DelawareDelaware would pay $10,000 when state employee pensioners die
If passed, Delaware would pay $10,000 from its pension fund to a named beneficiary or estate when someone receiving a state employee pension dies.
What it does
Delaware would pay $10,000 when someone receiving a state employee pension dies. A named beneficiary would receive it, or the pensioner's estate would if no one was named.
Three other pension plans would use the $10,000 funeral benefit amount: the state police plan, the county and municipal police and firefighter plan, and the state employee early retirement option.
In a wrongful death case, the most that could be awarded for reasonable funeral costs would be $10,000. That limit follows the state employee burial payment.
Argument forIf passed, the $10,000 payment could help a named beneficiary or estate cover burial costs after a state employee pensioner dies.
Argument againstIf passed, the $10,000 payments could use pension fund money that might otherwise cover other pension costs.
More detail
Delaware would pay $10,000 from its pension fund when a state employee pensioner dies. This applies to people receiving pensions under Delaware's State Employees' Pension Plan. A named beneficiary would receive the payment. If none was named, the pensioner's estate would receive it. The bill sets October 1, 2025, as its start date.
Three other pension plans would use $10,000 as their funeral benefit amount. This covers the listed plans for state police, county and municipal police and firefighters, and state employees using the early retirement option. These plans tie their funeral benefit amount to the state employee burial payment. The bill sets October 1, 2025, as the start date for this amount.
The limit for reasonable funeral costs awarded in wrongful death cases would be $10,000. This applies only to reasonable funeral costs allowed as damages in wrongful death cases. The bill sets October 1, 2025, as the start date for this limit.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Mar 12Assigned to Finance Committee in SenateLatest
- Mar 12Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 7 On Its MeritsMinor
- Jan 3Introduced and Assigned to Executive Committee in SenateIntroduced
Taxes & Budget