Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor                   1631

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the deepest
sympathies of this body be expressed over the untimely passing of
our friend and colleague from Cecil County, the Honorable James
Weinroth; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy
of this resolution to the family of the late Senator Weinroth.

Approved April 10,1957.

No. 20
(House Joint Resolution 3)

House Joint Resolution requesting the Boards of Trustees of the
several retirement systems to study the possible addition of survi-
vors' benefits to the laws controlling the three retirement systems
which are supported by the State.

Whereas, The State of Maryland now participates in the opera-
tions of three retirement systems, these being, respectively, for State
employees, for teachers and for members of the State Police; and

Whereas, In these three retirement systems at the present time, in
the case of a non-occupational death the employee's accumulated
contributions are returned with interest plus a single payment equal
to fifty per cent, of his average annual compensation; and

Whereas, It has been pointed out that under these provisions, an
employee may have been eligible for voluntary retirement but if he
had not made application for retirement benefits prior to his death,
his dependents would receive no pension, whereas another employee
with precisely the same service record who made application for
retirement prior to his death would have secured valuable pension
benefits for his dependents; and

Whereas, It has been questioned whether the providing of retire-
ment benefits should depend upon chance as to whether or not a
particular employee signed an application for retirement prior to his
death; and

Whereas, It would be very helpful if an actuarial study were made
of the cost of providing pensions to dependent survivors of employees
who would have been eligible for retirement benefits at the time of
death if they had filed application therefor; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the Boards
of Trustees of the several retirement systems be requested to study
the possibility for providing survivors' benefits in cases concerning
the non-occupational death of members of the three retirement sys-
tems to which the State makes contributions; and be it further

Explanation: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.

[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.
CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.