Bill
HB 6973
The bill would change health insurance premium treatment so volunteer firefighters and ambulance members receive different, likely reduced, premium costs.
Title: An Act Concerning Health Insurance Premiums for Members of Volunteer Fire Departments and Volunteer Ambulance Services
Bill No.: HB 6973 (File No. 355)
Introduced: February 14, 2025
Committee: Joint Committee on Insurance and Real Estate
Current procedural status: Favorably reported out of committee and placed on the House calendar (filed as File No. 355). Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis for review.
The bill’s stated purpose (from its title) is to address how health insurance premiums are applied to members of volunteer fire departments and volunteer ambulance services. Although the full text of the bill is not provided here, the intent is to change policy or regulation so that volunteer emergency responders receive different treatment with respect to health insurance premiums than under current practice.
Because the bill text is not included, the following summarizes likely or typical types of provisions such a bill would contain:
- Definitions: who qualifies as a “member” of a volunteer fire department or volunteer ambulance service (hours/tenure/active-status requirements).
- Insurance premium treatment: prohibitions or limitations on charging higher health insurance premiums to volunteers because of their volunteer status, or requirements that insurers offer reduced or no-cost premiums for certain volunteer responders.
- Employer/municipal responsibilities: requirements that municipalities or volunteer organizations enroll eligible volunteers in group health plans, or reimburse/offset premiums for volunteers as a recruitment and retention benefit.
- Implementation and effective date: an effective date and any transitional rules for existing coverage.
- Compliance and enforcement: mechanisms for oversight, reporting, or penalties for noncompliance.
No fiscal figures are provided in the available metadata. The bill was referred to the Office of Fiscal Analysis, indicating potential state or municipal cost implications if subsidies or mandated coverage are included. To evaluate concrete effects, review the bill text and OFA analysis once available.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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