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Senate advances measure to restore parity in death benefits for public-safety spouses; sponsor cites a $785,700 fiscal note
Summary
Senate Bill 12, restoring a former benefit split for public-safety survivor benefits, was placed on the third-reading calendar; the sponsor said a fiscal note of about $785,700 would be covered by a contribution from public-employee compensation packages, subject to agreements among agencies and unions.
Senate Bill 12, a measure to adjust public-safety survivor benefits and restore a benefit split that existed before 1975, advanced in the Utah Senate and was placed on the third-reading calendar.
Sponsor Sen. Rex Black outlined the history: an alteration in 1975 changed how survivor benefits were split between retirement divisions. The bill would restore parity and was explained on the floor with an estimated fiscal note of $785,700. Sen. Black said public employees have indicated a willingness to fund the cost by an agreed adjustment to their compensation package.
On the floor, senators questioned whether all relevant agencies and employee groups had agreed to share the cost. The floor discussion included the possibility of an amendment to certify funding would come from the public-employee benefit package rather than the state's fiscal-note reserve. Senate analysts were said to be reviewing the funding mechanics; sponsors indicated they expected to resolve the funding path before third reading.
The chair moved adoption of the committee report and the bill was placed on the third-reading calendar for further consideration; senators indicated they expected fiscal mechanics to be resolved in time for the third-reading vote.
