HB1276

House Bill 1276 amends Arkansas Code to establish an optional spousal retirement benefit for specific municipal employees. If adopted by a city's governing body, the legally recognized spouse of a city attorney, deputy city clerk, mayor, or treasurer may receive 50% of the deceased individual's retirement benefit. This applies to spouses of employees who had retired or were eligible for retirement at the time of their death, provided the couple had been married for at least ten years. The benefit is contingent upon the spouse not remarrying. The legislation provides cities the discretion to opt into these benefit provisions.