I wanted to update you on a bill that has been introduced in the Texas Legislature that covers a gap in workers’ compensation coverage.
I strongly support House Bill 471.
As Mayor, I would be heavily involved in our legislative process. It is important to be involved in the work of the Texas Legislature. Their work impacts Frisco significantly and I see it as an important part of what the Mayor does to work with the legislature to shape bills to ensure they impact Frisco in a positive manner.
Representative Jared Patterson has sponsored a bill that provides illness or injury leave of absence for county and municipal firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical services personnel.
Brief Highlights of House Bill 471
Brief highlights of the bill provide coverage by including leave of absence for an injury or illness of firefighters, police officers, or emergency services personnel related to the person’s line of duty with full pay commensurate with the injury and shall continue for at least one year if necessary, with an opportunity for an extension. If extensions are not granted, and some salary parameters are not met, members will be considered eligible for disability retirement benefits until able to return to duty.
First responders who suffer illnesses or injury not in the line of duty and are temporarily disabled due to the injury or illness may use accumulated leave and other benefits before being placed on temporary leave or have firefighter, police officer, or emergency medical services personnel while the member is temporarily disabled by the injury or illnesses. This allows for positions to be filled that otherwise would be vacant or filled with additional or overtime personnel.
The bill also provides the ability for firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical services personnel, if able, to return to light duty while recovering from a temporary disability for at least one year if medically necessary.
Provisions are included to ensure when a firefighter, police officer, or emergency medical services personnel return from a temporary disability that they are reinstated at the same rank and seniority before going on temporary leave. Again, another firefighter, police officer, or emergency medical services personnel may voluntarily do the work of the injured firefighter, police officer, or emergency medical services personnel until the person returns to duty.
Acute Myocardial Infarction or Stroke resulting in disability or death is presumptive for firefighters, police officers, or emergency medical services in certain cases, even 24 hours after the end of shift. In 2015, a Frisco Fire Fighter suffered a cardiac arrest on his way home after a shift where he and his crew were first due to a working structural fire.
The bill also provides lifetime income benefits for catastrophic injuries such has loss of limbs, eyes, specific spinal injuries, and parameters regarding third degree burns and serious bodily injury.
I, Mark Piland, fully support HB 471 and thank Representative Patterson for ensuring our first responders who risk so much for us are protected.
Mark Piland
The election is May 6th, and early voting starts April 24th. Let’s get out the vote!
#markpilandformayor #markpilandforfrisco #markpilandforfriscotx#HB471 #representativepatterson
