1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to retirement; authorizing application for
1.3 	disability benefits from the Minnesota State
1.4 	Retirement System, notwithstanding a deadline.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. APPLICATION FOR DISABILITY BENEFITS.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Eligible person. For purposes of this
1.8 	section, an eligible person is a person who was employed by the
1.9 	Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as a photo lab
1.10 	supervisor beginning in April 1977 and ending in June 1998.
1.11 		Subd. 2.Application procedure. Notwithstanding any
1.12 	contrary provision in Minnesota Statutes, section 352.113, or
1.13 	any other law, an eligible person may file an application for
1.14 	disability benefits from the Minnesota State Retirement System
1.15 	within 60 days of the effective date of this section.  Upon
1.16 	filing of the application, the director must act on the
1.17 	application as if it had been filed within 180 days of
1.18 	termination of the person's employment with the Department of
1.19 	Natural Resources.  The director may approve the disability
1.20 	benefit only if the eligible person establishes that the person
1.21 	became disabled while still a state employee.  If the director
1.22 	approves the disability benefit, the benefit begins to accrue on
1.23 	the date it is approved.

1.24 	Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 1.25 	Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.