TO ALLOW THE ARKANSAS TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO PAY AN ANNUITY OR BENEFIT OWED TO A PERSON TO A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST ESTABLISHED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PERSON.

HB 1347 (now Act 363) allows the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System to pay annuities or retirement benefits directly to a special needs trust established for a retiree with disabilities, rather than to the individual. This change directly affects retired teachers who have set up such trusts to manage their benefits while maintaining eligibility for public assistance programs. The key provision modifies payment procedures to ensure retirement funds can be channeled through these legally established trusts for the retiree’s benefit. The bill does not alter benefit amounts or eligibility rules, only the payment method. It became law on March 20, 2025.