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 20 years of service without disability. Specifically, it modifies the compensation structure for surviving spouses, increasing their annual benefits to three-fourths of the retirement benefits the deceased officer was receiving or would have been entitled to, with a minimum guarantee of $5,000. The previous provision that calculated benefits based on a percentage of the deceased member's salary over 25 years of service has been removed.

Additionally, the bill maintains the existing benefits for dependent children and parents of deceased officers, including a monthly payment for each dependent child and a scholarship for career development education. It also clarifies the timing of beneficiary payments to surviving spouses and dependents, ensuring they receive these payments promptly following the death of the officer or retirant. Overall, the proposed changes are designed to provide more equitable support to the families of officers who face disability retirement compared to those who retire after a full career.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-2-33