The surviving family members of Michigan first responders who die in the line of duty will qualify for up to five years of state-paid health insurance under legislation signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder.
Snyder says in a statement Tuesday that the move is "unquestionably the right thing to do."
Survivors of fallen first responders currently can get a one-time $25,000 payment.
The law sponsored by Republican Sen. Wayne Schmidt of Traverse City applies to survivors of fallen police officers, firefighters and publicly employed paramedics and is retroactive to October 2015.
Providing the health coverage could cost the state up to $400,000 a year, according to legislative fiscal projections.