefits.