SB588: Relating to disability benefits under the Public Employees Retirement System; declaring an emergency.

Legislative Summary

The Act says that the PERB has to send disability cases about police and firefighters to be heard within a certain time. The Act changes how PERS looks at the disability of police and firefighters. The Act says that a disabled member of PERS can earn some money and not lose benefits. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.7). [Digest: The Act says that a police or fire worker's PTSD is an on duty disease or injury for PERS disability with some facts. The Act says that the PERB has to hear a challenge about disability benefits in a short time. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.2).] [Provides that post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by a police officer or firefighter is an injury or disease sustained in the actual performance of duties for purposes of benefits under the Public Employees Retirement System in certain circumstances.] Requires the Public Employees Retirement Board to [hold] refer a contested case for a hearing requested by a police officer or firefighter who is denied disability benefits within a certain period of time. Provides that a member of the Public Employees Retirement System who is a police officer or firefighter is disabled if the member is mentally or physically incapacitated and unable to perform the work the member performed at the time the member became disabled, instead of unable to perform any work. Allows a disabled member of the system to receive certain earned income without losing disability benefits. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.