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Bill Summary · SF 2821

SF 2821 — Public safety officer death benefit law definitions and benefits expansion provision

Snapshot

  • Bill Number: SF 2821 (Senate File)
  • Title: Public safety officer death benefit law definitions and benefits expansion provision
  • Status: Author added Limmer
    • 2025-03-24: Author added Limmer
    • 2025-03-20: Introduction and first reading
    • 2025-03-20: Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety
  • Introduced: March 20, 2025
  • Related Bills: HF 2797 (companion bill in the House)
  • Classification/Subject: Firefighters, Law Enforcement, Public Safety and Public Safety Department

Purpose and intent

SF 2821 aims to modify Minnesota’s public safety officer death benefit framework by:
- Re-defining terms used in the current public safety officer death benefit law (definitions section)
- Expanding the scope and/or level of death benefits available to eligible survivors and beneficiaries of public safety officers

The bill’s overall objective is to ensure broader or clearer eligibility and potentially enhanced support for families of officers who die in connection with their service.

Key provisions (based on the title and related actions)

  • Definitions: The bill would revise and/or add definitions used in the public safety officer death benefit statute, ensuring clearer interpretation and application of the benefits.
  • Benefits expansion: The bill would extend or broaden the death benefit program. This could involve increasing the size or scope of benefits, extending eligibility criteria, or enlarging what is covered (e.g., related costs or survivor support). Specific dollar amounts, duration, or detailed eligibility criteria are not provided in the summary available.
  • Administrative and procedural alignment: As a bill affecting benefit determinations, it may address how claims are processed, who administers them, and any necessary conformity with related statutes.

Note: The exact text is not provided here, so the above reflects the bill’s stated focus and typical areas such measures cover.

Who would be affected

  • Public safety officers and their families/beneficiaries who would be eligible for death benefits under the statute.
  • Public safety departments and agencies responsible for processing and administering death benefits.
  • The Minnesota public safety pension/benefits administration and related state entities that handle eligibility determinations and distributions.

Procedural timeline and status

  • Introduced and first read on March 20, 2025.
  • Referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety committees for consideration.
  • March 24, 2025: Author added (Limmer), indicating sponsorship details updated.
  • House companion: HF 2797, indicating parallel action in the House of Representatives.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Fiscal: Expanded benefits could have budgetary implications for state programs funding death benefits and survivor supports.
  • Administrative: May require updates to definitions, forms, and processing workflows to reflect new eligibility criteria and benefit levels.
  • Policy: Broadens protections for families of public safety officers, potentially improving financial security after a line-of-duty or service-related death.

Next steps for tracking

  • Monitor committee hearings in Judiciary and Public Safety for SF 2821.
  • Review the accompanying House companion HF 2797 for alignment or differences.
  • Examine the bill’s exact definitions and expanded benefit provisions once the full text is released to assess specific eligibility, benefit levels, and administrative requirements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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