The bill amends Section 16-16-26 of the General Laws concerning benefits for spouses, former spouses, and domestic partners of deceased members of the teachers' retirement system. It increases the monthly minimum death benefits for these individuals across various income brackets, replacing previous amounts with higher figures. Specifically, the minimum benefit for those with an annual salary of $17,000 or less is raised from $825 to $1,025; for those earning between $17,001 and $25,000, the benefit increases from $963 to $1,200; for those earning between $25,001 and $33,000, it rises from $1,100 to $1,375; for those earning between $33,001 and $40,000, it increases from $1,238 to $1,550; and for those earning over $40,001, the benefit is raised from $1,375 to $1,725. Additionally, the bill mandates a yearly adjustment of the base benefit and a yearly cost-of-living adjustment based on the annual social security adjustment. This act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7683: 16-16-26