Bill > H2381

This bill amends existing public employee retirement law to protect innocent beneficiaries from forfeiting their benefits due to the misconduct of the member, which is the person whose employment and contributions are the basis for the retirement benefits. Specifically, it introduces provisions that allow a beneficiary to be relieved of forfeiture if they can prove they did not know and had no reason to know of the member's conduct, or if it would be unfair to hold them responsible, or if they were a victim of the member's actions. The bill further defines what constitutes "knowledge or reason to know" by considering whether the beneficiary actually knew or if a reasonable person would have known, taking into account factors like the nature of the conduct, the beneficiary's involvement, education, and any willful failure to inquire. It also clarifies "inequity" by looking at whether the beneficiary significantly benefited, directly or indirectly, from the conduct beyond normal support, and defines "victim" broadly to include anyone suffering harm, including financial, emotional, or physical harm, as a result of the member's criminal acts or violations of abuse or harassment prevention orders.