The bill seeks to improve accidental death benefits for the surviving spouses and children of members of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It introduces new definitions for "child" and "parent," expanding the eligibility criteria to include unmarried children under 18, those over 18 enrolled in education, and disabled children of any age. The bill also removes the previous half-support requirement for parents and widowers, replacing it with a clearer definition that maintains support criteria while waiving the five-year marriage requirement for benefits. Additionally, it emphasizes that benefits are applicable only if the death resulted from an accident in the line of duty and not from willful misconduct.

Moreover, the legislation increases the pension for surviving spouses to 70% of the member's last year's compensation and outlines the conditions under which accidental death benefits are payable. It allows beneficiaries to file for benefits within 180 days of the bill's effective date, overriding the existing five-year filing limit. The bill also clarifies the definition of "compensation" and includes provisions for beneficiaries of retirants who were ineligible for PFRS membership. Overall, the bill aims to provide more comprehensive support to the families of public safety personnel who have died in the line of duty, ensuring they receive the benefits they are entitled to under the law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 43:15A-6, 43:15A-49, 43:16A-1, 43:16A-10