An Act To Amend Title 29 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Retired State Employee Pension Plan Burial Benefits.
Summary
SB31 increases the burial benefit paid upon the death of a retired state employee receiving a pension under Chapter 55 of Title 29 from $7,000 to $10,000. The payment is made from the pension fund to a designated beneficiary, or to the pensioner’s estate if no beneficiary is designated. The bill also includes technical drafting changes and sets an effective date of October 1, 2025.
According to the synopsis, the burial benefit amount has not been raised since 2001. The delayed effective date is intended to allow time for implementation after the fiscal year 2026 appropriations act provides funding for the increase. The bill is framed as a benefit update for retirees and their families rather than a broader pension reform measure.
Impact
The bill amends Section 5546 of Title 29 of the Delaware Code and directly raises the state employee pension burial benefit. Because other pension and benefit provisions reference the same burial-benefit amount, the increase also affects related funeral or burial benefits in the State Police Pension Plan, the Delaware County and Municipal Police and Firefighter Pension Plan, and the early retirement option for state employees. In addition, the bill increases the cap on reasonable funeral expenses in wrongful death actions under Title 10, Section 3724(d)(4), because that cap is tied to the same amount. The bill does not take effect until October 1, 2025, to align with anticipated funding in the FY2026 budget.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. The measure has bipartisan sponsorship, including senators and representatives from both parties, which indicates broad support for increasing burial benefits for retired state employees. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no evidence of formal opposition in the supplied materials.
Contention
The main substantive issue is fiscal: the benefit increase requires funding, and the bill explicitly delays implementation until after the FY2026 appropriations act is enacted. That suggests the primary point of concern is budgetary feasibility rather than policy disagreement. Another possible area of attention is the bill’s ripple effect on other pension plans and wrongful death damages, since those linked provisions would also rise automatically with the new burial-benefit amount. No specific opponents or contested arguments are identified in the provided record.