HB 1537 Summary

• Allows members or survivors of the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund who received disability benefits before 1990 to apply for a determination of whether the disability occurred in the line of duty.

• Establishes a multi-step review process: local board makes a recommendation, the 1977 fund advisory committee issues an initial determination, and the PERF board issues a final determination.

• Provides that if the 1977 fund advisory committee fails to issue an initial determination within 45 days, PERF's medical authority makes the default determination.

• Allows appeals of recommendations and initial determinations to the PERF board, which must issue a final determination within 180 days of the local board's recommendation if an objection is filed.

• Requires PERF board to notify eligible members and survivors of a favorable Internal Revenue Service ruling within 30 days, and members must file applications within two years of that notice; expires July 1, 2021.