Opinion ID: 2306415
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Legislative Developments

Text: [¶ 8] While the first appeal was pending before us, the Legislature enacted L.D. 1850, An Act To Clarify the Change of Beneficiary Provision in the Maine State Retirement System Laws. L.D. 1850 (122nd Legis.2006); P.L.2005, ch. 560, §§ 1-5 (effective Aug. 23, 2006) (codified at 5 M.R.S. §§ 17054(4), 17059(6)(A), 17805-A(1), and 18405-A(1) (2008)). L.D. 1850 amended portions of the MSRS laws governing qualified domestic relations orders. In particular, title 5, section 17054(4) was amended to establish that the rights of a beneficiary or other payee are subject to the rights of an alternate payee named in a QDRO (revisions are shown in legislative format): The rights of a member or, retiree, beneficiary or other payee under this Part are subject to the rights of or assignment to an alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order in accordance with section 17059. Section 17059(6)(A) was also amended to require the MSRS to give effect to QDROs in accordance with their plain meaning: A. If the order is determined to be a qualified domestic relations order, the it is presumed to be in compliance with all requirements of this Part. The retirement system shall pay benefits in accordance with the order and shall give effect to the plain meaning of its terms notwithstanding any failure of the order to cite or reference statutory or rule provisions. A beneficiary or recipient of a right or benefit provided for or awarded in a qualified domestic relations order may not be deprived of that right or benefit, or any part of that right or benefit, by a subsequent act or omission of the member, another claimant or beneficiary or the retirement system, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary or any policy or procedure the retirement system employs in the implementation of this Part. [¶ 9] These amendments to sections 17054 and 17059 were made effective retroactive to January 1, 1985. P.L.2005, ch. 560, § 5.