(a) A city shall pay for the care of a police officer or firefighter who suffers an injury while performing the person's duty or while the person is on duty or who contracts illness caused by the performance of the person's duty, including an injury or illness that results in a disability or death presumed incurred in the line of duty under IC 5-10-13 . This care includes:

1. (1) medical and surgical care;
2. (2) medicines and laboratory, curative, and palliative agents and means;
3. (3) X-ray, diagnostic, and therapeutic service, including during the recovery period; and
4. (4) hospital and special nursing care if the physician or surgeon in charge considers it necessary for proper recovery.

(c) A city that has paid for the care of a police officer or firefighter under subsection (a) has a cause of action for reimbursement of the amount paid under subsection (a) against any third party against whom the police officer or firefighter has a cause of action for an injury sustained because of or an illness caused by the third party. The city's cause of action under this subsection is in addition to, and not in lieu of, the cause of action of the police officer or firefighter against the third party.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: subsection

(a) formerly 19-1-13-1; subsection (b) formerly 19-1-13-2.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.53. Amended by P.L.169-1994, SEC.1; P.L.185-2002, SEC.4; P.L.66-2020, SEC.1.