Connecticut House Bill HB05918

Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/28/21
• Refer: 1/28/21

Caption

An Act Concerning A Spouse's Entitlement To A Judge's Retirement Salary.

Impact

If enacted, HB 05918 would provide legal clarity and protection for spouses of judges, preventing potential disputes over retirement benefits after a judge's passing. This legislation could significantly impact the financial planning of families of judges, affirming their rights to the benefits that are intended to be passed on to surviving spouses, thereby affirming the financial dependency often present in such familial relationships.

Summary

House Bill 05918 seeks to amend section 51-51 of the general statutes to clarify spousal entitlements concerning a judge's retirement salary. The bill stipulates that the spouse who was married to a judge at the time of retirement shall have the right to receive the judge's statutorily prescribed retirement salary upon the judge's death. This change aims to provide financial security to spouses of judges, ensuring that they have access to the retirement benefits that were accrued during the judge's service.

Contention

There may be discussions surrounding the equity of this bill, especially regarding the implications for judges who may have had multiple marriages or changes in marital status during their career. Critics may argue that the bill could necessitate further clarification on how benefits are allocated in such situations or suggest that it could encourage disputes between former spouses post-retirement. Additionally, various stakeholders in the judicial and state sectors will likely weigh in on the broader consequences this could have on the overall compensation and retirement structures for judges.