Yesterday, Texas State Representative Terry Canales (D-Edinburg) filed a package of bills introduced for the 88th Texas Legislative Session dealing with strengthening benefits for first responders and Texas law enforcement who are hurt while on the job.

Rep. Canales filed the following bills:

HB 2314: Ensures that death benefits filed with the insurance carrier are forwarded to the Texas Department of Insurance for proper filing, making it easier for families of workers who die on the job to file for death benefits.
HB 2315: Narrows exclusions that can keep firefighters and EMTs from receiving proper cancer coverage.
HB 2316: Helps ensure that first responders are not fired based on their inability to perform their normal duties while their insurer is fighting against giving them the care they need to get well and back to full duties.
HB 2317: Narrows exclusions that restrict coverage of cancer, heart attacks, and strokes for peace officers and detention officers.

Representative Canales issued the following statement:

“Currently, our first responders who are injured while working on the front lines face an unfair workers’ compensation system that is stacked against them when they become injured or sick from conditions they face during the scope of their work. I filed this package of bills because I believe our state should have a system that is fair to Texas workers and does not give all the power to the insurance carrier. I am proud to work with CLEAT, Texas’ largest police labor organization, on this package of bills that ensures that we are doing everything we can to support those that support and protect our communities. Our first responders sacrifice their health and safety for the people of Texas. If they are injured on the job, the least we can do is ensure they are properly cared for.”

Charley Wilkison, Executive Director of CLEAT, our state’s largest law enforcement union provided the following statement:

“Worker’s Compensation in the State of Texas is and has always been a system to set the worker up for failure and deny claims. For decades, CLEAT has fought for police officers who have been wronged by the system. We are grateful for Representative Terry Canales who cares about how officers across the state are mistreated after being injured on duty. We would like to thank Chairman Canales for filing our package of injured officer legislation this session. He understands that law enforcement officers are working folks who risk a lot every day.”

Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, is the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and a member of the Sunset Advisory Commission. Rep. Canales represents House District 40 in Hidalgo County, which includes portions or all of Edinburg, Elsa, Faysville, La Blanca, Linn, Lópezville, McAllen, Pharr and Weslaco. He may be reached at his House District Office in Edinburg at (956) 383-0860 or at the Capitol at (512) 463-0426.