The proposed General Assembly Raised Bill No. 249 establishes new guidelines for the revocation or reduction of pensions for public officials and state or municipal employees convicted of crimes related to their office. It introduces definitions for "public official," "state or municipal employee," and "crime related to state or municipal office," which includes offenses like embezzlement and bribery. The bill clarifies the terms "revoke" and "reduce," with revocation meaning complete loss of benefits and reduction indicating a partial decrease. A presumption framework is established for the Superior Court, where revocation is presumed for public officials and reduction for employees, taking into account factors such as the severity of the crime and the economic circumstances of the convicted individual.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing laws by ensuring that if a public official or employee voluntarily reports a crime to the Attorney General or law enforcement before being aware of an investigation, their pension cannot be revoked, although it may be reduced based on specific considerations. It mandates that state prosecutors inform the Attorney General in criminal cases involving public officials or employees, who will then pursue remedies under the pension revocation statute, including the potential for fines or restitution to be deducted from pensions. The bill also includes provisions for the financial needs of innocent spouses and dependents when determining pension reductions and ensures that if any part of the law is invalidated, the remaining provisions remain enforceable. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 1-110, 1-110a