Bill Would Stiffen Penalties for Delays in Peace Officer Benefits

Texas firefighters' struggles with the state's cancer presumption law have caught the attention of four lawmakers who want to raise the penalties for municipal insurers who delay or deny medical benefits unnecessarily. “The current workers compensation system for firefighters and police officers in Texas is plagued by delays and abuse,” lead sponsor of House Bill 1521, Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, said in a local news report. “Private insurers have largely been replaced by cities that are either self-insured or in a risk pool. This has resulted in widespread ...