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SB1258 • 2026
technical correction; retirement; death benefits
SB1258 - technical correction; retirement; death benefits
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
- Official status
- Effective date
- Not listed
Plain English Breakdown
The official source material does not provide specific details on the exact changes made, only that section 38-904 is amended.
Technical Correction to Retirement Death Benefits
This bill amends Arizona's law regarding death benefits for corrections officers who are part of the retirement plan.
What This Bill Does
- Amends section 38-904 of Arizona Revised Statutes, which specifies the amount and distribution of death benefits when a corrections officer dies without a pension.
Who It Names or Affects
- Corrections officers in Arizona who are part of the retirement plan
- People designated by corrections officers to receive death benefits
Terms To Know
- Death Benefits
- Money given to someone after a person dies.
- Retirement Plan
- A plan that helps people save money for when they stop working.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill only amends one specific section of Arizona's laws.
- It does not change how pensions are given to surviving spouses or children.
Bill History
No action history is stored for this bill yet.
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