This bill amends the Nebraska State Patrol Retirement Act to enhance benefits for the surviving spouses and dependent children of officers who die in service or after retirement. Key provisions include increasing the percentage of the officer's annuity that surviving spouses receive from seventy-five percent to one hundred percent in certain situations, particularly when there are no dependent children under nineteen years of age. If there are dependent children, the surviving spouse will receive a minimum of fifty percent of the officer's annuity, with the remainder distributed among the children.

Additionally, the bill revises the annual benefit adjustment process for retired members, particularly those who joined on or after July 1, 2016. It establishes that the annual adjustment will be based on the lesser of the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index or a fixed percentage, which is one percent until July 1, 2025, and four percent thereafter. The bill ensures that current benefits will not be reduced and includes provisions for selecting a substitute index if the Consumer Price Index is discontinued. The act is designed to provide better financial security for the families of fallen officers and to ensure that retirees' benefits keep pace with inflation, taking effect immediately upon passage and approval due to an emergency clause.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 81-2026, 81-2027.08, 81-2027.09