SB 588 Oregon Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to disability benefits under the Public Employees Retirement System; and declaring an emergency.

Summary

] [ Provides that post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by a police officer or firefighter is an injury or disease sustained in the actual performance of duties for purposes of benefits under the Public Employees Retirement System in certain circumstances. ] Requires the Public Employees Retirement Board to [ hold ] refer a contested case for a hearing requested by a police officer or firefighter who is denied disability benefits within a certain period of time. Provides that a member of the Public Employees Retirement System who is a police officer or firefighter is disabled if the member is mentally or physically incapacitated and unable to perform the work the member performed at the time the member became disabled, instead of unable to perform any work. Allows a disabled member of the system to receive certain earned income without losing disability benefits. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed May 28, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

A-Engrossed → Enrolled · 5 edits · May 28, 2025

MODERATE

This bill modifies Oregon's Public Employees Retirement System rules for police officers and firefighters, primarily by establishing stricter timelines for disability benefit hearings and creating a special disability definition for these workers. The changes aim to speed up the appeals process and provide more favorable disability criteria for law enforcement and fire personnel.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope from general police and firefighter disability benefits to specifically address procedural timelines for contested cases and adds a new disability standard for these workers that is less restrictive than the general standard.

TIMELINE

Added requirements that the Public Employees Retirement Board must refer contested disability cases for police officers and firefighters to a hearing within 180 days (360 days with extension), or the member automatically prevails in the dispute.

Added a provision requiring the Board to refer all pending contested cases for police and firefighters to a hearing within 360 days of the bill's effective date.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the disability definition for police officers and firefighters to allow benefits if they cannot perform the specific work they did when disabled, rather than requiring inability to perform any work.

Modified the disability definition for police officers and firefighters to recognize PTSD and other conditions sustained while in actual performance of duty as qualifying injuries or diseases.

REQUIREMENT

Added provisions allowing disabled police officers and firefighters to earn certain income without losing their disability benefits.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2025 · House May 15, 2025

How they voted

28–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 29

Mar 24, 2025

D Democratic17

17 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 28, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

upper

May 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

May 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

May 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third reading. Carried by Grayber. Passed.

lower

May 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Recommendation: Do pass.

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to Labor and Workplace Standards.

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Introduced

First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third reading. Carried by Meek, Hayden. Passed.

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Recommendation: Do pass with amendments. (Printed A-Eng.)

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to Labor and Business.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.

upper

3 primary · 9 co-sponsors