I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9852 
To establish an open season for enrollment in the Survivor Benefit Plan 
under subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 10, United States Code. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 
Mrs. STEEL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To establish an open season for enrollment in the Survivor 
Benefit Plan under subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 
10, United States Code. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN OPEN SEASON. 
(a) ELECTIONS BY PERSONS NOT CURRENTLY PAR-
TICIPATING IN SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN.— 
(1) ELECTION OF SBP COVERAGE.—An eligible 
retired or former member may elect to participate in 
the Survivor Benefit Plan during the open season 
described in subsection (e). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:01 Oct 11, 2024
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9852.IH
H9852
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(2) ELIGIBLE
RETIRED
OR
FORMER
MEM-
BERS.—For purposes of paragraph (1), an eligible 
retired or former member is a member or former 
member of the uniformed services who, on or before 
the day before the first day of the open season de-
scribed in subsection (e)— 
(A) is entitled to retired pay; or 
(B) would be entitled to retired pay under 
chapter 1223 of title 10, United States Code 
(or chapter 67 of such title as in effect before 
October 5, 1994), but for the fact that such 
member or former member is under 60 years of 
age. 
(3) STATUS UNDER SBP OF PERSONS MAKING 
ELECTIONS.— 
(A) STANDARD ANNUITY.—A person mak-
ing an election under paragraph (1) by reason 
of eligibility under paragraph (2)(A) shall be 
treated for all purposes as providing a standard 
annuity under the Survivor Benefit Plan. 
(B) RESERVE-COMPONENT
ANNUITY.—A 
person making an election under paragraph (1) 
by reason of eligibility under paragraph (2)(B) 
shall be treated for all purposes as providing a 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:01 Oct 11, 2024
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9852.IH
H9852
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
reserve-component annuity under the Survivor 
Benefit Plan. 
(4) PREMIUMS FOR OPEN SEASON.— 
(A) PREMIUMS
TO
BE
CHARGED.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall prescribe in regula-
tions premiums that a person who makes an 
election under paragraph (1) shall be required 
to pay for participating in the Survivor Benefit 
Plan pursuant to the election. 
(B) AMOUNT
OF
PREMIUMS.—The total 
amount of the premiums to be paid by a person 
under the regulations prescribed under subpara-
graph (A) shall be equal to the sum of— 
(i) the total amount by which the re-
tired pay of the person would have been re-
duced before the effective date of the elec-
tion under subsection (d) if the person had 
elected to participate in the Survivor Ben-
efit Plan (for the same base amount speci-
fied in the election) at the first opportunity 
that was afforded the person to participate 
under chapter 73 of title 10, United States 
Code; 
(ii) interest on the amount by which 
the retired pay of the person would have 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:01 Oct 11, 2024
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9852.IH
H9852
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS