Bill Text: AZ SB1156 | 2025 | Fifty-seventh Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced

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Bill Title: Death benefits; burial costs

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-23 - Senate read second time [SB1156 Detail]

Download: Arizona-2025-SB1156-Introduced.html

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REFERENCE TITLE: death benefits; burial costs

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

2025

 

 

 

SB 1156

 

Introduced by

Senator Gowan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending section 23-1046, arizona revised statutes; relating to workers' compensation.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 23-1046, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE23-1046. Death benefits

A. In case of an injury causing death, the compensation therefor shall be known as a death benefit and shall be payable in the amount, for the period, and to and for the benefit of the following:

1. Burial expenses, of not to exceed five thousand dollars more than $10,000, in addition to the compensation.

2. To the surviving spouse, if there are no children, sixty-six and two-thirds per cent percent of the average monthly wage of the deceased, to be paid until such spouse's death or remarriage, with two years' compensation in one sum upon on remarriage. To the surviving spouse if there are surviving children, thirty-five per cent percent of the average monthly wage of the deceased, to be paid until such spouse's death or remarriage with two years' compensation in one sum upon on remarriage, and to the surviving children, an additional thirty-one and two-thirds per cent percent of the average monthly wage, to be divided equally among them until the age of eighteen years, until the age of twenty-two years if the child is enrolled as a full-time student in any accredited educational institution, or if over eighteen years and incapable of self-support when the child becomes capable of self-support. When all surviving children are no longer eligible for benefits, the surviving spouse's benefits shall be paid as if there were no children. In the event of the subsequent death or remarriage of the surviving spouse, the surviving child's or children's benefits shall be computed pursuant to paragraph 3 of this subsection.

3. To a single surviving child, in the case of the subsequent death or remarriage of a surviving husband or wife, or if there is no surviving husband or wife, sixty-six and two-thirds per cent percent of the average monthly wage of the deceased, or if there is more than one surviving child, sixty-six and two-thirds per cent percent to be divided equally among the surviving children. Compensation to any such child shall cease upon on death, upon on marriage or upon on reaching the age of eighteen years, except, if over eighteen years and incapable of self-support, when he the child becomes capable of self-support, or if over eighteen years of age and enrolled as a full-time student in any accredited educational institution, when the child reaches age twenty-two.

4. To a parent, if there is no surviving husband, wife or child under the age of eighteen years, if wholly dependent for support upon on the deceased employee at the time of his death, twenty-five per cent percent of the average monthly wage of the deceased during dependency, with an added allowance of fifteen per cent percent if two dependent parents survive, and, if neither parent is wholly dependent, but one or both partly dependent, fifteen per cent percent divided between them share and share alike.

5. To brothers or sisters under the age of eighteen years, if there is no surviving husband or wife, dependent children under the age of eighteen years or dependent parent, the following shall govern:

(a) If one of the brothers or sisters is wholly dependent upon on the deceased employee for support at the time of injury causing death, twenty-five per cent percent of the average monthly wage until the age of eighteen years.

(b) If more than one brother or sister is wholly dependent, thirty-five per cent percent of the average monthly wage at the time of injury causing death, divided among such dependents share and share alike.

(c) If none of the brothers or sisters is wholly dependent, but one or more are partly dependent, fifteen per cent percent divided among such dependents share and share alike.

B. If the deceased employee leaves dependents only partially dependent upon on his earnings for support at the time of the injury, the monthly compensation shall be equal to such proportion of the monthly payments for the benefit of persons totally dependent as the amount contributed by the employee to such partial dependents bears to the average wage of the deceased at the time of the injury resulting in his death. The duration of compensation to partial dependents shall be fixed by the commission in accordance with the facts shown, and in accordance with the provisions of section 23-1047, but shall in no case exceed compensation for one hundred months.

C. In the event of death of a dependent before expiration of the time named in the award, the funeral expenses of such person, of not to exceed eight hundred dollars more than $800, shall be paid. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Retroactivity; definition

A. Section 23-1046, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, applies retroactively to from and after December 31, 2023 for the spouses of first responders.

B. For the purposes of this section, "first responder":

1. Means a law enforcement officer, a firefighter or a paramedic as defined in section 36-2201, Arizona Revised Statutes.

2. Includes a person who is a volunteer first responder and who is operating in an official capacity on behalf of a governmental entity that is involved in an emergency or law enforcement response.