Bill > SB316

This bill modifies disability retirement provisions for the Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System (MPORS) and Firefighters' Unified Retirement System (FURS), introducing key changes to how disability benefits are calculated and maintained. The legislation establishes a new category of "line of duty" disability retirement benefits with more favorable terms for members who become disabled directly as a result of their service. For members disabled before completing 20 years of service, the bill provides a disability retirement benefit equal to one-half of their final average compensation, with an enhanced benefit for those disabled in the line of duty. For members with 20 or more years of service, the bill allows a disability retirement benefit calculated as 2.5% of final average compensation for each year of service credit. Additionally, the bill clarifies that when a member receiving a disability retirement benefit reaches normal retirement age, the benefit remains a disability retirement benefit but is no longer subject to medical examinations. The bill is effective immediately upon passage and applies retroactively to members who become disabled in the line of duty on or before January 1, 2025, potentially providing improved benefits to municipal police officers and firefighters who have been disabled during their service.

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https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0383