House Bill 1206

AN ACT TO ALLOW COUNTIES TO PAY THE REASONABLE HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL EXPENSES FOR PAID OR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS INCURRED IN THE LINE OF DUTY; TO ALLOW COUNTIES TO PROVIDE ACCIDENT, DEATH OR DISABILITY POLICIES TO PAID OR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS; TO ALLOW COUNTIES TO PURCHASE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE MEDICAL COSTS AND EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE LINE OF DUTY OF PAID OR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS; TO AMEND SECTION 21-25-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW MUNICIPALITIES TO PAY THE PREMIUMS FOR ACCIDENT, DEATH AND DISABILITY POLICIES AND/OR INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE MEDICAL COSTS AND EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE LINE OF DUTY FOR PAID OR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. In all counties of this state maintaining a paid or volunteer fire department, the personnel of which department is actively and exclusively engaged in fire duty or emergency medical services, the board of supervisors of such county may pay out of the general fund of such county reasonable hospital and medical expenses for any member of said fire department on account of any occupational disease contracted or for any accident or injury sustained by said member by reason of his service or discharge of his duty in said department. Where hospital and medical expenses are to be paid directly from the county's general fund, the board of supervisors of such county shall be the sole judge as to whether such illness or such injury was contracted or sustained in the line of duty of any such employee, and the reasonableness of said expenses.

Further, the board of supervisors of such county may pay out of the general fund insurance premiums for the purchase of insurance covering hospital and medical expenses for any member of said fire department on account of any occupational disease contracted or for any accident or injury sustained by said member by reason of his service or discharge of his duty in said department.

In addition, the board of supervisors of such county may pay out of the general fund insurance premiums for the purchase of accident, death or disability insurance covering any member of said fire department for expenses associated with any occupational disease contracted or for any accident or injury sustained by said member by reason of his service or discharge of his duty in said department.

SECTION 2. Section 21-25-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-25-9. In all municipalities of this state maintaining a paid or volunteer fire department, the personnel of which department is actively and exclusively engaged in fire duty or emergency medical services, the governing authorities of such municipality may pay out of the general fund of such municipality reasonable hospital and medical expenses for any member of said fire department on account of any occupational disease contracted or for any accident or injury sustained by said member by reason of his service or discharge of his duty in said department. Where hospital and medical expenses are to be paid directly from the municipality's general fund, the governing authorities of such city shall be the sole judge as to whether such illness or such injury was contracted or sustained in the line of duty of any such employee, and the reasonableness of said expenses.

Further, the governing authorities of such municipality may pay out of the general fund insurance premiums for the purchase of insurance covering hospital and medical expenses for any member of said fire department on account of any occupational disease contracted or for any accident or injury sustained by said member by reason of his service or discharge of his duty in said department.

In addition, the governing authorities of such municipality may pay out of the general fund insurance premiums for the purchase of accident, death or disability insurance covering any member of said fire department for expenses associated with any occupational disease contracted or for any accident or injury sustained by said member by reason of his service or discharge of his duty in said department.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.