Des Moines, Ia- The Iowa Senate has passed a measure to ensure over 8600 police and firefighters who’re part of a statewide pension and disability system are covered for work-related injuries that developed over time.
Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton says the bill also requires coverage for mental disorders.
“This bill is about equity and fairness for our cops and firefighters,” Kaufmann says. “Those are our police officers and our firefighters that not only during the pandemic but also during the duration of their career have had our backs and are going to continue to have our backs,” Kaufmann said, “and so this is our way of saying, ‘Thank you, we’ve got yours.'”
Kaufmann says the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System has the same benefits in place for state workers, teachers, and other public employees. About four-thousand full-time police officers and firefighters are covered by the so-called 411 system. Nearly 4600 others who’ve retired or are no longer working as a firefighter or police officer get 411 benefits.
The benefit changes for these employees were approved by the House a year ago, but the bill was tabled when the legislature went on hiatus due to the pandemic.
The bill passed the House unanimously. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Here’s the list of cities which have police and firefighters covered by the 411 system: Ames, Ankeny, Bettendorf, Boone, Burlington, Camanche, Carroll (police only), Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Centerville, Charles City, Clinton, Clive (police only), Council Bluffs, Creston, Davenport, Decorah, Des Moines, DeWitt (police only), Dubuque, Estherville (police only), Evansdale (police only), Fairfield, Fort Dodge, Fort Madison, Grinnell, Indianola (police only), Iowa City, Keokuk, Knoxville (police only), LeMars (police only), Maquoketa (police only), Marion, Marshalltown, Mason City, Muscatine, Newton, Oelwein, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Pella (police only), Sioux City, Spencer, Storm Lake, Urbandale, Waterloo, Waverly (police only), Webster City and West Des Moines.)
