If this bill becomes law, it will amend the current statute regarding long-term disability (LTD) benefits for members of the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Specifically, it will remove the existing requirement that members must have received LTD benefits for a total of twenty-four months within a five-year period to continue receiving those benefits. Instead, the bill allows members to continue receiving LTD benefits after twenty-four months of being unable to perform work duties while under the direct care of a physician, regardless of the time frame in which those twenty-four months occur.

The current language stating that members must have received benefits "within a five-year period" will be deleted, and the phrase "a total of" will be inserted to clarify the duration of benefits without the five-year limitation. This change aims to provide greater support to ASRS members who are unable to work due to disability, ensuring they can maintain their benefits without the constraints of the previous time frame.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 38-797.07
House Engrossed Version: 38-797.07