Senate Bill 68 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Retirement Systems of Alabama, full retirement benefits for first responders permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty provided without regard to Tier or number of years of creditable service

Summary

SB68 would grant full line-of-duty disability retirement benefits to Alabama RSA first responders regardless of retirement tier or years of service, retroactive to January 1, 2023, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill removes the current tier-and-years requirement for disability retirement for first responders who are permanently and totally disabled by line-of-duty injuries, making them eligible for full retirement benefits. It outlines how disability retirement would be calculated for Tier I and Tier II members (annuity plus pension, with possible additional amounts based on prior service), and it includes survivor and optional-payment provisions. The measure provides retroactive application to 2023 and establishes July 1, 2026 as the effective date, along with medical reexamination and funding considerations for employers and the RSA.

Who It Affects

• Firefighters and law enforcement officers (including state policemen) who participate in the Retirement Systems of Alabama and are permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty; would receive full retirement benefits regardless of their current Tier or years of creditable service.
• The Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA), participating employers, and the beneficiaries/survivors; would face the administrative changes, funding implications, and benefit-design details required to implement the expanded disability benefits.

Key Provisions

• Provision 1: Provides full line-of-duty disability retirement benefits to first responders in RSA regardless of Tier or years of creditable service, with retroactive application to January 1, 2023.
• Provision 2: Establishes the disability retirement benefit framework for Tier I and Tier II (including annuity, pension, potential additional pension for prior service, survivor options, and a set of related administrative and funding rules), and sets the act's effective date at July 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Retirement