Public safety officer death benefit law definitions expansion provision

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jeff Howe and 2 co-sponsors

Expands the public safety officer death benefit definitions, broadening who qualifies and what counts as a qualifying death, widening survivor eligibility and coverage.

Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety

#lawenforcement #publicsafetyandpublicsafetydepartment

Overview

SF 2731 is a Minnesota Senate File introduced on March 20, 2025, titled “Public safety officer death benefit law definitions expansion provision.” The bill has been referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety committees. The introduction occurred on the same day as the first reading and referral.

Bill: SF 2731

Title: Public safety officer death benefit law definitions expansion provision

Status: Introduced and referred to Judiciary and Public Safety (as of March 20, 2025)

Introduced: March 20, 2025

Classification/Subject: Law enforcement, public safety, and public safety department

Purpose and intent (as inferred from the title)

The bill appears to aim at expanding the definitions used in the state’s public safety officer death benefit statute. While the full text is not provided here, the title indicates an effort to broaden how terms are defined within the death benefit framework, which could affect eligibility, covered personnel, or the scope of what constitutes a qualifying death under the program.

Key provisions (inferred from the title)

Note: The exact statutory language is not included in the provided information. Based on the “definitions expansion” phrasing, probable areas affected include:

Definitions of who qualifies as a “public safety officer” for death benefit purposes (potentially expanding categories of personnel or roles covered).

Definitions of what constitutes a qualifying death (e.g., line-of-duty death, service-connected death, or related circumstances).

Definitions related to survivors or beneficiaries (who may be eligible to receive benefits and under what conditions).

Administrative definitions (filing timelines, required documentation, or oversight mechanisms) that impact eligibility determinations.

The bill would “expand definitions” within the death benefit law, which commonly translates to broader eligibility criteria or broader scope of covered incidents.

Affected parties

Public safety officers and other personnel who may be considered covered by the death benefit.

Surviving family members or designated beneficiaries seeking benefits.

State and local agencies administering the death benefit program.

Public safety departments that implement the program and process claims.

Procedural timeline and next steps

2025-03-20: Introduced and first reading.

2025-03-20: Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety.

Next steps (typical): Potential committee hearings, amendments, and votes in both committees, followed by potential floor action and bifurcated consideration between chambers, depending on the legislative process for Minnesota.

Potential impact and considerations

If definitions are broadened, more individuals or more circumstances could qualify for death benefits, increasing eligibility and potential state or local funding obligations.

Administrative processes for determining eligibility may be revised to align with the expanded definitions.

Stakeholders may include public safety departments, unions representing officers, survivors, and public budget authorities.

Note: This summary is based on the bill’s title and the limited details provided. The full text would specify the exact definitional changes and any associated fiscal or implementation implications.

Bill