technical correction; retirement; death benefits

SB1258 - technical correction; retirement; death benefits

Children Parental Rights

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: J.D. Mesnard
Last action: 2026-06-12
Official status: Senate Rules: None
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not specify an effective date, though the bill passed the legislature in June 2026.

SB1258: Technical Correction on Corrections Officer Retirement Death Benefits

This bill amends state law to clarify how death benefits and child pensions are paid under the corrections officer retirement plan.

What This Bill Does

Pays an amount equal to two times a member's accumulated contributions if they die without a payable pension, provided this goes to a designated person or their nearest kin/estate.
Requires beneficiaries or those claiming to be next of kin to file a written application with the board to receive death benefit refunds.
Defines an inactive member as someone who previously contributed but has not retired, is not currently contributing, and has not withdrawn contributions.
Entitles eligible children to a child's pension if there is no eligible surviving spouse or if that spouse's pension ends.
Directs the board to pay pensions for minor children or disabled children under guardianship to their legal guardian until age eighteen.

Who It Names or Affects

Active and inactive members of the corrections officer retirement plan
Designated beneficiaries named by deceased members
Nearest kin or estates if no designated beneficiary claims benefits
Eligible surviving spouses and their dependent children
Legal guardians or custodians of eligible minor or disabled children

Terms To Know

Inactive member: A person who previously contributed to the plan but has not retired, is not currently contributing, and has not withdrawn contributions.
Death benefits: Money equal to two times a member's accumulated contributions paid when they die without an active pension being payable.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify exact dollar amounts for pensions, only that children receive equal shares of the surviving spouse's amount.
Child benefits end if the child is adopted or no longer meets disability and dependency requirements.
This text amends existing law but does not list all other rules governing the retirement plan.

Bill History

2026-06-12 Senate
Senate Rules: None
2026-06-12 Senate
Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1258 - technical correction; retirement; death benefits

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB1258 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
technical correction; retirement; death benefits

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1258

Introduced by

Senator
Mesnard

AN
ACT

amending section
38-904, arizona revised statutes; relating to the corrections officer
retirement plan.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 38-904, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
38-904.

Death benefits; amount

A. If an active or inactive member dies and no
pension is payable on account of the member's death, an amount equal to two
times the member's accumulated contributions to the retirement plan is payable
to the person designated by the deceased member in writing and filed with the
board.� If the designated person or persons do not survive the deceased member
or if the designated person does not claim the benefit, the payment is payable,
at the election of the local board, to the designated person's nearest of kin
as determined by the local board or to the estate of the deceased
member. The beneficiary or person who is claiming to be the nearest
of kin shall file a written application in order to receive the refund.� For
the purposes of this subsection, "inactive member" means a person who
previously made contributions to the plan, who has not retired, who is not
currently making contributions to the plan and who has not withdrawn
contributions from the plan.

B. If the deceased retired or active member does not
have an eligible surviving spouse or the pension of the eligible surviving
spouse is terminated, each eligible child is entitled to a child's pension.� A
child's pension terminates if the child is adopted.� In the case of a child
with a disability, the child's pension terminates if the child ceases to be
under a disability or ceases to be a dependent of the surviving spouse or
guardian.� The amount of the pension of each eligible child is an equal share of
the amount of the surviving spouse's pension. The board shall pay
the pension of
the surviving minor or
child's
child
with a disability
pension
to the
person who is the legally appointed guardian or custodian of the eligible child
until the eligible child reaches eighteen years of age, at which time the
eligible child's pension shall be paid directly to the eligible child if the
person remains eligible to receive the pension and is not subject to a
guardianship or conservatorship due to disability or incapacity.� The pension
of a child with a disability who is eighteen years of age or older and who is
subject to a guardianship or conservatorship due to disability or incapacity
shall continue to be paid to the guardian or conservator if the child remains
eligible for the pension payment.
END_STATUTE