Important Information re: Members Killed or Disabled After Entering DROP

R.S. 11:221(M) provides as follows:

For purposes of R.S. 17:1681 and 1681.1, any member who is killed or who acquires a permanent disability solely as the result of injuries sustained in the course and scope of the performance of his official duties, while participating in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan or during continued employment after participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan has ended, shall be considered as having died in service or retired for disability purposes, provided satisfactory proof of such fatal or disabling injury is furnished to the retirement system by the member's employing municipality.

This statute does not require any action on MPERS's part. The member’s employing municipality can send us satisfactory proof of a fatal or disabling injury, but MPERS will not opine on it. It’s up to the college or university to determine whether the member’s children are eligible for the scholarship. Please direct any questions to the particular college or university.