SF 281

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:12am

A bill for an act
relating to retirement; specifying eligibility for a surviving spouse benefit from
the Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. MINNEAPOLIS FIREFIGHTERS RELIEF ASSOCIATION;
SURVIVING SPOUSE BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY EXCEPTION.

(a) Notwithstanding any eligibility requirement of Minnesota Statutes, section
423C.05, subdivision 7, or of any other applicable provision of law to the contrary, an
eligible person described in paragraph (b) is entitled to receive the annuity specified in
paragraph (c).

(b) An eligible person is a person who:

(1) was born in 1935;

(2) entered into an unmarried relationship in 1968 and continuously resided with an
individual who became a Minneapolis firefighter on May 17, 1976;

(3) married that individual on September 14, 2003, following the retirement of the
individual as a Minneapolis firefighter on August 2, 1999; and

(4) remained married to the retired Minneapolis firefighter until July 4, 2005, when
the retired firefighter unexpectedly died.

(c) The surviving spouse benefit is the amount calculated under Minnesota Statutes,
section 423C.05, subdivision 7, clause (1).

(d) The eligible person must provide any applicable documentation related to
paragraph (b), clauses (1) to (4), that the Board of Trustees of the Minneapolis Firefighters
Relief Association requires.

(e) The initial payment of the survivor benefit under this section must include the
retroactive benefit amounts, plus interest at a monthly rate of one-half of one percent from
the date on which the benefit retroactively accrued to the date on which the benefit is paid.

Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.

Section 1 is effective the first of the month next following the date on which the city
council of Minneapolis and the chief clerical officer of the city of Minneapolis timely
comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3.