Minnesota SF 4330: Pregnancy and parenting leave incumbency requirement modification

Bill Text

1.1 A bill for an act​
1.2 relating to retirement; Teachers Retirement Association; adding a definition of​
1.3 "medical provider"; adding physician assistant to the medical professionals who​
1.4 can submit a report in support of a member's application to receive or continue to​
1.5 receive disability pension benefits; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections​
1.6 354.05, by adding a subdivision; 354.07, subdivision 2; 354.48, subdivisions 4, 6.​
1.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 354.05, is amended by adding a subdivision​
1.9 to read:​
1.10 Subd. 44.Medical provider."Medical provider" means an individual licensed as a​
1.11 physician, chiropractor, physician assistant, APRN, or, with respect to a mental impairment,​
1.12 a psychologist.​
1.13 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.​
1.14 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 354.07, subdivision 2, is amended to read:​
1.15 Subd. 2.Investigatory powers.In passing upon all applications and claims, the board​
1.16 may summon, swear, hear, and examine witnesses and, in the case of claims for disability​
1.17 benefits, may require the claimant to submit to a medical examination by a physician medical​
1.18 provider of the board's choice, at the expense of the claimant, as a condition precedent to​
1.19 the passing on the claim, and, in the case of all applications and claims, may conduct​
1.20 investigations necessary to determine the validity and merit of the same.​
1.21 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.​
1​Sec. 2.​
26-07226 as introduced​02/19/26 REVISOR TW/CG​
SENATE​
STATE OF MINNESOTA​
S.F. No. 4330​NINETY-FOURTH SESSION​
(SENATE AUTHORS: RASMUSSON)​
OFFICIAL STATUS​D-PG​DATE​
Introduction and first reading​6589​03/11/2026​
Referred to State and Local Government​

2.1 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 354.48, subdivision 4, is amended to read:​
2.2 Subd. 4.Determination by executive director.(a) The executive director shall must​
2.3 have the member examined by at least two licensed physicians, licensed chiropractors, or​
2.4 licensed psychologists one or more medical providers.​
2.5 (b) These physicians, chiropractors, APRNs, or psychologists with respect to a mental​
2.6 impairment, shall The medical providers selected under paragraph (a) must make written​
2.7 reports to the executive director concerning the member's disability, including expert opinions​
2.8 as to whether or not the member is permanently and totally disabled within the meaning of​
2.9 section 354.05, subdivision 14.​
2.10 (c) The executive director shall must also obtain written certification from the last​
2.11 employer stating whether or not the member was separated from service because of a​
2.12 disability which that would reasonably prevent further service to the employer and as a​
2.13 consequence the member is not entitled to compensation from the employer.​
2.14 (d) If, upon the consideration of the reports of the physicians, chiropractors, APRNs, or​
2.15 psychologists required under paragraph (b) and any other evidence presented by the member​
2.16 or by others interested therein, the executive director finds that the member is totally and​
2.17 permanently disabled, the executive director shall must grant the member a disability benefit.​
2.18 (e) An employee who is placed on leave of absence without compensation because of​
2.19 disability is not barred from receiving a disability benefit.​
2.20 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.​
2.21 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 354.48, subdivision 6, is amended to read:​
2.22 Subd. 6.Regular physical examinations.At least once each year during the first five​
2.23 years following the allowance of a disability benefit to any member, and at least once in​
2.24 every three-year period thereafter, the executive director may require the disability benefit​
2.25 recipient to undergo an expert examination by a physician or physicians, by a chiropractor​
2.26 or chiropractors, by an APRN or APRNs, or by one or more psychologists with respect to​
2.27 a mental impairment, medical providers engaged by the executive director. If an examination​
2.28 indicates that the member is no longer permanently and totally disabled or that the member​
2.29 is engaged or is able to engage in a substantial gainful occupation, the association must​
2.30 discontinue payments of the disability benefit by the association must be discontinued. The​
2.31 payments must be discontinued as soon as the member is reinstated to the payroll following​
2.32 sick leave, but payment may not be made for more than 60 days after the physicians,​
2​Sec. 4.​
26-07226 as introduced​02/19/26 REVISOR TW/CG​

3.1 chiropractors, APRNs, or psychologists medical provider or medical providers engaged by​
3.2 the executive director find that the person is no longer permane