Firefighter death benefits added to special session of the Utah Legislature

SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Cox has amended his special session proclamation and has added two additional items, including a discussion of firefighter death benefits, to the agenda of the May 17, 2023 Special Session of the Utah Legislature.

One of the new agenda items includes an amendment to the Division B death benefit in Title 49, Chapter 16, Firefighter’s Retirement Act. It’s a topic that House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-SLC, said lawmakers were getting a lot of questions about.

“Many of us have been getting emails about SB 21, which is public safety and firefighter retirement death benefits, and asking for us to add it onto the proclamation regarding aligning the benefits,” Romero told KSL, hours before the Governor’s office added the topic to the special session agenda. 

“There was a technical glitch there,” she said. KSL spoke with Romero a few hours before the amended proclamation was made public.

The second additional item added to the agenda of the special session involves the Utah Senate consenting to appointments made by the governor.

The special session was originally called for lawmakers to extend the state flooding emergency which Gov. Cox issued on April 18th and, by law, is valid for only 30 days. Companion legislation, outlining appropriations for additional emergency response funding, is also on the docket.

Lawmakers will also discuss amending H.B. 225, which regulates firearm possession by restricted individuals. A legislative review found that the existing law is more stringent than a similar federal law.

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