HB 2477

Present law provides that the estate of any emergency responder who is killed in the line of duty is entitled to receive a $250,000 annuity, with the estate receiving an annual installment of $50,000 for five years. The claim for payment of such annuity must be filed with the department of finance and administration within three years after the death of the decedent. This bill, instead, requires a claim for payment of the annuity to be filed with the department of finance and administration within thre e years after either (i) the death of the decedent or (ii) the date of a final order or other determination designating the decedent's death as being in the line of duty, whichever is later. DENIAL OF A CLAIM Present law provides that a denial of a claim for an annuity by an estate of a law enforcement officer is subject to review by the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission within 90 days after the denial. This bill extends the time frame for review of a denial to within one year after the date of the denial. This bill provides that a denial of a claim for an annuity by the estate of a firefighter or volunteer rescue squad worker is subject to review by the commission on firefighting personnel standards and education within one year of the date of the denial. The commission on firefighting personnel standards has the authority to review the claim and issue a final order or other determination that is binding upon this state. This bill provides that a denial of a claim for an annuity by the estate of an emergency medical technician is subject to review by the Tennessee emergency medical services board within one year after the date of the denial. The emergency medical services board has the authority to review the claim and issue a final order or other determination that is binding upon this state. APPLICABILITY This bill applies retroactively to March 1, 2020, unless prohibited by the United States Constitution or the Tennessee Constitution.