This bill aims to amend the benefits provided to the dependents of State Police officers who are required to take disability retirement, aligning them more closely with the benefits afforded to the dependents of officers who retire after serving twenty years without disability. Specifically, it modifies the compensation structure for surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents of deceased members. The bill proposes that surviving spouses receive an annual payment equal to three-fourths of the retirement benefits the deceased retirant was receiving or would have been entitled to, with a minimum guarantee of $5,000, replacing the previous calculation based on a percentage of the deceased member's salary over twenty-five years.

Additionally, the bill maintains the provision for monthly payments to surviving spouses for each dependent child and outlines the scholarship benefits available to dependent children for educational purposes. It clarifies the timing for beneficiary payments to surviving spouses and dependents based on the status of the deceased member or retirant. Overall, the proposed changes are designed to enhance the financial support for the families of State Police officers who face the challenges of disability retirement.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-2-33