Providing for certain retirement benefits for the surviving beneficiary of Brandon Arakelian
Impact
The legislation is designed to override existing laws that would typically limit benefits in such situations. By ensuring that the surviving beneficiary receives a formatted allowance from the state, it recognizes the unique circumstances surrounding Brandon's death connected to his service-related PTSD. This will have implications for state retirement laws, particularly in how survivor benefits are determined and administered under similar circumstances in the future.
Summary
S2769 is a proposed act in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts aimed at providing specific retirement benefits to the surviving beneficiary, Kristen Arakelian, of the late State Police Sergeant Brandon Arakelian. This bill seeks to ensure that Kristen receives a monthly allowance equivalent to what Brandon would have been entitled to had he been granted an accidental disability retirement due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) before his passing, which was reported as suicide.
Contention
While the summary does not provide specific points of contention, the nature of survivor benefits related to mental health issues in law enforcement could open discussions around the adequacy of support systems for officers experiencing PTSD. Such cases may provoke debate regarding the state's responsibility in ensuring sufficient mental health resources and the necessity of addressing stigma associated with mental health within public services.