Public Safety Officer Benefit Program - Public Safety Officer Benefit Programs

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) administers two programs related to public safety officer’s benefits. They are described below.

Public Safety Officers Benefits

The State of Minnesota Department of Public Safety Fiscal and Administrative Services Section is responsible for administering the Public Safety Officer's Benefit Program including health insurance continuation and psychological treatment cost reimbursement under Minnesota Statute § 299A.465, subd. 4. DPS also provides for the reimbursement of costs to agencies to comply with Minnesota Statute § 299A.475.

DPS provides reimbursement for continued health care insurance coverage to the public employer for each duty-disability eligible officer, firefighter, and qualifying dependent(s). DPS also provides reimbursement for costs of complying with the new Psychological Condition Treatment requirements, including treatment costs and salary, health insurance and benefit continuation. These funds come from the State of Minnesota's Public Safety Officer's Benefit Account and are based on the availability of funds. In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature provided a one-time allocation of $100 million to the account.

DPS does not manage or determine the officer's continued health insurance coverage or benefit continuation.

Employees

Employees who are deemed to be duty-disabled and employees receiving psychological condition treatment are eligible for certain benefit continuation. Minnesota Statute § 299A.465.

Officers and firefighters determined to be disabled in the line of duty by their retirement association are entitled to employer paid health coverage continuation for themselves and qualifying dependents. If you are an employee and have received the line-of-duty disability benefit from your retirement association and you have questions regarding the continuation of your health insurance, please contact your former employer for questions regarding your continued health care. Your former employer provides your continued health insurance.

Officers and qualifying firefighters experiencing psychological injuries sustained in the line of duty can apply to receive up to 24 weeks of treatment and salary, health insurance and benefit continuation paid by their employer. As of July 1, 2023, completion of psychological condition treatment is required to be eligible for a psychological condition duty-disability determination. For more information, and to apply, contact your retirement association.

Employers

By August 1 of each year, employers are able to apply for reimbursement of costs of certain health insurance continuation, benefit continuation, and salary continuation incurred in the preceding fiscal year (July 1-June 30) per Minnesota Statute § 299A.465. Reimbursement is available for the cost of continued health insurance coverage for officers and firefighters disabled in the line of duty and qualifying dependents and continued health insurance coverage for qualifying dependents of officers or firefighters killed in the line of duty. Reimbursement is also available for costs of complying with Minnesota Statutes §§ 352B.102-353.032 (Psychological Condition Treatment). This includes treatment costs incurred by the employer and cost of continuing employees' salary, health insurance, and benefits. Minnesota Statutes § 352B.102 and § 353.032.

Beginning January 1, 2024, employers must provide at least one of the following in order to be eligible for full reimbursement per Minnesota Statute § 299A.465 subd. 4.

Annual wellness training to peace officers and firefighters who are employees; or
An employee assistance program or peer support program.

The annual wellness training for peace officers must incorporate the in-service learning objectives for officer wellness established by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (POST Board). The Department of Public Safety is developing a training course based on these learning objectives that will be available by July 1, 2024, per Minnesota Statute § 626.8478 subdivision 3. By February 1, 2024, the Minnesota Fire Initiative must establish a wellness training for firefighters. Training programs established in the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program satisfy the wellness training objectives for firefighters.

Employers with questions regarding the reimbursement can send an email to PSOB.DPS@state.mn.us or call 651-230-1545.

Employers with other questions regarding the continued health insurance statute should speak to their city or county attorney for clarification since DPS is not able to offer legal advice. The League of Minnesota Cities is also available to provide general information and resources to cities via email at research@lmc.org or phone 651-281-1200.

DPS is developing a new procedure and software for employers to track and submit their costs for reimbursement. More information will be available for the 2023-2024 submission period. In the interim, employers should develop a procedure to document their compliance with these requirements and track costs incurred.

Public Safety Officers Death Benefits

A Public Safety Officer Death Benefit Claim form current with 2023 legislation will be available soon.

Following completion of the Death Benefit Application and certification by the commissioner of public safety, Minnesota Statute §299A.44 provides a one-time monetary death benefit to dependents or the estate of public safety officers killed in the line of duty on or after January 1, 1973 (see Minnesota Statute §299A.41 to determine eligibility).
Educational benefits through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education are available for dependent children less than 23 years of age (age extended to 30 years of age for those who served on active military duty for at least 181 consecutive days and were honorably discharged or released) and the surviving spouse following certification by the commissioner of public safety for the one-time monetary death benefit (per Minnesota Statute §299A.45).

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education administers the education benefit portion of the Public Safety Officer's Survivor Benefits.
The Educational Certificate is only issued to qualified dependents who have received certification under Minnesota Statute §299A.44 from the commissioner of public safety following the death of a public safety officer. Dependents must be in compliance with Minnesota Statute §299A.44 and the rules of the commissioner of public safety and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
Please note that the Educational Certificate is not provided to dependents of public safety officers while a public safety officer is living.

Please see Minnesota Statute §299A.465, subd. 2 for continued health insurance coverage which states the employer shall continue to cover the deceased officer's or firefighter's dependents, including the spouse of the officer or firefighter.

For volunteer firefighters, under Subd. 2a, healthcare coverage will be provided by the municipality or municipalities that operate the fire department with which the volunteer firefighter served.

(Please note that The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, also offers a Federal Public Safety Officer Benefit Program. Find out more about the federal program by calling the USDOJ at 1-888-744-6513 or by visiting their website at www.PSOB.gov.)