SB 316: Revising disability retirement provisions for MPORS and FURS - Montana

SB0316_2(19).pdf → SB0316_X(10).pdf · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was formally enrolled and finalized, changing its title to explicitly include the Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System and Firefighters' Unified Retirement System. It amended three state statutes to standardize disability retirement benefits, clarify application rules, and update the calculation methods for those benefits.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded in its title to explicitly name the Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System and the Firefighters' Unified Retirement System, ensuring these specific groups are clearly covered by the new provisions.

SCOPE

The bill title was updated to explicitly include the Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System and the Firefighters' Unified Retirement System, clarifying that the new rules apply to these specific groups.

REQUIREMENT

The application deadline for disability retirement was clarified to require filing within 4 months of termination unless the member has been continuously disabled since that date.

FISCAL

The calculation for disability benefits was updated to use 'final average compensation' for the Municipal Police and Firefighters' systems, replacing the previous 'highest average compensation' standard used in other sections.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from a future date (January 1, 2026) to 'on passage and approval,' meaning the law takes effect immediately upon signing.

The retroactive applicability date was changed from January 1, 2025, to 'on or before January 1, 2025,' aligning the retroactive window with the new immediate effective date.

SB0316_X(9).pdf → SB0316_2(17).pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the disability retirement rules for Montana's municipal police and firefighter retirement systems, clarifying how benefits are calculated and converted to service retirement. It also establishes a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026, while allowing retroactive application for line-of-duty disabilities occurring on or before January 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on the Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System and the Firefighters' Unified Retirement System, but it introduces a new retroactive applicability provision for specific line-of-duty cases.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from 'on passage' to January 1, 2026, and added a retroactive applicability clause for line-of-duty disabilities occurring on or before January 1, 2025.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated Section 19-13-803 to change the benefit calculation base from 'final average compensation' to 'highest average compensation' for disability retirement.

REQUIREMENT

Revised Section 19-2-406(5) to clarify that disability retirement benefits for certain plans remain disability benefits upon reaching normal retirement age without requiring further medical examinations.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting inconsistencies in the bill text, such as line breaks and spacing, to align with standard legislative document styles.

SB0316_X(3).pdf → SB0316_X(4).pdf · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill's title was updated to replace the phrase 'delayed immediate' with 'immediate,' clarifying that the new provisions take effect right away without a waiting period. Additionally, the document was finalized by removing the placeholder text and closing markers at the end of the draft.

Scope change

The scope of applicability remains unchanged, but the effective timeline is now explicitly defined as immediate rather than delayed.

TIMELINE

The effective date language was changed from 'delayed immediate' to 'immediate,' ensuring the bill's provisions apply as soon as it is enacted.

TECHNICAL

Placeholder text and draft closing markers ('- END -') were removed to finalize the document.

SB0316_2(16).pdf → SB0316_X(1).pdf · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the Montana Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System and Firefighters' Unified Retirement System to align disability retirement rules with those of the general state system. It clarifies that disability benefits for these specific groups remain disability benefits even after retirement age, rather than converting to standard service retirement benefits. The changes also adjust the calculation basis for benefits from 'final average compensation' to 'highest average compensation' for certain scenarios and update the effective date to apply immediately upon passage.

Scope change

The bill explicitly expands the scope of the amendment to include the Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System and the Firefighters' Unified Retirement System, ensuring they follow the same disability retirement rules as other state employees.

SCOPE

Added explicit reference to the Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System and Firefighters' Unified Retirement System in the bill title and act description.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the rule for disability benefits converting to service retirement; benefits for police and firefighters now remain as disability benefits after reaching normal retirement age instead of converting.

DEFINITION

Switched the calculation basis for disability benefits from 'final average compensation' to 'highest average compensation' for members with less than 20 years of service or those disabled in the line of duty.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from January 1, 2026, to 'on passage and approval,' making the law effective immediately.

Updated the retroactive applicability date from January 1, 2025, to align with the new immediate effective date.

SB0316_X.pdf → SB0316_2(13).pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates disability retirement rules for Montana's municipal police and firefighter retirement systems, replacing the calculation method for benefits with less than 20 years of service from 'final average compensation' to 'highest average compensation.' It also clarifies that disability benefits do not convert to service retirement benefits upon reaching normal retirement age and sets a specific effective date of January 1, 2026.

Scope change

The bill applies to members of the Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System and the Firefighters' Unified Retirement System who become disabled due to line-of-duty injuries on or before January 1, 2025.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the formula for calculating disability benefits for members with less than 20 years of service from 'final average compensation' to 'highest average compensation.'

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that disability retirement benefits remain disability benefits when the member reaches normal retirement age and are no longer subject to medical examinations.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the act to January 1, 2026, on passage and approval.

Established a retroactive applicability date of January 1, 2025, for line-of-duty disability claims.

SB0316_2(12).pdf → SB0316_X.pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates disability retirement rules for municipal police and firefighters, clarifying that these provisions apply specifically to their respective retirement systems. It shifts the effective date to upon passage and approval rather than a fixed future date, and extends retroactive applicability to cover disabilities occurring on or before January 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed in the title to explicitly name the Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System and the Firefighters' Unified Retirement System, whereas the original text was broader.

TIMELINE

The effective date changed from January 1, 2026, to 'on passage and approval,' meaning the law becomes active immediately after being signed.

The retroactive applicability period was extended to include members who became disabled on or before January 1, 2025, rather than a later date.

SCOPE

The bill title and description were updated to explicitly limit the changes to the Municipal Police Officers' and Firefighters' Unified Retirement Systems.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting adjustments were made to the bill header and section numbering to align with standard enrolled bill formats.

SB0316_1(7).pdf → SB0316_2.pdf · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to change its effective date from January 1, 2026, to immediate passage and approval. Additionally, a new section was added to apply the law retroactively to specific police and firefighter members who became disabled in the line of duty on or before January 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill now applies retroactively to eligible municipal police officers and firefighters who became disabled in the line of duty on or before January 1, 2025, in addition to applying immediately upon passage.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from January 1, 2026, to immediate effect upon passage and approval.

The original provision setting the effective date to January 1, 2026, was removed.

ELIGIBILITY

A new retroactive applicability section was added for municipal police officers and firefighters disabled in the line of duty on or before January 1, 2025.

LC0383.pdf → SB0316_1.pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from LC 383 to SB 316 and updated with an authorized print version header. The substantive text regarding disability retirement benefits, death benefits, and service requirements remains unchanged, indicating this is a formatting update rather than a policy revision.

TECHNICAL

The bill number changed from LC 383 to SB 316, and the document header was updated to reflect an 'Authorized Print Version'.

Formatting lines containing the original bill number (LC 383) were removed.

New formatting lines indicating the bill number (SB 316) and authorized print status were added.

Minor formatting adjustments were made to spacing and line breaks in the text.

Revising disability retirement provisions for MPORS and FURS

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