Bill > HB1155

This bill amends the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System's disability retirement benefits qualification rules by expanding the criteria for creating a rebuttable presumption of eligibility. Currently, a favorable determination letter from the Social Security Administration finding a member unable to perform their current work duties created a rebuttable presumption of disability retirement benefits. The bill now adds an additional path to qualify: if a member submits a service-connected disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) showing a 100% permanent and total disability, they will also be presumed eligible for disability retirement benefits. A rebuttable presumption means that while the member is initially considered qualified, the retirement system can still challenge or disprove the claim if they have sufficient evidence. The bill includes an emergency clause that sets the effective date as July 1, 2025, and justifies the immediate implementation by citing the complexity of the state's public retirement system and the need to update procedures to protect member benefits and clarify administrative requirements.

Labor and Employment

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1155&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R