House approves higher line‑of‑duty payments, shifts corrections disability review to retirement commission

HARTFORD — The Connecticut House on Jan. 28 adopted two emergency measures changing how the state treats retirement and disability benefits for employees killed or gravely injured on the job.

Lawmakers unanimously approved Emergency Certification House Resolution 12, which alters line‑of‑duty death benefits so that a surviving spouse receives the deceased employee’s pension payments as if the member were vested at the time of death and raises the lump‑sum payment from $100,000 to $168,000, with that lump sum to increase annually thereafter. The resolution also raises the estate payment for situations without a surviving spouse to $81,000; that amount will also increase over time. Representative Josh Elliott, who moved adoption, said the changes update amounts set in 1998 and aim to provide greater financial stability to families who lose a family member in the line of duty. The clerk announced the vote as 143‑0 (7 absent) after the chamber's roll call.

Representative Joseph Nucci, who spoke about Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier — a state trooper killed on duty in May 2024 — described the measure as overdue: "Aaron deserved a lot better than that," Nucci said on the floor, noting the family’s anxiety following the trooper’s death and urging colleagues to adopt the measure.

The second emergency measure, House Resolution 11, was also adopted. That resolution changes the administrative process for corrections officers seeking permanent disability benefits: instead of initial review by a single staff member in the Office of Policy and Management’s labor division, claims would be handled by the comptroller’s retirement commission — a multi‑member body that routinely adjudicates retirement issues. Representative Elliott said the governor’s office and OPM requested the change to place these long‑running retirement determinations with the commission that handles retirement matters full time. Representative Patricia Weir asked whether beneficiaries already had paid into pensions and whether health insurance coverage would continue; Elliott confirmed the benefits are for employees who paid into the pension system and said surviving spouses and dependent children remain eligible for health insurance under the change.

Fiscal notes provided during debate said the immediate universe of beneficiaries was small. Elliott cited an OPM estimate that the line‑of‑duty changes would cost roughly $86,000 annually in the near term given the small number of applicable cases. For the corrections disability change, committee members were told the shift should have either no net cost or a small savings by moving administration to the retirement commission.

Both emergency measures were introduced as immediate corrections to address gaps identified after recent fatalities and disability cases. Supporters framed the changes as narrowly tailored fixes to ensure benefits reflect current costs and to place disability adjudication in the administrative body with the most relevant expertise.

Speakers who addressed the measures on the floor included Representative Josh Elliott, Representative Patricia Weir, Representative Joseph Nucci and Representative Pavlak Damato, who read remarks from family members and thanked state staff who helped draft the agreements.