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Smart Voter
Los Angeles County, CA March 3, 2009 Election
Charter Amendment LA-C
Disabled Children Survivor Benefit of the Fire and Police Pension Plan
City of Los Angeles

Charter Amendment - Majority Approval Required

Pass: 168,786 / 67.0% Yes votes ...... 83,134 / 33.0% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Information shown below: Summary |

Shall the Charter be amended to allow disabled children of deceased members of the Fire and Police Pension Plan to marry or be adopted without losing their Dependent Child benefits and to provide additional options for the payment of benefits belonging to disabled children of deceased members that do not increase the amount of the benefits being paid?

Summary Prepared by
League of Women Voters of Los Angeles
:
THE SITUATION: The Fire and Police Pension Plan provides survivor benefits to a “Dependent Child,” defined as an unmarried person who, while under the age of 21 years, becomes disabled and unable to earn a living. These benefits can only be paid to the guardian or conservator of the Dependent Child, and terminate if the Dependent Child marries or is adopted. There are currently 47 Dependent Children receiving survivor benefits. During the last 19 years, one Dependent Child lost the survivor benefit due to marriage.

THE PROPOSAL: This measure would allow a Dependent Child to continue to receive the survivor benefit if the Dependent Child either marries or becomes adopted. The measure would also provide additional options for payment of the benefit, which could be paid directly to the Dependent Child, or to a “Special Needs Trust” which has been established for the benefit of the Dependent Child, as well as to a guardian or conservator of the Dependent Child.

FINANCIAL IMPACT: Minimal costs to the Fire and Police Pension Plan, since only a limited number of individuals who qualify as Dependent Children would continue to receive retirement benefits.

SUPPORTERS SAY: It’s unfair to individuals with disabilities who lose a parent to also lose their benefits if they are able to marry or be adopted into a new family. They are still disabled whether or not they are married or adopted. This is the only remaining group of pension plan beneficiaries who are penalized if they marry or are adopted.

(No official opposing argument was submitted.)

  Official Information

L.A. City Clerk Election Division

  • Link titled "Find Your Polling Place and Sample Ballot" takes you to a 56-page pdf file including full text and arguments on all ballot measures
  • Voting at Your Polling Place - 3-page pdf file with specific instructions on how to use voting equipment and when to file a provisional ballot
  • Vote by Mail Application - signed copy must be received by City Clerk by February 24, 2009
Nonpartisan Information

'Voter Minute' Video from Center for Governmental Studies

LWV Los Angeles
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Created: June 26, 2009 11:57 PDT
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