Relates to disability retirement benefits to Stacie Stueber on behalf of her deceased husband, deputy sheriff Richard Stueber, a participant in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Monica Martinez

Allows disability retirement benefits to be paid to Stacie Stueber on behalf of her deceased husband, Deputy Richard Stueber, due to his WTC rescue work.

SIGNED CHAP.408

Summary — S.8024 (Chapter 408 of 2025)

Title: Relates to disability retirement benefits to Stacie Stueber on behalf of her deceased husband, deputy sheriff Richard Stueber, a participant in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations

Status: Enacted — Signed into law (Chapter 408) on September 10, 2025
Sponsor: Senator Monica Martinez
Companion bill: A8645 (Assembly)

Purpose / Intent

This is a targeted (private relief) bill that authorizes disability retirement benefits to be paid to a named claimant, Stacie Stueber, on behalf of her deceased husband, Deputy Sheriff Richard Stueber. The bill recognizes Mr. Stueber’s participation in World Trade Center (WTC) rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations and provides statutory authority to award or continue disability retirement benefits to his survivor/representative despite his death.

Key provisions

Grants statutory authorization for the payment of disability retirement benefits to Stacie Stueber as the designated recipient on behalf of her deceased husband, Richard Stueber.

References the husband’s status as a participant in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations as the basis for relief.

Overrides or supplements the application of general retirement statutes as necessary to allow benefits to be paid in this specific case.

The bill text is a private/local relief measure naming the individual beneficiaries; no general changes to retirement law are made beyond the authorization for this case.

Who is affected

Primary beneficiary: Stacie Stueber (recipient/claimant).

The estate or survivors of Deputy Sheriff Richard Stueber.

The administering retirement system or pension board responsible for disability retirement payments (administrative action will be required to process payment).

The effect on other members of the retirement system is indirect; this is a case-specific authorization and does not create a broad entitlement.

Legislative history / timeline

Introduced in the Senate: May 15, 2025; referred to Civil Service and Pensions.

Print numbers and amendments: S8024A and S8024B were printed and amended in committee (May–June 2025).

Passed Senate: June 13, 2025 (with a Home Rule request recorded).

Passed Assembly (substituted for A8645A): June 17, 2025.

Delivered to Governor: September 10, 2025.

Signed by Governor and became Chapter 408: September 10, 2025.

Fiscal and legal considerations

The bill is narrowly tailored to a single named individual; it does not specify dollar amounts or ongoing fiscal commitments in the legislative summary.

Any payments authorized would be processed under the applicable retirement system’s procedures; fiscal impact is expected to be limited to the cost of the specific benefit(s) awarded and administrative processing.

A Home Rule request was filed, consistent with relief involving a municipal employee (deputy sheriff), indicating municipal awareness/consent where required.

Related / prior measures

Related prior-session Senate bills: S.6539, S.9451.

Companion in Assembly: A.8645 / A8645A (substituted and associated during passage).

Note: Because this is a private relief measure naming a specific individual, its scope is limited to the person(s) named in the statute rather than creating a general policy or entitlement change.