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House lets Education Retirement Board members change beneficiary once more, aligning ERB with PERA
Summary
Lawmakers approved a bill allowing retired members of the Educational Retirement Board to change their beneficiary designation one additional time — matching an existing option in the state’s PERA system — to avoid probate and court disputes in some divorce or remarriage cases.
The House passed legislation that allows retired members of the Educational Retirement Board to change their designated beneficiary a second time, a change supporters said will make the ERB rules consistent with those governing the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA).
Sponsor testimony said the change responds to cases in which retirees discovered they could not update a beneficiary after a remarriage or life change and instead faced court proceedings. “We changed it, and now the people under ERB have the same opportunities of those under PERA to name another beneficiary,” the sponsor said.
Floor discussion included questions about how the change interacts with wills, probate and court decrees; whether additional legal disputes between ex‑spouses could arise; and fees associated with filing to change a beneficiary. The sponsor said the fee to file for a beneficiary change is consistent with current ERB procedures and that absent passage, affected beneficiaries must pursue court remedies to resolve disputes.
The House passed House Bill 251 on final passage by a vote of 62 in favor and 0 opposed.
Supporters compared the change to earlier PERA reforms and said it has worked well for PERA members; opponents voiced procedural questions but did not mount sustained opposition on final passage.
