Bill Text - HB1398 (2014)

Allowing the retirement system to make payments in lieu of payments to estates in certain instances.


Revision: March 27, 2014, midnight

HB 1398-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2014 SESSION

14-2409

10/05

HOUSE BILL 1398-FN

AN ACT allowing the retirement system to make payments in lieu of payments to estates in certain instances.

SPONSORS: Rep. Gagnon, Sull 5; Rep. Schuett, Merr 20

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

ANALYSIS

This bill allows the retirement system to make a payment of $15,000 or less to the next of kin of a deceased member of a beneficiary when no probate proceedings are pending.

This bill is a request of the New Hampshire retirement system.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

14-2409

10/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen

AN ACT allowing the retirement system to make payments in lieu of payments to estates in certain instances.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Retirement System; Payments in Lieu of Payments to Estates. Amend RSA 100-A by inserting after section 12 the following new section:

100-A:12-a Payments in Lieu of Payments to Estates.

I. Notwithstanding any other provision under this chapter to the contrary, in the event that any payment in the amount of $15,000 or less is to be made by the New Hampshire retirement system to the estate of a deceased member or beneficiary, the retirement system may, but is not required to, make payment to the next of kin of such deceased member or beneficiary provided that all of the following conditions are met:

(a) At least 6 months have passed since the death of such, member or beneficiary.

(b) There has been no demand for payment from a duly appointed executor or administrator.

(c) No probate proceedings have been instituted with respect to such deceased member or beneficiary, or all such probate proceedings have been closed.

(d) The next of kin has provided a written request for such payment and an affidavit in a form approved by the board of trustees stating that no such probate proceedings have been instituted or that proceedings have been closed, as applicable, and swearing to sufficient additional facts to enable the retirement system to determine that the person making such request is the next of kin of such member or beneficiary.

II. Payments made under authority of this section shall discharge the liability of the retirement system to all persons to the extent of such payments and the retirement system shall be immune from civil liability in any action brought on the basis of any act or omission under this section.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

14-2409

10/28/13

HB 1398-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT allowing the retirement system to make payments in lieu of payments to estates in certain instances.

FISCAL IMPACT:

    The New Hampshire Retirement System states this bill, as introduced, will have no fiscal impact on state, county, or local revenue and expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

    The New Hampshire Retirement System states this bill allows the System to make a payment of $15,000 or less to the next of kin of a deceased member or beneficiary when no probate proceedings are pending. The System states this is an administrative change designed to more efficiently pay beneficiaries, and the bill will have no fiscal impact.