DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 11 Original 2020 Regular Session Carpenter
Abstract: Provides that if a member of the Firefighters' Retirement System (FRS) dies before
retirement, his benefit payments are payable to the surviving spouse rather than the
designated beneficiary.
Present law provides for payment of benefits if a retirement-eligible member of FRS dies prior to
retirement.
If a member of FRS completes the required number of years of creditable service to qualify for
retirement but leaves covered employment, fails to elect a retirement payment option, and dies before
reaching retirement age, present law provides that the system will assume Option 2 benefits would
have been selected, and the member's designated beneficiary shall receive the benefits payable at the
time the member would have otherwise begun to receive benefits.
If an active contributing member who is eligible for retirement dies before retiring, present law
provides that the member's designated beneficiary shall receive Option 2 benefits.
In these two instances, proposed law changes the automatic benefit recipient from the designated
beneficiary to the member's surviving eligible spouse. Proposed law further provides that if the
member has no surviving eligible spouse, the designated beneficiary shall be the beneficiary of the
option.
Present law defines "surviving eligible spouse" as the spouse who was married to and living with
the member at the time of his death. Present law provides that Option 2 is an actuarily reduced
benefit allowance that is payable to the member throughout his life and, upon his death, payable to
a beneficiary throughout the life of the beneficiary. Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 11:2256(A)(3) and (B)(1)(d); Adds R.S. 11:2256(A)(6); Repeals R.S.
11:2256(B)(1)(f))