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HB 5611

AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF SURVIVOR BENEFITS TO CERTAIN MUNICIPAL PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jaime Foster

HB 5611 would provide survivor benefits to certain municipal public works employees and their eligible survivors, shaping local pension costs and benefit administration.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Planning and Development
#deathbenefits #municipalemployees #publicworks #survivors
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Bill Summary · HB 5611

Summary — HB 5611

Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF SURVIVOR BENEFITS TO CERTAIN MUNICIPAL PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES
Bill #: HB 5611
Introduced: March 14, 2025
Current status: Referred to Joint Committee on Planning and Development; placed on General State Calendar (May 12, 2025)

Purpose and intent

Based on its title, HB 5611 is intended to provide statutory authority for survivor benefits for certain municipal public works employees (i.e., employees who work in municipal public works departments). The bill’s aim is to extend death-related benefits to survivors (spouses, dependents, or designated beneficiaries) of those municipal employees under circumstances described in the bill text.

Key provisions (summary and limitations)

  • The legislative record available to this summary does not include the full bill text or the specific statutory language; therefore the following describes the bill’s scope as indicated by its title rather than detailed statutory changes.
  • Primary effect: establish, expand, or clarify eligibility for survivor benefits for "certain municipal public works employees." This could include defining which employees qualify, what survivors are eligible, and what categories of benefits are provided (e.g., pension continuance, lump-sum death benefits, ongoing financial support, or continuation of health benefits). The exact benefit types, eligibility criteria, effective dates, and administrative mechanisms are not included in the materials provided.
  • The bill likely amends municipal statutes or employee benefit provisions to create or modify survivor benefit entitlements for the identified class of municipal workers.

Who would be affected

  • Directly affected: municipal public works employees eligible under the bill and their survivors (spouses, children, other dependents or designated beneficiaries).
  • Indirectly affected: municipal employers (cities/towns), municipal pension funds, local budgets (payroll/benefit expenditures), and municipal human resources/administrative units that would implement benefit payments.
  • Potential impact on actuarial assumptions and employer contribution rates if benefits are added to pension or insurance programs.

Procedural history / timeline

  • 2025-01-21: Referred to Joint Committee on Planning and Development.
  • 2025-03-14: Filed.
  • 2025-04-07: Read first time; referred to subcommittee on County & Regional Government.
  • 2025-04-28: Subcommittee public hearing held; testimony recorded; left pending.
  • 2025-04-30: Recalled from subcommittee; considered in formal meeting; reported favorably without amendment.
  • 2025-05-06 to 05-07: Committee report filed and sent to Calendars.
  • 2025-05-12: Placed on General State Calendar — awaiting floor consideration.

Potential fiscal and operational considerations

  • Municipalities may incur new or increased costs depending on benefit design (one-time lump sums vs. ongoing pension enhancements).
  • If benefits are added to municipal retirement systems, long-term actuarial liabilities and employer contribution rates could change.
  • Administrative implementation (eligibility verification, benefit disbursement) would require municipal HR/finance resources.

Next steps / where to find more information

  • For detailed provisions, consult the full bill text as filed with the legislature or contact the Joint Committee on Planning and Development or the bill’s sponsor. The committee report filed May 7, 2025, may also summarize the bill’s specific language and fiscal notes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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