Table of Contents
- Digest of 2016 Legislative Action Affecting Members of the Firefighters’ and Rescue Squad Workers’ Pension Fund
New Line of Duty Death Survivorship Benefit and Beneficiary Provisions
Included in Section 36.20.(a) and (b) of the 2016 Appropriations Act - House Bill 1030 (Session Law 2016-94)
Creates, effective June 1, 2016, a monthly FRSWPF survivorship benefit if the member dies in the line of duty on or after June 1, 2016.
If the member dies in the line of duty between June 1, 2016 and June 30, 2018, the spouse will receive a lifetime monthly survivorship benefit of $170 beginning the month following the month the member would have attained age 55. If the member dies in the line of duty and is already receiving a monthly FRSWPF benefit, the spouse will receive a lifetime monthly benefit of $170 beginning the month following the member’s death. If there is no living spouse at the time of a member’s line of duty death, a lump sum payment equal to the member’s remaining contributions will be paid to the member’s estate.
Allows, effective July 1, 2018, FRSWPF members to designate beneficiary(ies) to receive a lump sum payment of any of their remaining FRSWPF contributions at the time of their death on or after July 1, 2018. If the death is not line of duty and the member has not designated a beneficiary, the spouse will receive a lump sum payment of the member’s remaining contributions. If the death is not line of duty and there is no living beneficiary or spouse, a lump sum payment equal to the member’s remaining contributions will be paid to the member’s estate.
If the member dies in the line of duty on or after July 1, 2018, and has one eligible principal beneficiary living at the time of death, that beneficiary will receive a lifetime monthly survivorship benefit of $170 beginning the month following the month the member would have attained age 55, or if the member had already attained age 55, beginning the month following the member’s death. If the member is already receiving a monthly FRSWPF benefit and has one eligible principal beneficiary living at the time of the line of duty death on or after July 1, 2018, that beneficiary will receive a lifetime monthly FRSWPF benefit of $170 beginning the month following the member’s death. If there is more than one living principal beneficiary or contingent beneficiary(ies) at the time of a member’s line of duty death, a lump sum payment equal to the member’s remaining contributions will be paid to the eligible beneficiary(ies), or if there are no eligible beneficiaries, a lump sum payment equal to the member’s remaining contributions will be paid to the member’s estate.
Firefighter Deaths from Certain Occupationally Related Cancers are Considered Line of Duty Deaths
Included in Section 22.1.(a) of the 2016 Appropriations Act - House Bill 1030 (Session Law 2016-94)
Provides, effective October 1, 2016, when a firefighter dies on or after October 1, 2016, as a direct result of any of the following cancers that are occupationally related to firefighting, that firefighter is considered to have been killed in the line of duty:
- Mesothelioma
- Testicular cancer
- Intestinal cancer