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Committee advances bill creating partial-duty disability tier for EMS and related responders
Summary
A committee substitute for Senate Bill 977 would create a partial-duty disability tier in the emergency medical services retirement system for members disabled in the line of duty who can perform some gainful employment; the committee reported the substitute to the full Senate with a recommendation it pass.
Counsel outlined Senate Bill 977, which would add a partial-duty disability tier to the emergency medical services retirement system. Counsel said the existing total disability standard requires a medical opinion that the member cannot perform duties as a participant in the plan nor engage in other gainful employment; the new tier would apply only to participants disabled in the line of duty and would permit benefits while the member engages in some other gainful employment.
Counsel said there was no fiscal note on file at the time of the committee hearing and noted that employer contributions for the EMS retirement system are paid by counties and some municipalities. The substitute came to the Finance Committee from the Committee on Pensions.
Vice Chairman moved that the committee substitute be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it pass; the committee agreed by voice vote and the substitute will be reported. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally or named votes.
If enacted, the bill would change the eligibility criteria for disability benefits within the EMS retirement system for line-of-duty injuries while allowing recipients to work in some capacity and still receive the benefit.
