Retirement: state police; naming a special needs trust as beneficiary; allow. Amends sec. 24 of 1986 PA 182 (MCL 38.1624).

HB 4657 allows Michigan state police retirees to name a special needs trust as a beneficiary for their retirement payments. The bill amends the State Police Retirement Act to explicitly permit the retirement system to pay benefits directly to such a trust upon written direction from the retiree or their designated beneficiary. This change affects state police members who have established special needs trusts under federal law (42 USC § 1396p(d)(4)(A)/(C)) and wish to provide for dependents with disabilities. The key provision replaces previous restrictions that required individual beneficiaries, enabling trusts to receive payments without requiring the retiree to name a specific person.