Sec. 5. (a) A municipal corporation may provide programs of disability insurance to its emergency medical services providers who become disabled as the result of an injury or illness:

(1) that is not covered by:

(A) worker’s compensation (IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6); or

(B) worker’s occupational diseases compensation (IC 22-3-7); or

(2) for which coverage under worker’s compensation or worker’s occupational diseases compensation has been exhausted.

     (b) A program established under subsection (a) may not have an elimination or waiting period of greater than the following before a benefit begins:

(1) Thirty (30) days, for a short term disability program.

(2) One hundred twenty (120) days, for a long term disability program.

     (c) A municipal corporation may provide the programs of disability insurance described in subsection (a) through either of the following:

(1) By purchasing policies of group insurance.

(2) By establishing self-insurance programs.

     (d) A municipal corporation may exclude from coverage under a program of disability insurance an emergency medical services provider who:

(1) is a part-time employee (as defined by the municipal corporation); or

(2) provides services to the municipal corporation under a contract.

     (e) The establishment of a self-insurance program under this section is subject to the approval of the municipal corporation’s fiscal body.

As added by P.L.20-2014, SEC.1.