North Carolina HB 477: Retirement Death Benefits Rewrite.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025

SESSION LAW 2025-11
HOUSE BILL 477

*H477-v-7*
AN ACT TO RECODIFY AND STANDARDIZE THE LAWS RELATING TO THE DEATH
BENEFIT PLAN, INCLUDING BY MAKING TECHNICAL, CLARIFYING, AND
CONFORMING CHANGES, UNDER THE TEACHERS' AND STATE EMPLOYEES'
RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES'
RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE CONSOLIDATED JUDICIAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM,
AND THE LEGISLATIVE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AND TO ENSURE SUFFICIENT
FUNDING FOR LINE OF DUTY DEATH BENEFITS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

PART I. TECHNICAL RECODIFICATION AND STANDARDIZATION OF THE
DEATH BENEFIT PLAN FOR MEMBERS OF THE TEACHERS' AND STATE
EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
SECTION 1.(a) Chapter 135 of the General Statutes is amended to add a new Article
8 to be entitled "Death Benefit Plan for State Employees and Retirees" that consists of the
following new sections:
(1) G.S. 135-153.
(2) G.S. 135-154.
(3) G.S. 135-155.
(4) G.S. 135-160.
(5) G.S. 135-165.
(6) G.S. 135-170.
(7) G.S. 135-175.
(8) G.S. 135-180.
(9) G.S. 135-185.
(10) G.S. 135-190.
(11) G.S. 135-195.
(12) G.S. 135-200.
SECTION 1.(b) The first and second sentence of G.S. 135-7(g)(2) are recodified as
the first and third sentence of subsection (a) of G.S. 135-154.
SECTION 1.(c) The first sentence of the lead-in language in subsection 135-7(g) is
recodified as the second sentence of subsection (a) of G.S. 135-154.
SECTION 1.(d) The third sentence of G.S. 135-7(g)(2) is recodified as subsection
(b) of G.S. 135-154.
SECTION 1.(e) The fourth, fifth, and sixth sentences of G.S. 135-7(g)(2) are
recodified as the first three sentences of subsection (c) of G.S. 135-154.
SECTION 1.(f) The third sentence of G.S. 135-7(g)(3) is recodified as the fourth
sentence of subsection (c) of G.S. 135-154.
SECTION 1.(g) The first sentence of G.S.135-7(g)(3) is recodified as subsection (d)
of G.S. 135-154.
SECTION 1.(h) The caption and the first sentence of the first paragraph of
G.S. 135-5(l) are recodified as subsection (a) of G.S. 135-155.

Page 2 Session Law 2025-11 House Bill 477
SECTION 1.(i) The second, third, and fourth sentences of the first paragraph of
G.S. 135-5(l) are recodified as subsection (b) of G.S. 135-155.
SECTION 1.(j) The seventh paragraph of G.S. 135-5(l) is recodified as subsection
(a) of G.S. 135-160.
SECTION 1.(j1) G.S. 135-6(e1) is recodified as subsection (b) of G.S. 135-160.
SECTION 1.(k) The first sentence of the second paragraph of G.S. 135-5(l) is
recodified as subsection (b) of G.S. 135-165.
SECTION 1.(l) The second sentence of the second paragraph of G.S. 135-5(l) is
recodified as subsection (c) of G.S. 135-165.
SECTION 1.(m) The fourth sentence of the second paragraph of G.S. 135-5(l) is
recodified as subsection (d) of G.S. 135-165.
SECTION 1.(n) Sub-subdivision a. of subdivision (2) of the sixth paragraph of
G.S. 135-5(l) is recodified as subdivision (3) of G.S. 135-170.
SECTION 1.(o) Sub-subdivision b. of subdivision (2) of the sixth paragraph of
G.S. 135-5(l) is recodified as subdivision (1) of G.S. 135-170.
SECTION 1.(p) Sub-subdivision c. of subdivision (2) of the sixth paragraph of
G.S. 135-5(l) is recodified as sub-subdivision a. of subdivision (2) of G.S. 135-170.
SECTION 1.(q) Subdivision (3) of the sixth paragraph of G.S. 135-5(l) is recodified
as sub-subdivision b. of subdivision (2) of G.S. 135-170.
SECTION 1.(r) Subdivision (4) of the sixth paragraph of G.S. 135-5(l) is recodified
as sub-subdivision c. of subdivision (2) of G.S. 135-170.
SECTION 1.(s) The first sentence of the thirteenth paragraph of G.S. 135-5(l) is
recodified as subsection (b) of G.S. 135-175.
SECTION 1.(t) The sixth and seventh sentences of the thirteenth paragraph of
G.S. 135-5(l) are recodified as subsection (c) of G.S. 135-175.
SECTION 1.(u) The first sentence of the eighth paragraph of G.S. 135-5(l) is
recodified as subsection (a) of G.S. 135-180.
SECTION 1.(v) The second sentence of the eighth paragraph of G.S. 135-5(l) is
recodified as subsection (c) of G.S. 135-180.
SECTION 1.(w) The third sentence of the eighth paragraph of G.S. 135-5(l) is
recodified as subsection (d) of G.S. 135-180.
SECTION 1.(x) The caption and first and second sentences of G.S. 135-5(l1) are
recodified as subsection (a) of G.S. 135-190.
SECTION 1.(y) The third sentence of G.S. 135-5(l1) is recodified as subsection (b)
of G.S. 135-190.
SECTION 1.(z) The third sentence of the second paragraph of G.S. 135-5(l) is
recodified as G.S. 135-195.
SECTION 1.(aa) The fourth sentence of G.S. 135-5(l1) is recodified as
G.S. 135-200.
SECTION 2.(a) The remainder of G.S. 135-7(g) not recodified by Section 1 of this
act is repealed.
SECTION 2.(b) The remainder of G.S. 135-5(l) not recodified by Section 1 of this
act is repealed.
SECTION 3. Article 8 of Chapter 135 of the General Statutes, as created by Section
1 of this act, reads as rewritten:
"Article 8.
"Death Benefit Plan for State Employees.
"§ 135-153. Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Article: