HCS HB 606 -- POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF ST. LOUIS

SPONSOR:  Smith, 118 (Lembke)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Retirement by a vote of 9 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding the Police Retirement
System of St. Louis.  Currently, increased disability or survivor
benefit payments are allowed for up to three dependent children.
The substitute removes the three child limitation for increased
benefits.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2006, FY 2007, and
FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill makes changes to two
benefits.  When a member dies, their surviving spouse immediately
receives a retirement benefit of 40% of the deceased member's
final average compensation which cuts the benefit amount by
approximately 50%.  The change will allow the surviving spouse to
receive the same benefit as the member for one year after the
death of the member.  Additional, if a member has more than three
children and dies, only up to three children would receive
survivor benefits.  The bill will allow all surviving children to
receive benefits.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Lembke; and Police
Retirement System of St. Louis.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the City of St.
Louis is already faced with financial hardship, and the bill will
increase that burden.

Testifying against the bill was City of St. Louis.

Marc Webb, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:20 pm