MS HB782

Creates Section 25-11-147 to allow courts to suspend Public Employees' Retirement System benefits for elected officials convicted of felonies involving unlawful taking, obtaining, or misappropriation of public funds committed on or after July 1, 2024.

Creates Section 25-11-321 to allow courts to suspend Supplemental Legislative Retirement Plan benefits for legislators or the President of the Senate convicted of felonies involving public funds committed on or after July 1, 2024.

Requires suspension of benefits to remain in effect until all appeals are exhausted or the appeal deadline expires, then benefits are suspended until the member makes full restitution of misappropriated public funds as determined by the Attorney General.

Provides that ambiguities about whether benefits should be suspended are resolved in favor of the member, and that retirement systems may rely on court suspension orders and Attorney General notices without liability for good faith payment errors.

Makes conforming amendments to existing retirement system sections to clarify that benefit suspensions are not administrative determinations subject to appeal and are not treated as attachments or assignments of retirement benefits.