SB288 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Teachers' Retirement System, retirees, one-time lump sum retirement payment in December 2017, approp. from Edu. Trust Fund in Oct. 2016.

Summary

SB 288 would provide a one-time $400 lump-sum payment to certain Teachers' Retirement System retirees and beneficiaries, funded only if money is available in the Education Trust Fund, to be paid in December 2019.

What This Bill Does

It creates a funded one-time lump-sum payment of $400 for eligible TRS retirees whose retirement date was before Oct 1, 2019 and who receive or are entitled to receive monthly benefits on Sept 30, 2019, and for beneficiaries of deceased members with death before Oct 1, 2019 who are receiving monthly benefits on Sept 30, 2019. It also covers other eligible individuals identified in subsection (e) who meet the same timing and benefit criteria. Eligibility is limited by Medicaid rules: if receiving Medicaid and the lump-sum would impair eligibility, the person is not entitled to the payment (and if eligibility would be impaired after applying, they are not entitled to the increase). The payments would be made by the Teachers' Retirement System in December 2019, and funding is contingent on available funds in the Education Trust Fund and approval by the Governor.

Who It Affects

• Active TRS retirees with an effective retirement date before October 1, 2019 who receive monthly TRS benefits as of September 30, 2019
• Beneficiaries of deceased TRS members/retirees who died before October 1, 2019 and who receive monthly benefits as of September 30, 2019
• Other eligible individuals identified in subsection (e) who meet the same timing and benefit criteria
• Medicaid recipients whose eligibility would be impaired by the lump-sum payment are excluded from receiving it

Key Provisions

• Section 1 provides a funded one-time $400 lump-sum payment for fiscal year 2019-2020 to qualifying TRS retirees and beneficiaries with eligibility based on retirement date before Oct 1, 2019 and monthly benefits on Sept 30, 2019, including applicable service definitions and for beneficiaries of deceased members.
• Payments are to be paid by the Teachers' Retirement System in December 2019.
• Eligibility may be denied if the lump-sum would impair Medicaid eligibility; if impairment would occur after applying, the person is not entitled to the payment.
• Section 2 states the act is not an ongoing appropriation; funding depends on availability in the Education Trust Fund, Finance Director recommendation, and Governor approval.
• Section 3 makes the act effective immediately upon passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Teachers' Retirement System