Similar Stories to Resolution Would Provide Health Insurance To Family Of Hawkins First Responders Who Die On The Job on Bing News

ROGERSVILLE — The Hawkins County Commission will consider a resolution Monday to continue paying health insurance benefits for the spouse and children of first responders who are killed in the line of duty. Commissioner Jeff Barrett introduced the resolution which would give the wife and children of full-time county employees who are also first responders (police, fire and rescue) health insurance for two years if the first responder is killed in the line of duty. Barrett notes in the resolution that as of July 1, 2017, counties are authorized under Tennessee Code Annotated 8-27-404 to seek reimbursement from the state for the county’s portion of the health insurance premiums for these eligible family members. Presently the county’s only full-time employee first responders are sheriff’s deputies. The resolution was discussed briefly during last Monday’s Budget Committee meeting, but no recommendation was made. Committee Chairman John Metz said he hopes Barrett will agree to table the resolution while the subject is investigated further. “I contacted the legal department at underwriters, our insurance consultant, and no one has contacted them,” Metz said.