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Bill > SB039

CO SB039

CO SB039
Fire and Police Pension Association Disability and Survivor Benefits

summary

Introduced
01/27/2026
In Committee
02/11/2026
Crossed Over
02/11/2026
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

The fire and police pension association (association) currently provides disability retirement and survivor benefits (disability and survivor benefits) for eligible members of the association (members) who become disabled or die. The bill recodifies and reorganizes the disability and survivor benefits statutes, removes outdated provisions, and clarifies ambiguous language. In addition, the bill makes the following modifications to the disability and survivor benefits statutes: ! Removes the current requirement that the association require every member who applies for disability retirement benefits to have 3 independent medical exams and instead authorizes the board of the association (board) to appoint a medical advisor to assess the needs of each applicant for disability retirement benefits; ! Authorizes the board to adopt rules to streamline the appeal process for disability retirement benefit applicants who are denied benefits and rules to better administer members' mental health claims; ! Allows the association to require a member who is occupationally disabled to participate in a rehabilitation and retraining program to help the member gain additional skills and knowledge so the member can earn a wage doing a job other than being a police officer or firefighter; ! Clarifies that a member who is a total disability retirement benefit recipient will begin receiving a cost of living adjustment when the member starts receiving a total disability retirement benefit; ! Clarifies eligibility for a member to apply for disability retirement benefits; ! Repeals the statute that makes an employer liable for the payment of disability retirement benefits if a member's disability existed at the commencement of employment, the employment was not ordered by a court, and the employer failed to require the member to complete and file a health history form prior to commencing employment; and ! Requires members to fill out a health history form, which notifies the association of any preexisting health conditions, prior to employment. The bill does not change the amounts of disability retirement and survivor benefits or the length of time a member must be employed to be eligible for a benefit, nor does it require additional money from the state, employers, or members.

AI Summary

This bill reorganizes and clarifies the disability and survivor benefits statutes for the Fire and Police Pension Association (FPPA), which provides benefits to eligible members who become disabled or die. Key changes include replacing the requirement for three independent medical exams with the authorization for the FPPA's board to appoint a medical advisor to assess disability applicants, and allowing the board to create rules for a streamlined appeal process and to better handle mental health claims. The bill also permits the FPPA to require occupationally disabled members to participate in rehabilitation and retraining programs, clarifies when cost-of-living adjustments begin for total disability recipients, and defines eligibility for disability benefits more clearly. Additionally, it repeals a statute that made employers liable for pre-existing conditions if they failed to obtain a health history form, and now requires all new members to complete such a form to disclose any pre-existing health conditions to the FPPA. Importantly, the bill does not alter the amounts or duration of benefits, nor does it require additional funding from the state, employers, or members.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance

Sponsors (21)

Last Action

House Finance Hearing (00:00:00 3/12/2026 Room 0112) (on 03/12/2026)

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