A.G. Gancarski
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed SB 1202, which ensures firefighters who are totally and permanently disabled in training exercises will still have insurance coverage for themselves and their families, including spouses and children under the age of 25.
Total and permanent disability must be determined by two independent doctors to qualify for this coverage.
Republican Sen. Stan McClain, the bill’s sponsor, said during floor hearings that because of this law, this class of firefighters “will receive the same family health insurance premium benefits as those injured in emergency response.”
“The bill closes a critical gap in current law recognizing that official training exercises are essential to firefighter readiness and safety,” he added ahead of the unanimous vote to advance the proposal in one committee.
The fiscal impact on local governments is not known from this law.
3 comments
Foghorn Leghorn
May 17, 2025 at 1:45 pm
I would think the firefighters union offers some sort of disability program and maybe something that offers medical for them and their dependents. This should not all hang on the taxpayer. The great majority of taxpayers do not have this type of coverage. Also these government workers get generous pension plans with COLA’s that once again the great majority of taxpayer’s funding this do not get as well.
SuzyQ
May 19, 2025 at 9:50 am
In Florida, where state and local public employees benefit 5% across-the-board COLAs given every year Ron DeSantis has been Governor of Florida, yes, state and local public employees get COLAs. However, in other jurisdictions in the U.S. ruled by Democrats, there’ve been no COLA increases for state and local public employees. Leadership matters.
MH/Duuuval
May 25, 2025 at 10:39 pm
Dee’s leadership = understaffed agencies, open positions with those salaries sometimes going to higher pay for executives, and union busting (except for public safety). Also, Florida was flush with COVID funds and the future raises look more problematic.
Plus, Dee wants to control the working vocabularies of the agencies.
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