Senate committee advances bill to modernize FPPA death-and-disability plan

Senate Bill 39, sponsored by Senators Pelton and Snyder, cleared the Senate Finance Committee on a favorable recommendation and will advance to the Committee of the Whole after a unanimous committee vote.

Sponsors said the bill is a stakeholder-driven modernization of the statewide Fire & Police Pension Association (FPPA) death-and-disability (D&D) plan. "This bill modernizes and streamlines outdated requirements that add administrative burdens for members, employers and FPPA personnel," Senator Pelton said during his opening remarks. Senator Snyder described an 18-month stakeholder process and an independent expert review that produced the bill’s provisions.

FPPA staff emphasized three principal changes. Adam Franklin, general counsel for FPPA, said the bill reorganizes and clarifies statutory language (for example, separating levels of disability into distinct sections), establishes a new rehabilitation and retraining program to help permanently disabled members return to the workforce and authorizes improved handling of mental-health claims. Chip Wylie, FPPA’s chief benefits officer, told the committee the changes include allowing FPPA to send claimants to an appropriate number of independent medical examinations (IMEs) rather than automatically requiring three IMEs in every case—a change sponsors said will reduce unnecessary cost and delay in terminal or clear-cut situations.

Both FPPA witnesses stressed the bill makes no changes to benefit levels, eligibility periods or contribution requirements and that no fiscal note was required. Committee members voiced support for the retraining provision and the effort to better adjudicate behavioral-health claims.

Senator Snyder moved that SB39 be recommended favorably to the Committee of the Whole; the roll call returned unanimous 'aye' votes and the chair announced the bill will proceed to the Committee of the Whole.