BILL ANALYSIS
AB 384
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 384 (Portantino)
As Amended May 29, 2007
Majority vote
HIGHER EDUCATION 7-0 PUBLIC EMPLOYEES 6-0
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|Ayes:|Portantino, Horton, |Ayes:|Hernandez, Jeffries, |
| |Arambula, Beall, Cook, | |Anderson, Mullin, |
| |Galgiani, Ruskin | |Swanson, Torrico |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Leno, Walters, Caballero, |
| |Davis, DeSaulnier, |
| |Emmerson, Huffman, |
| |Karnette, Krekorian, La |
| |Malfa, Lieu, Ma, |
| |Nakanishi, Nava, Sharon |
| |Runner, Solorio |
|-----+--------------------------|
| | |
| | |
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SUMMARY : Enacts the California Fallen Federal Firefighter
Survivor Assistance Act of 2007 to extend education and health
benefits to survivors of fallen federal firefighters.
Specifically, this bill :
1) Prohibits the University of California (UC), the
California State University (CSU), and the California
Community Colleges (CCC) from imposing or collecting mandatory
system wide fees or tuition from surviving spouses and
children of a deceased firefighter employed by the federal
government, whose death was the result of an injury or disease
sustained in the line of duty, who was a California resident
and whose regular duty assignment was to perform firefighting
services in California.
AB 384
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2) Provides continuing health benefit coverage as specified
under the Public Employees Medical and Hospital Care Act for
surviving spouses and children of a deceased firefighter
employed by the federal government, whose death was the result
of an injury or disease sustained in the line of duty, who was
a California resident and whose regular duty assignment was to
perform firefighting services in California.
EXISTING LAW provides similar UC, CSU and CCC fee exemptions and
health care benefits to surviving spouses and children of other
law enforcement and fire suppression personnel killed in the
line of duty in California.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, General Fund (GF) costs would depend on the number of
existing and future surviving spouses and children of fallen
firefighters who take advantage of medical and/or tuition
benefits. Currently 29 surviving spouses receive health care
benefits at an annual GF cost of $372,000. Since 1990, 30
federal firefighters have been killed in the line of duty. It
is unknown how many of these firefighter left survivors. If 10
surviving spouses and their families were to receive health
benefits, the initial cost would be around $130,000 annually.
If two additional surviving spouses become eligible for
benefits, the annual cost would exceed $150,000.
Revenue losses to UC and CSU, assuming 10 students at each
system receive a tuition waiver, would be $64,000 and $28,000,
respectively. Any revenue losses at CCC would be minor.
COMMENTS : According to the author, when a firefighter is killed
in the line of duty, he/she leaves behind a family who not only
suffers this great loss but a family faced with financial
challenges including college education and health care.
Existing law provides specific relief in these vital areas for
survivors of fallen police officers and firefighters, but omits
protection for those firefighters on the federal payroll. This
bill cures this omission.
CSU estimates a cost of $69,300 in 2007-08 and requests
reimbursement for lost revenue.
AB 384
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Analysis Prepared by : Mary Gill / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960
FN: 0000848