The bill amends the definitions of "child" within the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) and the State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to broaden eligibility for benefits. The new definition includes a deceased member's or retirant's unmarried child who is under the age of 18, 18 years or older and enrolled in secondary school, or under the age of 24 and enrolled in a degree program for at least 12 credit hours per semester. It also encompasses children of any age who are disabled due to an intellectual disability or physical incapacity, provided that the impairment has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as confirmed by the medical board.

Furthermore, the bill removes the previous requirement that the member must have died in active service as a result of an accident occurring during the performance of duty, and that the death was not due to the member's willful misconduct. This significant change allows for a wider range of children to qualify for benefits, ensuring that families can receive support regardless of the circumstances surrounding the member's death. The bill is designed to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 43:16A-1, 53:5A-3