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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0930*
SENATE BILL 930
P6 6lr3495
By: Senator Harris
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State Police Retirement System – Special Disability Retirement 2
FOR the purpose of allowing certain retirees of the State Police Retirement System to apply 3
for a certain special disability retirement allowance; and generally relating to special 4
disability retirement benefits in the State Police Retirement System. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 7
Section 24–401.1(a), (f), (g), and (k) 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 13
24–401.1. 14
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 15
(2) “DROP” means the Deferred Retirement Option Program established 16
under this section. 17
(3) “DROP member” means a member of the State Police Retirement 18
System who: 19
(i) is eligible to participate in the DROP as provided in subsection 20
(c) of this section; and 21
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(ii) elects to participate in the DROP as provided in subsection (e) of 1
this section. 2
(f) (1) A DROP member’s participation in the DROP shall commence on the 3
first day of the month following acceptance by the Board of Trustees of the DROP member’s 4
completed election form, retirement application form, and any other information required 5
by the Board of Trustees. 6
(2) A DROP member is a retiree of the State Police Retirement System. 7
(g) Participation in the DROP ends if the DROP participant: 8
(1) separates from employment in accordance with the binding letter of 9
resignation submitted with the member’s election form; 10
(2) except for the Secretary of State Police, attains age 60; 11
(3) dies; 12
(4) is terminated from employment by the Maryland State Police at any 13
time before the date specified on the member’s election form; 14
(5) shortens the time period for participation in the DROP by delivering to 15
the Maryland State Police and the Board of Trustees written notice of the inte nt of the 16
DROP member to terminate employment; or 17
(6) accepts a special disability retirement allowance as provided in 18
subsection (k) of this section. 19
(k) (1) A DROP member is eligible to apply for a special disability retirement 20
allowance under § 29 –111 of this article if after the DROP member commences 21
participation in the DROP: 22
(i) the member is totally and permanently incapacitated for duty 23
arising out of or in the course of the actual performance of duty that occurs while 24
participating in DROP, and without willful negligence of the member; and 25
(ii) the medical board certifies that: 26
1. the member is totally incapacitated, either mentally or 27
physically, for the further performance of duty by the occurrence described under item (i) 28
of this paragraph; 29
2. the incapacity is likely to be permanent; and 30
3. the member should be retired. 31
SENATE BILL 930 3
(2) (i) If a DROP member is granted a special disability retirement 1
allowance, the DROP member shall: 2
1. submit an application to the Board of Trustees, on the 3
form the Board of Trustees provides, to receive payment of the amount accrued in the DROP 4
in accordance with subsection (i) of this section; 5
2. execute a written waiver of any benefits to which the 6
DROP member may be entitled under the DROP; and 7
3. submit an application to retire with a special disability 8
retirement allowance, on the form the Board of Trustees provides, stating the effective date 9
of the DROP member’s retirement as a special disability retiree. 10
(ii) On acceptance of the application for payment and application to 11
retire, the Board of Trustees shall commence payment of a special disability allowance to 12
the DROP member as provided in § 29 –111(c) of this article, except that the DROP 13
member’s average final compensat ion shall be computed as of the effective date of the 14
DROP member’s application for a special disability retirement allowance. 15
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 16
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 17
(2) “Board” means the Board of Trustees for the State Retirement and 18
Pension System. 19
(3) “DROP” has the meaning stated under § 24 –401.1 of the State 20
Personnel and Pensions Article. 21
(b) This section applies to an individual who: 22
(1) was a member of the State Police Retirement System; 23
(2) enrolled in DROP on or after July 1, 2020; 24
(3) prior to enrolling in DROP, was involved in a work –related accident; 25
and 26
(4) before July 1, 2026, ceased participation in DROP. 27
(c) (1) (i) An individual described under subsection (b) of this section may 28
submit an application for a special disability retirement allowance under § 29 –111 of the 29
State Personnel and Pensions Article. 30
(ii) Notwithstanding § 24–401.1(k)(1)(i) of the State Personnel and 31
Pensions Article, the Board may award a special disability retirement allowance under § 32
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29–111 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article for an individual described under 1
subsection (b) of this section. 2
(2) An individual described under subsection (b) of this section shall submit 3
an application for a special disability retirement allowance under § 29 –111 of the State 4
Personnel and Pensions Article: 5
(i) on or before December 31, 2026; and 6
(ii) by submitting to the Board a form provided by the State 7
Retirement Agency for the purpose of applying for a special disability retirement allowance 8
under this Act. 9
(d) If the Board grants a special disability retirement allowance in accordance 10
with this section, the retiree shall be entitled to benefits: 11
(1) from the date of the award of a special disability retirement allowance, 12
in accordance with § 29–111 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article; and 13
(2) from the date on which benefits would have been paid in accordance 14
with the State Personnel an d Pensions Article through the date of an award of a special 15
disability retirement allowance in accordance with this section, the difference between the 16
benefits that would have been paid under a special disability retirement allowance and the 17
benefits the retiree received prior to the award of a special disability retirement allowance. 18
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 19
1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 6 months and, at the end of December 31, 20
2026, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated 21
and of no further force and effect. 22