Workers' compensation: death benefits.
Summary
Existing law establishes a workers' compensation system, administered by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation, to compensate an employee for injuries sustained in the course of employment. Under existing law, when a local employee who is a firefighter or peace officer, as specified, and that employee is killed or dies as a result of an accident or injury caused by external violence of physical force incurred in the performance of their duty, the employer is required to continue providing health benefits to the deceased employee's minor dependents under the benefits extended to the surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, until the minor dependent is 21 years of age. This bill would increase that age to 26 years of age.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Aug 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Assembly Passage
Aug 2025
Signed into Law
Oct 2025
Introduced Feb 18, 2025
Signed Oct 11, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
10/11/25 - Chaptered
→
SB447
·
1 edit
MINOR
No substantive policy changes between these two versions. The diff reflects a transition from a formal chaptered document format to a web page rendering of the same enacted law (SB 447, Chapter 653). The underlying statutory text amending Labor Code Section 4856 is identical in both versions.
TECHNICAL
The bill text was reformatted from a formal authenticated chaptered document into a web page layout with navigation elements, bill tracking features, and metadata. No changes to the actual legal provisions.
Floor votes · Senate May 29, 2025 · Assembly Aug 28, 2025
How they voted
38–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
May 29, 2025
D
Democratic30
93% Yea
R
Republican10
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
25
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Amendments
3
Oct 11, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor.
legislature
Sep 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2927.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
upper
Aug 28, 2025
Introduced
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
upper
Aug 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 2776.) Ordered to the Senate.
lower
Aug 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 20).
lower
Jul 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (July 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
lower
Jun 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on INS.
lower
Jun 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Com. on INS.
lower
May 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1326.) Ordered to the Assembly.
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1200.) (May 23).
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 568.) (March 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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